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Measure truck turnaround from arrival at the agreed gate to release from the site. Record the start and end of unloading separately so the total can tell you where the truck spent its time.
Use four timestamps
- Arrival at the agreed gate.
- Start of unloading.
- End of unloading.
- Release after paperwork or other checks.
Worked example: a 100-minute turnaround
At an illustrative Gauteng delivery the truck arrives at 08:00, starts unloading at 08:40, finishes at 09:15 and leaves at 09:40. The total is 100 minutes: 40 before unloading, 35 unloading and 25 after. Ask the site why the truck waited before assigning a cause. Early arrival, a queue and a booking error need different fixes.
Use truck turnaround data to improve the next booking
Keep the booked slot beside the actual timestamps. Compare median truck turnaround across similar visits, then review the longest waits separately so one unusual job does not drive the next booking decision. Compare several visits with similar loads and note missing records. If the same delay recurs, test one change, such as arranging for the receiver to have the delivery note ready when unloading ends. Keep chargeable waiting separate and apply the agreed terms. Use the Synesys on-time delivery scorecard to see whether the change helps the next stop.
Separate waiting from unloading
“Detention time” refers to the extra time CMV operators wait at shipping and receiving facilities …
U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Impact of Driver Detention Time on Safety and Operations. The research definition helps separate waiting from service time. Use your own freight agreement to determine which minutes are billable.
For the 100-minute visit above, send the receiver the gate time, unload start and end, and release time. If the receiver confirms the bay was occupied until 08:40, ask whether a staggered appointment would help. If the 25 minutes after unloading were spent waiting for a signature, agree who should have the paperwork ready at unload completion. Track the next three comparable visits before keeping or changing the new process.
Copy a truck turnaround log
For consistent truck turnaround reporting, use one row per visit: job reference, booked slot, gate arrival, unload start, unload finish, release and confirmed delay reason. Mark missing times as unknown. If the driver and site disagree, retain both records and ask the dispatcher to reconcile them before comparing visits or approving a charge.
Further reading Kweli’s guide to recording freight delays.
Truck turnaround checklist
Record gate arrival, check-in, service start, service end and release. Split the total into waiting, service and exit time so the team can address the correct cause.
Worked example
A truck arrives at 07:50, starts unloading at 09:00, finishes at 09:35 and leaves at 09:50. Total turnaround is 120 minutes: 70 waiting, 35 unloading and 15 to exit.
When designing shared job records, capture what happened, the time and location, and the business context. See the GS1 EPCIS visibility standard.
Cover photo by U.S. Army. Cropped and branded.
Truck turnaround FAQs
Does truck turnaround include unloading?
Yes. Gate-to-release truck turnaround includes time waiting, unloading and completing release checks. Record each interval separately so the total shows where the time went.
How should we record a truck that arrives early?
Keep the booked slot and the actual gate arrival. Include the early time in the gate-to-release total and flag the early arrival before comparing performance with trucks that arrived in their booked windows.
Is all time on site chargeable?
Use the accepted quote or agreement to establish the free allowance, the timestamps used for billing and who approves a charge. Keep the operational total in the job record even when only part of it is billable.