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A unit coming off the ship is not yet free to collect. This article sets out the events between discharge and pickup, and what a haulier needs to know before sending a truck.

Written for: IT owners and operations leadership at carriers, terminals and inland transport

Contents
  1. The events between discharge and pickup
  2. What the haulier needs in the notification
  3. Who sends the signal
  4. Why this capability matters

A truck arrives at the terminal to collect a vehicle that came off the ship this morning. The vehicle is there. It cannot be released. Customs clearance is pending, a charge is unpaid, or the release order has not reached the terminal. The truck waits or leaves empty.

The vessel's discharge is one event. Pickup readiness is several.

The events between discharge and pickup

  1. Discharged. The unit is off the vessel and scanned at the terminal.
  2. Inspected. Any damage inspection is done and recorded.
  3. Cleared. Import customs release is received where it applies.
  4. Released. The carrier or forwarder has released the unit to the named consignee or haulier, with charges settled.
  5. Pickup ready. The terminal confirms the unit can be collected, and from where.

Only the last one tells a haulier to send a truck.

What the haulier needs in the notification

  • The unit identifier and location in the terminal.
  • Confirmation that it is released to them.
  • Opening hours and any slot booking required.
  • Who to call if the unit is not where stated.

Who sends the signal

The events sit with different parties: the terminal, customs, the carrier, the forwarder. A single pickup-ready signal needs agreement on who combines them. Without that, each party assumes another has told the haulier.

Delays before discharge are the other half of the problem, covered in Vessel ETA changes.

Why this capability matters

Wasted truck trips and terminal waiting add cost for hauliers, terminals and in the end the carrier's customers. Sending the right signal at the right time is a small change that improves the experience at the end of the chain, where customers notice delays most.

Related reading

Define pickup-ready

List the events and approvals that must happen before a unit can be collected at your discharge ports. Bring the list to a conversation about the signals hauliers need.

Cartagena builds these capabilities together with each customer, as tailored solutions on the Microsoft platform.

Discuss pickup signals