APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FREIGHT DELIVERY AND PICK-UP

• US 20160012385A9
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CRC R&D, LLC
• Original Assignee: Crossroad Centers Logistics Incorporated
• Inventors: Mains, Ronald H. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 11,625,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

An exemplary nonlimiting ernbodirnent of the present invention provides a system that includes a loading/unloading facility, a user apparatus having a user interface configured to communicate with a driver of a delivery/pick-up vehicle, and an administrator apparatus configured to communicate with the user apparatus and the loading/unloading facility. The user apparatus is located remotely from the loading/unloading facility. The driver checks into the user apparatus and the administrator apparatus coordinates arrival of the delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a loading/unloading facility;

a user apparatus including a user interface configured to communicate with a driver of a freight delivery/pick-up vehicle; and

an administrator apparatus configured to communicate with the user apparatus,

wherein the user apparatus is located remotely from the loading/unloading facility,

wherein the driver checks into the user apparatus and the administrator apparatus coordinates arrival of the delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user apparatus obtains from the driver at least one of a check-in time, a pick-up/drop-off time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck or trailer identifying information and scale in/weight information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator apparatus relays to the user apparatus at least one of an assigned loading dock, a loading dock current usage graphic, a pick-up/drop-off time and an authorized driver release.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a logistics support facility in communication with at least one of the administrator apparatus, user apparatus and/or loading/unloading facility.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a scale system that is in communication with the administrator apparatus, user apparatus and/or loading/unloading facility.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user apparatus and the administrator apparatus each include camera systems that are in communication.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user apparatus verifies driver security information and authorizes the driver for delivery at the loading/unloading facility.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator apparatus and user apparatus are located at a same facility.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator apparatus and user apparatus are located at different facilities.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator apparatus is located at the loading/unloading facility.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pager system in communication with the driver and the administrator apparatus.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user apparatus includes is at least one of a kiosk and a wall mounted display.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the user apparatus includes at least one of a card reader, an optical scanner, and a DOT reader.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an administrator, wherein the administrator interfaces with the administrator apparatus and the user apparatus and the loading/unloading facility and coordinates the arrival of the delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading/unloading facility includes a sensor to detect the presence of a delivery/pick-up vehicle at a loading dock located at the loading/unloading facility, wherein the sensor is in communication with the administrator apparatus.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a user system configured to communicate with a driver of a freight delivery/pick-up vehicle and gather information regarding the driver and a delivery schedule;

wherein the user system is located remotely from a loading/unloading facility and in communication with the loading/unloading facility and an administrator apparatus;

wherein the driver checks into the user system and the administrator apparatus coordinates arrival of the delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.

17. The user apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user apparatus obtains from the driver at least one of a check-in time, a pick-up/drop-off time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck or trailer identifying information and scale in/weight information.

18. The user apparatus of claim 16, wherein the administrator apparatus relays to the user apparatus at least one of an assigned loading dock, a loading dock current usage graphic, a pick-up/drop-off time and an authorized driver release.

19. The user apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a pager system, the pager system including a pager in communication with the administrator apparatus.

20. The user apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a camera system in communication with the administrator apparatus.

21. The user apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least one of an optical scanner and a DOT reader.

22. The user apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a card reader configured to identify a driver of the delivery/pick-up vehicle.

23. The user apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user apparatus verifies driver security information and authorizes the driver for delivery at the loading/unloading facility.

24. A method for management of freight pick-up and delivery, comprising:

checking a driver of a freight delivery/pick-up vehicle into a user apparatus located remotely from a loading/unloading facility;

entering driver information into the user apparatus;

communicating the driver information to an administrator apparatus in communication with the loading/unloading facility;

communicating loading/unloading information from the loading/unloading facility to the administrator apparatus;

utilizing the driver information and the loading/unloading information to coordinate arrival of the delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.