Using the Asset Assignment window

8. Using the Asset Assignment window

Overview

Resources/Assets/ Status

Basic setup

Having the system check for conflicts as you make assignments

Determining whether the driver or tractor field is first

[Asset Assignment] DriverFirst

Controlling how trip assignments affect driver/tractor profile pairing

DrvTrcProt

Assigning the last primary trailer used by a tractor on the tractor's current trip

[Dispatch] TrailerOption

Assigning the last secondary trailer used by a tractor on the tractor's current trip

[Dispatch] PupTrailerOption

Allowing for slip seating without changing driver/tractor pairings

[Dispatch] KeepTractorDriverRelationship

Replacing the OK button confirmation message

[Dispatch] AssetAssignOKButtonText

Printing a trip sheet when a trip's status changes from Planned to Dispatched

[Dispatch] AutoPrintTripSheet

Making resource assignments and trip updates

Planning resources on a trip

Updating a trip’s dispatch status

Starting a trip with an empty move

Actualizing the pickup of a trip that starts with an empty move

Ending a trip with an empty move

Viewing details about a tractor's prior trip

Excluding Planned trips from the Prior Tractor Location section

[Asset Assignment] PriorTractorLocationIgnorePlanned

Defaulting an assigned trip to a status other than Planned

[Asset Assignment] AllowStatusSetOnPlan

[Asset Assignment] DefaultPlanStatus

Setup options for beginning a trip with an empty move

Starting trips with an empty move by default

[Asset Assignment] DHCheckBox

Adding a Begin Bobtail event to a trip

[Asset Assignment] BBTKeepLLD

Determining the start time for an empty event

[Asset Assignment] BMTBBTStartTime

Preserving the HPL event when trailer IDs are unknown

[Asset Assignment] TrailerUnknownDeadHead

Enabling user-defined empty event lists and defaults

[Asset Assignment] AutoSelectDHEventEnabled

Specifying event options that follow a LUL event

[Asset Assignment] AutoSelectDHEmptyEventListLUL AutoSelectDHEmptyEventLUL AutoSelectDHEventListLUL AutoSelectDHEventLUL

Specifying event options that follow a DRL event

[Asset Assignment] AutoSelectDHEmptyEventListDRL AutoSelectDHEmptyEventDRL AutoSelectDHEventListDRL AutoSelectDHEventDRL

Specifying event options that follow events other than LUL and DRL

[Asset Assignment] AutoSelectDHEmptyEventList AutoSelectDHEmptyEvent AutoSelectDHEventList AutoSelectDHEvent

Pre-assigning a tractor without a trailer to a Begin Empty event

[Asset Assignment] DeadHeadCheck

Setup options for ending a trip with an empty move

Identifying event codes for return legs

Specifying the default event code for an empty leg at the end of a trip

[Asset Assignment] ReturnLegEvent

Automatically returning empty to the first pickup location

[Asset Assignment] ReturnLegCheckBox

Changing the ending location of the empty return leg

Overview

You use the Asset Assignment window to:

  • Assign resources.
  • Start or complete a trip.
  • Specify whether the trip should begin and/or end with an empty move.

The window is available in both the Trip Folder and the Planning Worksheet. You must have the trip you are working with displayed in the Trip Folder or highlighted in the Planning Worksheet's Available Trips grid before accessing the window.

To open the window, do one of the following:

  • Click Assign in the sheet toolbar.
  • Select Dispatch > Assign/Begin Trip.

The window is divided into five sections. Each section has a title that relates to the task accomplished by making entries in that section.

Resources/Assets/ Status

Located at the top of the window, this section contains fields needed to make resource assignments and update the trip status.

