Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp Load Planning and Optimization 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A shipper offers a 48,000 lb load but your driver's truck has a tare weight of 34,000 lbs. The legal gross vehicle weight limit is 80,000 lbs. Can the driver legally haul this load?
- Yes, because 48,000 + 34,000 = 82,000 which is under the limit
- No, because 48,000 + 34,000 = 82,000 which exceeds the 80,000 lb limit (Correct answer)
- Yes, because the load alone is under 80,000 lbs
- No, because any load over 40,000 lbs requires a permit
Correct answer: No, because 48,000 + 34,000 = 82,000 which exceeds the 80,000 lb limit
The gross vehicle weight (tare + cargo) of 82,000 lbs exceeds the federal 80,000 lb limit, so the load is illegal without a permit.
Question 2: When planning a load with multiple stops, what is the primary advantage of loading freight in reverse delivery order?
- It reduces fuel consumption on highway segments
- It ensures the last delivery is loaded first and easiest to access
- It allows freight for the last stop to be unloaded without moving other cargo (Correct answer)
- It minimizes dock time at the origin facility
Correct answer: It allows freight for the last stop to be unloaded without moving other cargo
Loading in reverse delivery order means each stop's freight is at the front of the trailer, allowing unloading without having to move other shipments.
Question 3: A dispatcher is planning a flatbed load of steel coils. What is the most critical weight distribution concern?
- Keeping total weight under the trailer's payload rating only
- Distributing weight to avoid exceeding individual axle weight limits (Correct answer)
- Ensuring the coils are centered left-to-right only
- Placing all coils as far forward as possible to improve fuel economy
Correct answer: Distributing weight to avoid exceeding individual axle weight limits
Even if total weight is legal, improper axle weight distribution can cause individual axles to exceed their legal limits, resulting in fines.
Question 4: Which load factor calculation best describes trailer utilization efficiency?
- (Empty miles / total miles) × 100
- (Actual weight hauled / trailer capacity) × 100 (Correct answer)
- (Revenue per mile / cost per mile) × 100
- (Loaded miles / total trips) × 100
Correct answer: (Actual weight hauled / trailer capacity) × 100
Load factor is the percentage of a trailer's capacity that is actually being used, calculated as actual weight or volume divided by maximum capacity.
Question 5: A driver has 6 hours of drive time remaining under HOS rules. The next delivery is 350 miles away. At an average speed of 55 mph, can the driver make the delivery without a break?
- Yes, because 350 miles at 55 mph takes about 6.4 hours
- No, because 350 miles at 55 mph takes about 6.4 hours, exceeding available drive time (Correct answer)
- Yes, because HOS rules allow a 2-hour grace period for deliveries
- No, because any trip over 300 miles requires a mandatory 10-hour rest
Correct answer: No, because 350 miles at 55 mph takes about 6.4 hours, exceeding available drive time
350 miles ÷ 55 mph ≈ 6.36 hours, which exceeds the driver's 6 remaining hours of drive time, requiring a rest break before completing the trip.
Question 6: When consolidating LTL freight into a full truckload, which factor is LEAST important when selecting shipments to combine?
- Compatible delivery windows
- Freight compatibility (hazmat, food-grade, etc.)
- The color of the packaging on each shipment (Correct answer)
- Geographic routing efficiency of combined stops
Correct answer: The color of the packaging on each shipment
Packaging color has no bearing on load planning; compatibility, delivery windows, and routing efficiency are all operationally critical factors.
Question 7: A dispatcher receives two load options: Load A pays $2.80/mile for 800 miles, and Load B pays $3.10/mile for 400 miles but requires 150 empty miles to reach the shipper. Which load generates more gross revenue?
- Load A, with $2,240 gross revenue (Correct answer)
- Load B, with $1,240 gross revenue
- Load A and Load B generate equal revenue
- Load B, with $2,240 gross revenue
Correct answer: Load A, with $2,240 gross revenue
Load A generates 800 × $2.80 = $2,240; Load B generates 400 × $3.10 = $1,240, so Load A produces $1,000 more in gross revenue.
Truck Dispatcher TruckDisp Load Planning and Optimization 4
A shipper offers a 48,000 lb load but your driver's truck has a tare weight of 34,000 lbs.
The legal gross vehicle weight limit is 80,000 lbs.
Can the driver legally haul this load?