Create Deadhead

TMS Remote User Interface

Purpose

This screen allows the vendor to create and process deadhead movements.

Access

Invoked by <File><New><Deadhead> on the TMS Remote User Interface screen.
Invoked by <File><Open><Deadhead> on the TMS Remote User Interface screen.
Invoked by pressing the Process Deadhead iconic button on the TMS Remote User Interface screen.
Invoked by Create Deadhead button on the Equipment List screen.

Design Notes

The <File><New> option allows a deadhead to be created, and fields are available to record the departure and arrival times if desired.  The <File><Open> option allows the user to update (depart or arrive) any currently open deadhead movement.

Upon pickup of the deadhead, the user will be required to enter the preceding associated move that caused the need for the DH move.  Then upon delivery, the user will be required to enter the subsequent associated move that will be performed now that the vendor has arrived at the destination.  An Associated Move is the load number (dash) move number.  For example: 90953001-1 would be the origin move of load 90953001.   Other deadhead moves can also be used as the associated move.  The Move List contains the move number for each move assigned to the vendor.  Each load or deadhead move may only be used once as a preceding associated move and once as a subsequent associated move.

There are times when there is no other move to associate with a deadhead contract.   For these instances, special codes such as Spot Empty, Remove Empty, and Home Terminal may be chosen instead of entering a move number.  Use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the list of special codes.  Sidenote: Normally, pressing the Escape key will close the currently active window.  However, when the cursor is in one of the associated move fields, pressing escape will clear the field and the user can then either enter a move id, perform a move lookup, or use the arrow keys to select another reason.

If the trailer/container entered does not exist in the database, a warning will be issued to the user.  If upon verification, the user confirms that they have entered the correct number, the Create New Equipment screen will be displayed.  Upon entering the new equipment into the system, they can then proceed with the deadhead move update.  The trailer (or bobtail flag) must be specified before picking up the move.

At this point the screen does not allow the vendor to undo an update (short of voiding a newly created DH).  If the move has been picked up or delivered in error, the vendor must contact dispatch to have the times/dates removed or modified.

Screen display changes: When initially creating a deadhead, the Notes box will not be displayed (since no notes yet exist).  In its place will be a field where the vendor can enter the name of the person who told the vendor to perform the move.  This will be recorded and appear in the Notes box the next time the deadhead record is viewed.

Field and Control Definitions

Invokes the Move List screen to search for the desired deadhead move.

The numeric id of the deadhead record can be entered directly if known, avoiding the Move List lookup process.

Optional field.  Captures the individual truck performing the move.
Presently, the tractor filed can not be filled in or an error will result.

Equipment

These fields contain the prefix and number of the equipment being moved empty.  If no equipment is being moved, see the Bobtail description below.

If the deadhead is reflecting a tractor movement only, click this checkbox and leave the trailer field blank.

Invokes the Customer Lookup screen.

The TMS customer number for the origin location.  If known, the value can be directly entered here, avoiding the Customer Lookup process.  If the field is filled in, the customer name, address, city, state, and phone are displayed in the box below.

Invokes the Customer Lookup screen.

The TMS customer number for the destination location.  If known, the value can be directly entered here, avoiding the Customer Lookup process.  If the field is filled in, the customer name, address, city, state, and phone are displayed in the box below.

The date/time the vendor arrived at the origin location.  Time is in military format.  Pressing <Enter> when the time or date field is blank will default in the current system time of the PC performing the update.

The date/time the vendor arrived at the destination location.  Time is in military format.  Pressing <Enter> when the time or date field is blank will default in the current system time of the PC performing the update.

Invokes Move List to search for the desired move.

The prior move that necessitated creation of the deadhead.  If associating an actual move, enter the move or perform a move lookup.  If there is no move, use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the valid list of reasons.  See the Design Notes above for additional details.

Invokes Move List to search for the desired move.

The next move that necessitated creation of the deadhead.  If associating an actual move, enter the move or perform a move lookup.  If there is no move, use the Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the valid list of reasons.  See the Design Notes above for additional details.

This field is only visible when creating a new deadhead record.  Existing deadhead records show the Notes box instead of this field.  This field is a free-form text box that can be used to input the name of the person who instructed the vendor to perform the deadhead.  The information entered will be recorded as a note, and will appear in the notes section the next time the deadhead is viewed.

A view-only scrolling text box that contains any notes that have been entered against the deadhead.  This field is not displayed when creating a new deadhead (because no notes currently exist for a new deadhead).  Instead, the Requested By field described above is displayed.

An optional text field that allows the user to add additional notes to the deadhead.   These notes are visible to the Dispatcher on the TMS Deadhead screen.

If a deadhead has been created by mistake and has not yet been picked-up, this button provides the ability to delete the record from the system.  Upon pressing it, the system will display a message asking for confirmation of the delete action.   Clicking Yes will remove the record.  Clicking No will leave the deadhead unchanged.

Once the desired data has been entered into the screen, pressing this button will save the changes to the TMS database.  An error box may be displayed if any required fields are missing or some other problem was encountered during the update process.

Pressing this button will discard any information entered and close the Process Deadhead window. Pressing <Esc> anywhere on the screen has the same effect.

Version 2.0.1, revised 08/04/2004
Copyright © 1999-2004 TransWorks