Tractor / ID of the tractor.
Driver 1 / ID of the primary driver.
Trailer 1 / ID of the primary trailer.
Note: If you have the [Dispatch] TrailerOption=Yes setting in your TTS50 file, the system will automatically fill this field with the ID of the trailer last used by the specified tractor.
Carrier / ID for a carrier, if applicable.
Note: If String1 for the SelectActiveCarriersOnly General Info Table setting is set to Y, you cannot select carriers with active expirations. For details, see:
Guide: General Dispatch | Chapter: Viewing/modifying expirations | Section: Excluding carriers with active expirations from asset assignment
Status / The dispatch status of the trip. The options are:
  • Available
Trip is ready for dispatch, but resources have not been assigned.
  • Planned
Tentative resource assignment has been made, but the driver has not yet been informed of the assignment.
  • Dispatched
Solid resource assignment has been made and the driver has been informed of the assignment; however, the trip has not yet begun.
  • Started
Trip is in progress.
  • Completed
Assigned resources have reached the final destination.
Driver 2 / ID of the co-driver, if applicable.
Trailer 2 / ID of the secondary trailer, if applicable.
Beg Hub and End Hub (left side of window) / Tractor’s odometer reading at the beginning and end of the trip. An entry is required only if you bill or pay by hub miles.
Beg Hub and End Hub (right side of window) / Odometer reading for the primary trailer at the beginning and end of the trip. Trailer hub miles are not used for settlements or invoicing; they are for reporting purposes only. For example, you could use the feature to keep track of miles on leased equipment.
LghType1 – LghType4 / User-defined fields used to categorize the trip segment based on classifications set up by your company. You can use the LghType1 LghType2, LghType3, and LghTyp4 labels in the System Administration application to customize the field names and classification options.

The Dead head start time, location and trailer(s)… section contains fields needed to start the trip with an empty move.

Dead Head/Bobtail / Selecting the check box adds an empty move at the start of the trip. The remaining fields in this section are available only when the check box is selected.
Start On / The estimated date/time the empty event should begin so that the tractor will arrive at the order’s first stop on time. The system calculates this start time based on the distance the tractor needs to travel from its location at the last stop of its previous trip.
Event / Type of empty move at the start of the trip. The options are:
  • Begin Bobtail
  • Begin Empty
The default entry is based on whether the tractor’s previous trip ended with an available trailer.
At / Start location of the empty leg.
The default entry is based on the last stop of the tractor’s previous trip.
Trailer 1 / ID of the primary trailer assigned to the deadhead leg. Applicable only when the Event field is set to Begin Empty.
If the tractor ended its previous trip with an available trailer, the system assumes that the same trailer will be used on this trip. That trailer ID is shown by default. If needed, select a different trailer.
Trailer 2 / ID of the secondary trailer, if any, assigned to the deadhead leg. Applicable only when the Event field is set to Begin Empty.
If the tractor ended its previous trip with an available trailer, the system assumes that the same trailer will be used on this trip, and shows that trailer ID by default. If needed, select a different trailer.

The First load/Shipper location… section contains fields defining the trip's initial pickup and final drop.

Pickup on / Date/time the initial pickup is to be made.
with / Event code recorded for the initial pickup.
at / System ID of the company at which the initial pickup will be made.
P1 / Indicates whether the company associated with the pickup has any active, priority expirations.
Note: The indicator is displayed only when the Load Req/Expirations radio button at the bottom of the window is selected.
Drop on / Date/time the final drop is to be made.
with / Event code recorded for the final drop.
at / System ID of the company at which the final drop will be made.
P1 / Indicates whether the company associated with the final drop has any active, priority expirations.
Note: The indicator is displayed only when the Load Req/Expirations radio button at the bottom of the window is selected.
Act/Est PUP / Appears only when a trip that begins with an empty move has a status of Started. Selecting it actualizes the estimated arrival at the pickup.

The Final Destination time and location section contains fields that define an empty move added to the end of the trip.

Return Leg / Selecting the check box adds an empty move at the end of the trip. The remaining fields in this section are available only when the check box is selected.
End at / Three fields identify the company location where the trip will end.
Use the first field to select the company ID. The system displays the company name and its city/state location in the remaining fields.
on / Date/time the trip is expected to end.
event / Event type of the empty move. The options are:
  • Drop Empty Trailer
  • Drop Empty Trailer for Wash
  • End Bobtail
  • End Empty
Note: If most trips end the same way, you can use the [Dispatch] ReturnLegEvent setting in your TTS50 file to specify the default event.

