Parcel Trailer Loading

How to complete the trailer loading process, including loading parcel shipments onto trailers via Flexe mobile devices and closing trailer loads in the Flexe web platform.

IN THIS TOPIC

Creating Dock Locations
Trailer Loading on Flexe Mobile Devices
Closing Trailers

Trailer loading is the final step of the outbound fulfillment process. It ensures that movement of shipments can be systematically tracked throughout packing, staging and pickup by the carrier.

As part of this process, you'll pick and load shipments onto a trailer via Flexe mobile devices. You can then review the load (also referred to as manifest) details and ship the trailer from the Flexe web platform.

Note: The load details in Flexe provide a summary of all shipments on the trailer, as well as information you can use to track delivery.

Creating Dock Locations

Before you can use the trailer loading workflow, you'll need to set up dock locations in the Flexe system. These are the locations where trailers and/or pallets are staged prior to pickup by the carrier.

There should be one dock location for each physical door or dock used for trailer loading at your warehouse.

You can create and manage locations for your warehouse from the Locations page in Flexe. To learn more, go to Creating Locations.

Check out this demo clip for a quick overview of the process. Select the Play icon to open the clip in a new tab:

Creating Dock Locations

This clip shows how to create dock locations for Parcel Trailer Loading.

Trailer Loading on Flexe Mobile Devices

Before you start

You'll first need to use the Pick function on a Flexe mobile device to pick all items in the shipment(s). To learn more, go to Mobile Pick.

You can then follow the steps below to pack the shipment(s), and load them onto a trailer.

Note: If you're loading multiple trailers, you'll need to process each one separately.

To load trailers on on Flexe mobile devices:

1. Select Pack from the home screen.

TrailerLoading_MobileWorkflow_SelectPackfromHomeScreen.png

2. Scan the pack station or outbound staging location.

Scan the location where the picked items were dropped off.

For LPNs, a new LPN is automatically generated during the packing process. This auto-generated LPN corresponds to the tracking number on the shipping label.

Note: If your reservations uses Rebin or Pick to Carton, you'll need to use the Move Items function on a Flexe mobile device to physically move LPNs to an outbound staging location, so you can complete trailer loading. If you’re not sure whether this applies to you, reach out to your Flexe Logistics Analyst.

3. Scan the shipping label.

Scan the shipping label for the first shipment you'll be loading on the trailer.

4. Scan SKU(s).

Scan the SKU for each item in the shipment. Once you've scanned all items in the shipment, check for the "Shipment Complete" confirmation message.

Keep in mind that shipments are not fully complete until they have been loaded onto a trailer, and the load has been shipped via the Flexe web platform.

5. Pack all shipments.

Repeat the steps above until you've packed all shipments to be loaded onto the trailer.

At this stage, the status of the shipments will show as Packed. You can review packed shipments from the Flexe web platform. To learn more, go to Reviewing Packed Shipments.

Note: After shipments are packed, they can no longer be canceled–not even via Flexe intervention.

6. Go back to the home screen and select Trailer Loading.

Go back to the mobile device home screen, and select Trailer Loading.

TrailerLoading_MobileWorkflow_SelectTrailerLoadingfromHomeScreen.png

7. Scan the door.

Scan the dock or door where the trailer will be staged prior to pickup by the carrier.

8. Add the SCAC and Trailer Number, then select Start Load.

Use the Add SCAC section to enter the SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) for the carrier.

Note: Make sure to enter a valid code for the carrier. SCAC codes are 2-4 letters long, and are different for each carrier. SCAC information is typically listed on the shipping label.

Then, use the Add Trailer Number section to add the trailer number. To avoid discrepancies within a load, make sure to enter the correct number, however if necessary to make corrections, this information can be edited on the Web UI. To learn more, go to Closing Trailers.

Once you've added the both the SCAC and trailer number, select Start Load.

9. Scan shipments.

You can scan the shipping label for each shipment you're loading on the trailer, one at a time. Or, if you want to load multiple shipments in bulk, select Scan Location to load all packed shipments from a specific location.

Scan Label (Single Shipments)

As you scan, the menu at the bottom of the screen tracks your progress. You can expand the menu to review everything you've scanned--just swipe up or tap the arrow.

TrailerLoading_MobileWorkflow_ExpandItemsScannedMenu.png

Scan Location (Multiple Shipments)

Scan the barcode for the outbound staging or pack location you want to load from. Then select the Add Shipments to Load option to confirm that you want to add all shipments in that location to the trailer. You'll get a confirmation message when all shipments have been added.

If needed, select Scan Single Shipments to return to the previous screen, so you can scan shipments individually.

Note: To find additional information about a shipment, you can select the "search" icon at the top of the screen to launch the Lookup Details feature. Scan the related barcode to view available details, then use the "back" arrow to return to where you left off. To learn more, go to Lookup Details.

10. Select Stop.

Once you've scanned and reviewed all shipments to be loaded on the trailer, select Stop. Then select Stop Loading.

Important Note: Shipments are NOT complete in the system until the load is shipped and the trailer is closed on the Flexe web platform. To learn more about these remaining steps, go to Closing Trailers.

Reviewing Packed Shipments

You can review packed shipments that have not yet been loaded onto a trailer from the Flexe web platform.

Select Waves and Batches from the left menu, then select "In Progress".

Or, select Shipments from the left menu, open the Status dropdown and select Packed.

Removing Shipments from a Trailer

You can remove shipments from a trailer by moving them out of the dock or door location associated with the open trailer load. Use the Move Items feature on a Flexe mobile device to move the shipments to an alternate location.

Note: It’s typically best to use an alternate outbound staging location for this. Also make sure to physically move the shipment(s) to the alternate location, to maintain location accuracy within the Flexe system.

First, select Move Items from the home screen. Then, scan the LPN automatically generated for the shipment during the packing process.

Next, select Put Away. Scan the alternate location, then scan the LPN again to complete the move.

Omnichannel_ShipmentsWorkflow_RemovingLPNs_MoveLPNfromStagingLocationCompletePutaway.png

Issues with Trailer Loading

Here's how to troubleshoot common issues or errors during the trailer loading process.

Issue or Error

How to Troubleshoot

"Shipment is for a different carrier . . . . "

TrailerLoading_IssueswithTrailerLoading_DifferentCarrierErrorMessage.jpg

This error occurs if you try to add a shipment with a different carrier or SCAC to the load.

Check the SCAC code on the shipping label or shipping documents.

If the SCAC codes match up but you're still having trouble, contact us at support@flexe.com for additional help.

"Shipment not pack-complete . . . . "

TrailerLoading_IssuesWithTrailerLoading_NotPackCompleteErrorMessage.jpg

This error occurs if you scan a shipping label for a shipment that has not yet been packed.

Make sure you've completed the packing process for each shipment before you start loading the trailer. You'll see a confirmation message onscreen once a shipment has been packed.

Check out the Trailer Loading steps above for more information.

If the packing process for the shipment(s) is complete but you're still having trouble, contact us at support@flexe.com for additional help.

"Failed to start consolidation . . . . "

TrailerLoading_IssuesWithTrailerLoadingFailedToStartConsolidationErrorMessage.png

This error occurs when adding a very large volume of shipments to a load by location.

Note: You can avoid this error by keeping shipment volume under 5000 when adding shipments in bulk by location.

The error should resolve itself automatically. Wait 5 minutes, then try again.

Once resolved, you'll get a confirmation message indicating that there are no shipments left in the location to load, and that the original load is now complete.