Walmart recommends the following best practices for confirming POs, Scheduling with carriers, and loading freight:
- Routing
- Scheduling
- Loading
Routing Best Practices
- Walmart recommends these best practices for routing if the product is available to ship:
- POs may be confirmed 60 days before the MABD on the purchase order.
- POs must be confirmed in Confirm Shipment as soon as possible after receiving the POs. Walmart requires that POs be confirmed by 4 p.m. Central time the following calendar day after receiving them. (International POs cannot be confirmed until the PO has physically arrived at a U.S. Port.)
- Manual POs may be confirmed 30 days prior to the Must Arrive by Date. If the PO is received less than 30 days prior to MABD, the expectation is to confirm the purchase order by 4 pm CST the next calendar day.
- DO NOT confirm your POs if product is not available to ship by the DNSB.
Walmart also recommends asking the following questions before confirming POs:
- Do the PO quantities (case, weight, cube/pallets) accurately represent the precise amount of trailer space (footprint) needed for each PO?
- If not, follow the steps on p. 31-42 to edit quantities in Confirm Shipment
- Contact your Replenishment Manager or Merchant for assistance updating Online Item Settings to ensure future accuracy
- Is the PO routed for the correct aligned Ship Point (specific location/address where the freight will be picked up by the carrier)? (See p. 106 re: alignment)
- If not, follow the steps on p. 31-42 to edit ship point in Confirm Shipment
- Contact (FTLO team) to correct the Transom ship point alignment to ensure future accuracy
- Do you have all product for the PO(s) available to ship on time?If not, DO NOT confirm the PO(s)
- When product is available contact Replenishment (or access NOVA) to extend the MABD and DNSB; then confirm the PO(s) with updated dates
- For more best practices see the Shipping and Routing Guide, pgs. 81-106.
Scheduling Best Practices
- Walmart describes “shippers of choice” as abiding by the following practices:
- Build relationships with our carrier base through proactive and open communication
- Minimize driver dwell time at origin
- Walmart expectation is to load and depart within 2 hours
- Freight availability
- Expedite check-in process
- Allow for work-ins as needed while also prioritizing drivers who arrive timely
- Provide at least 8 hours of shipping per day and consider including weekend hours
- Provide facilities that accommodate drivers and loading flexibility
- The best way to build flexibility into your schedule is planning open appointment slots into each day. This provides the greatest opportunity to accommodate work-ins and/ or reschedules as needed without impacting the scheduled appointments.
Other things to make note of:
- Dwell and Detention Time
- Ship Point Accessibility & Safety
- Appointment Scheduling Timeliness & Flexibility
- Courteous and respectful staff
- Parking and overnight options on-site and/or in close proximity
- Accommodating lounge/break areas
- Provide an easy and quick way for drivers to get checked in upon arrival
Loading Best Practices
Suppliers are required to have merchandise completely ready to ship on the date confirmed by the carrier pickup appointment.
The key to good loading practices is high and tight! Looser loads create problems during transportation.
Familiarize yourself with the Pallet vs. Slip Sheet vs. Floor Loading guidelines see pg. 122 of the Shipping and Routing Guide and the SPSCS ‘23, especially pgs. 230-235 and 245-248.
More loading best practices and regulations can be found in the Shipping and Routing Guide, pgs. 120-131.