The Prior Tractor Location section, located at the bottom of the window, displays information about the last event of the tractor’s most recent trip, when that trip has a status of Planned, Dispatched, Started, or Completed. The fields are read-only.

Event / Last completed event on the tractor's previous trip.
Arrived / Date/time the tractor arrived at the location of the last event on its previous trip.
Departed / Date/time the tractor departed from the location of the last event on its previous trip.
Status / Status of the tractor's previous trip.
at / First field displays the ID of the company associated with the final event on the tractor's last trip. The second field displays the city/state location for that company.
Segment / Trip segment number assigned to the tractor's last trip.
Order / Order number associated with the tractor's last trip.
Movement / Move number associated with the tractor's last trip.
Driver 1 / Primary driver assigned to the tractor's last trip.
Driver 2 / Secondary driver assigned to the tractor's last trip.
Trailer 1 / Primary trailer assigned to the tractor's last trip.
Trailer 2 / Secondary trailer assigned to the tractor's last trip.

Note: If the tractor is newly placed in service, no prior trip information can be shown in the Prior Tractor Location section.

Basic setup

The Asset Assignment window is highly configurable. Using a few system settings, you can control whether the window:

  • Checks for conflicts as you assign resources or waits until you save
  • Automatically adds an empty move at the start of a trip
  • Automatically ends a trip with an empty move.
  • Displays the Driver 1 field before the Tractor field.

Having the system check for conflicts as you make assignments

By default, the system checks for conflicts with asset assignments when you commit the assignments by clicking OK in the window. If you want, you can have it check as you are making assignments, using the Load Requirements/Expirations and Auto-Check radio buttons at the bottom of the window.

  • When the radio buttons are cleared, the system waits until you save the resource assignment to inform you of problems, such as scheduling conflicts, load requirements mismatches, and resource expirations.
  • If the radio buttons are selected, the system will immediately inform you of problems as resource IDs are entered. For more information on handling assignment problems, see the "Resolving conflicts" chapter.

To have the radio buttons selected by default, you must have these settings in the [Asset Assignment] section of your TTS50:

  • AutoCheck=YES
  • ShowLoadReqExpirations=YES

Note: These settings also control the selection of the Show Load Requirements and Expirations and Auto Conflict Check commands in the Trip Folder's Options menu. You can temporarily override the effect of the settings by selecting or clearing the radio buttons in the Asset Assignment window. The change is in effect only for your current session in the Trip Folder.

Determining whether the driver or tractor field is first

By default, the Tractor field appears in the far left of the Resources/Assets/Status to be assigned… section of the Asset Assignment window. The Driver1 field appears to the right of it. If you want, you can use the DriverFirst setting to reverse the order in which they are displayed.

[Asset Assignment]
DriverFirst
Applies to / TMWSuite: 1998 and later
Description / By default, the Asset Assignment window displays the Tractor field in the far left of the Resources/Assets/Status to be assigned to the current segment section. The Driver 1 field is displayed to the right of the Tractor field.
This setting allows you to reverse the display, making the Driver 1 field first.
Options /
  • No (default)
Display Tractor as the first field.
Note: This option is overridden when the Asset Assignment window is set up to allow extended asset assignments and the extended layout is displayed. The window displays the fields needed for extended asset assignments when you have the ExtendedAssetAssignment=Y setting in the [AssetAssignment] section.
  • Yes
Display Driver 1 as the first field.

Controlling how trip assignments affect driver/tractor profile pairing

At some trucking companies, drivers always use the same tractors. At other companies, drivers may change tractors frequently.

If the same driver and tractor are always paired together, the pairing can be managed in either of these ways:

  • In a tractor profile in File Maintenance, you can use the Driver 1 and Driver 2 fields to specify the lead driver and co-driver that typically use the tractor.
  • In a driver profile, you can use the Tractor field to specify the tractor the driver normally uses.

In the example below, driver BILBAK is linked specifically to tractor TRCBAK in the driver profile; and tractor TRCBAK is linked to driver BILBAK in the tractor profile.


Driver profile /
Tractor profile

The driver/tractor relationship makes dispatch assignment easier since assigning one will also assign the other, saving a few keystrokes. This is convenient if drivers normally use the same tractors.

