Please take pictures of all material sold/delivered

Brad_bb · October 24, 2018, 12:27:39 PM

From another thread, but important enough for it's own.

Always take photos of the material that is loaded, or delivered so that there is a visual record. I've learned that the hard way with timbers. I deliver the timbers and they claim this was missing or that was missing, and I'd have to eat it and supply them with new pieces and deliver at my extra cost. Then I started taking pics of all material loaded or delivered. Then when they tell us this or that was missing and we get the pics off the computer that shows the pieces and send the pics. They then "find" the pieces. I'm not saying it's intentional, but without records like that, things can get confused in someones yard or storage of material and when they can't find it, they assume it wasn't sent, when most of the time, they just can't find it where they are storing it (usually with other similar material).

This also goes for material you recieve on a building site. Take pics before it's unloaded. Take pics after it's unloaded, and make sure it's all accounted for preferably with the driver still there. A lot of lumber companies do this now when delivering construction material to a jobsite. It protects them from just what I mentioned above.

Percy · October 24, 2018, 01:16:24 PM

That's a great solution I've never considered before this. Ideally, you could send a photo along with the invoice or receipt 👍👍

Sixacresand · October 24, 2018, 01:22:17 PM

Good Idea.

YellowHammer · October 24, 2018, 02:16:11 PM

I agree 100%, I never deliver anything, even if its just for processing, without taking a quick photo, generally with the bdft written on the side of the load. More than once the invoice got lost and I get the old "So how much did you bring in?" and even occasionally the "We didn't write it down before we processed it, you have a picture don't you?"

Yes I do. smiley_hollywood_cool

Resonator · October 24, 2018, 02:19:42 PM

When I was driving flatbed, I took pictures of a lot of my loads so I could say what was loaded, its condition, whether the customer required a tarp, and to show how well I secured the load. (This load was fresh cut railroad ties).

Although there were times when after me getting the load safely to the customer, the guy on the forklift would have issues. (A bundle of hardwood lumber).

thecfarm · October 24, 2018, 05:03:25 PM

issues :D :(

Jeff · October 24, 2018, 05:24:41 PM

Hmm. Plastic bands.

JB Griffin · October 24, 2018, 07:43:07 PM

We use plastic on everything but slabs (plastic don't hold up too good in charcoal kilns), and only have a failure if the loader driver gets too rough with um. We use the green ones and steel seals.

Brad_bb · October 24, 2018, 09:46:08 PM

I use the orange Kubenic straps. Steel would stain the wood. To use steel, I'd need to use corner protectors, which I have....but I wouldn't want steel to be on them too long where it could get wet and stain. I'd use steel when shipping big beams if it was going to be removed right away on the other end.

mike_belben · October 24, 2018, 10:55:37 PM

Maybe lowes should take a picture whenever "top choice" delivers a load of lumber. 3 rotten powdery cants in a single pile. What a pitiful, high speed computerized embarrasment. If thats top id hate to see bottom.

Jeff · October 25, 2018, 07:52:39 AM

In the 25 years I was in the mill we used steel bands other than one roll of plastic. We learned quickly. Then again we were moving 30,000 to 50,000 ft a day combined from our east and west mills of everything from grade to timbers for crane mats and everything in between and most every locally available species.

Our lumber was sawn one day and trucked the next most of the time. In a high production environment there isn't time for picking up spilled bundles of lumber. Even double banded steel it still can happen.

moodnacreek · October 25, 2018, 12:52:08 PM

Take pictures? I suppose there are times this might be useful but I have more that I can do every day. It bothers me just to carry a ruler let alone a camera.

Brad_bb · October 25, 2018, 04:55:02 PM

These days, most people have a phone with a camera. In fact, I'm not sure you can buy a cell phone without one anymore.

In my case, I was sending my timber to a shop were using it to build something for me. There were probably 3 loads sent over the course of a year. Well some stuff that had been sent 8 months earlier they claimed they didn't have. They wanted me to sent another shipment with the missing pieces. Then my GC asked if I had any pictures. I forgot that I had and dug around and finally found them on my computer. It showed the "missing pieces". It also helped them to know what they were looking for exactly. They had a lot of other timber stored in their buildings, but they found it. That saved me timber and a shipment. Previous to this they had claimed something was missing, but I had no pics for that load. My GC taught me to always take pics whether shipping or receiving. It has saved us multiple times. When it's 8 months or a year after you've sent something, you can't remember specifics. It's nice to be able to look at pics and verify what was sent or received.

moodnacreek · October 25, 2018, 08:10:42 PM

If I had a cell phone and the number got out the logs would rot in the yard. I get more calls on the house phone than I want. Years ago I advertised lumber a few times. That did not work at all, lots of calls, no sales. Now my competitor has closed and this has been the busiest year ever.

JB Griffin · October 25, 2018, 10:37:34 PM

Quote from: Jeff on October 25, 2018, 07:52:39 AM
In the 25 years I was in the mill we used steel bands other than one roll of plastic. We learned quickly. Then again we were moving 30,000 to 50,000 ft a day combined from our east and west mills of everything from grade to timbers for crane mats and everything in between and most every locally available species.

Our lumber was sawn one day and trucked the next most of the time. In a high production environment there isn't time for picking up spilled bundles of lumber. Even double banded steel it still can happen.

The 4 mills my boss runs easily produce much more per day and all plastic banding, with very few failures, plastic ain't the same as it was.

hturner12 · October 26, 2018, 08:19:09 AM

Since my tractor broke have not been able to use my mill yet(wife reminds me of that :-[) but for the par 2 years I have a phot journal of everything I have done to our property.