However, by default, the relationship is not protected. The system automatically updates the driver/tractor pairing each time the driver or tractor are started on a trip.

For example, when you assign a driver to a trip in the Asset Assignment window or by using the Stop Detail grid in the Trip Folder, the system will automatically fill in the Tractor field with the ID of the tractor most recently paired with that driver when the trip is started.

You can use the DrvTrcProt General Info Table setting to protect an existing relationship in the master files of the driver, the tractor, or both.

DrvTrcProt
Applies to / TMWSuite: 2000 and later, TMW Operations
Description / By default, the driver profile lists the tractor that was assigned to the driver's last Started or Completed trip. Similarly, the tractor profile lists the driver who was assigned to the tractor's most recent Started or Completed trip.
This setting allows you to protect the driver/tractor relationship you record in the driver and/or tractor profiles. In other words, it prevents the system from updating the driver and/or tractor listed in the profiles based on trip assignments.
  • For example, suppose you link DriverA with TractorA in the driver and tractor profiles. With no protection on either profile, the system would update both the driver and tractor profiles if either of the following occurs:
  • DriverA is started on a trip with a different tractor.
TractorA is started on a trip with a different driver.
Your entry in the String1 field tells the system how to handle driver/tractor pairing.
String1 /
  • NONE (default)
Offers no protection
  • DRV
Protects the driver profile from being updated with the driver's current tractor assignments on a trip.
  • TRC
Protects the tractor profile from being updated with the tractor's current driver assignment on a trip.
  • BOTH
Protects both the driver profile and tractor profile from being updated with current resource assignments on a trip.
Additional Notes / In TMW Operations, this setting does not protect driver/tractor pairing from changes made in the Maintain Tractor-Driver Assignment window.

Assigning the last primary trailer used by a tractor on the tractor's current trip

By default, when you assign resources to a trip, the system does not automatically populate the Trailer1 field with a trailer ID. However, you can use the TrailerOption setting to configure the system to automatically fill the Trailer1 field with the ID of the trailer last used by that tractor.

[Dispatch]
TrailerOption
Applies to / TMWSuite, TMW Operations
Description / This setting affects the assignment of a primary trailer to a trip. It determines whether the system automatically populates the primary trailer field with the ID of the primary trailer last used by the tractor. This setting applies to TMWSuite Dispatch and Order Entry, as well as TMW Operations:
  • In Dispatch, it determines whether the system will autofill the Trailer1 field in the Asset Assignment window with the ID of the trailer last used by the tractor assigned to the trip.
  • Note: This setting is ignored when you use the Match command in the Planning Worksheet.
In Order Entry, it determines whether the Trailer Options field is displayed in the Assign/Driver Equipment window with a default value of Use Current Trailer, and whether the system will autofill the Trailer and Pup fields with the ID(s) of the trailer(s) last used by the tractor assigned to the trip.
  • In TMW Operations, it determines whether the ID of the trailer last used by the tractor assigned to the trip will autofill the Trailer 1 fields in the following locations:
  • The All Stops grid in Order Entry.
  • The Trip Info tab and the Stops grid in the Trip Folder.
Note: The Trailer 1 field in the Assign/Driver Equipment window in TMW Operations does not autofill.
Options /
  • Yes (default)
Autofill the trailer fields with the ID of the trailer(s) last used by the tractor.
Note: If you want the system to autofill the Trailer2 field with the ID of the pup trailer in Dispatch or in TMW Operations, you must have PupTrailerOption=Y set in the [Dispatch] section of your TTS50.ini.
  • No
Do not autofill trailer information in Dispatch, Order Entry, or in TMW Operations. In addition, do not display the following fields:
The Trailer Options field in Order Entry's Assign/Driver Equipment window.
  • The Trailer 1 field in the Assign/Driver Equipment window in TMW Operations

Assigning the last secondary trailer used by a tractor on the tractor's current trip

By default, when you assign resources to a trip, the system does not automatically populate the Trailer2 field with a trailer ID. However, you can use the PupTrailerOption setting to configure the system to automatically fill the Trailer2 field with the ID of the secondary trailer last used by that tractor.