Street Turn: Carrier Repositioning and Cost Savings

Street Turn: Carrier Repositioning and Cost Savings

What a Street Turn Is

A Street Turn occurs when a trailer, container, or chassis that has been used to deliver goods is handed off directly to another carrier who will use it for a new outbound move, rather than returning the equipment to the original carrier's yard or an empty storage location. The handoff typically happens curbside, at a warehouse dock, a cross-dock facility, or at an agreed public location. By eliminating the need for the original carrier to deadhead back to a yard, a street turn saves time, reduces fuel consumption, and minimizes equipment idle time.

Why Street Turns Matter

Street turns address a common inefficiency in freight transport: empty miles. When carriers must return equipment empty, the industry incurs labor, fuel, fleet wear, and time costs. A well-coordinated street turn converts what would be an empty repositioning into a productive move, improving asset utilization across the logistics network.

Benefits include:

• Cost reduction in carrier repositioning and detention fees.

• Faster equipment turnaround and reduced dwell time.

• Lower environmental impact due to fewer empty truck miles.

• Improved collaboration and tighter cycle times between shippers and carriers.

Common Street Turn Scenarios

Street turns can occur in several practical situations:

• At a distribution center where inbound and outbound carriers are present concurrently.

• Between carrier drivers at an agreed roadside or public lot (with appropriate safety and legal considerations).

• During cross-dock operations where contents are transloaded and the original trailer is re-assigned.

How a Street Turn Works — Step-by-Step

While operations vary by company, a typical street turn follows these steps:

• Identification: The inbound trailer is identified as available for immediate re-use.

• Consent and Documentation: The inbound carrier, outbound carrier, and shipper agree to the transfer and document equipment numbers, seal status, and cargo condition.

• Inspection: Both carriers visually inspect trailer seals, damage, and load documentation.

• Hand-off: Drivers swap paperwork and the outbound carrier takes possession of the equipment.

• Notification and Tracking: TMS/WMS systems are updated to reflect the new equipment custody and the move is tracked to destination.

Technology and Systems That Enable Street Turns

Efficient street turns rely on timely information and clear documentation.

Useful technologies include:

• Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to match inbound equipment availability with scheduled outbound loads.

• Yard Management Systems (YMS) to monitor trailer dwell and location at facilities.

• Real-time tracking (GPS, ELD data) to confirm arrival and driver availability.

• Automated notifications and electronic proof-of-delivery (ePOD) to accelerate consent and documentation.

Best Practices

To maximize success, practitioners should adopt several best practices:

• Formalize processes: Create SOPs describing when a street turn is allowed, required documentation, inspection standards, and liability rules.

• Establish agreements: Carrier-to-carrier and shipper agreements should spell out responsibilities and compensation for a street turn.

• Prioritize safety and compliance: Ensure transfers happen at legal and secure locations and comply with customs or regulatory requirements for cross-border moves.

• Communicate in real time: Use mobile apps or TMS alerts so inbound and outbound drivers and operations teams coordinate arrival windows.

• Track KPIs: Monitor empty miles avoided, detention saved, trailer turnaround time, and cost per repositioning to quantify benefits.

Real-World Example

A retail distributor receiving multiple inbound loads each morning used to have inbound trailers returned to carrier yards overnight. By identifying inbound trailers that matched scheduled outbound runs and coordinating with preferred carriers, the distributor reduced the yards-to-dock repositioning by 30%, lowered detention and fuel spend, and improved on-time outbound departures during peak season.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Street turns are operationally simple but can fail without proper controls:

• Pitfall: Poor documentation. Without clear records of equipment transfer, disputes arise over damage or missing cargo. Mitigation: use electronic signatures, photographs, and ePOD.

• Pitfall: Liability confusion. Unclear responsibility for damage or lost seals causes delays. Mitigation: sign standardized hand-off agreements and include them in carrier contracts.

• Pitfall: Security and theft risk. Hand-offs at unsecured locations increase risk. Mitigation: restrict public handoffs, use vetted carriers, and require inspections.

• Pitfall: Regulatory or customs non-compliance. Cross-border street turns may violate customs procedures. Mitigation: coordinate with customs brokers and ensure documentation accompanies equipment.

When Not to Use a Street Turn

Street turns are not appropriate for every load. Avoid them when the cargo requires specialized handling, when customs or bonded status prohibits transfer, when trailers are sealed with sensitive contents, or when no trusted outbound carrier is available.

Measuring Success

Key performance indicators for street turns include:

• Empty miles avoided (vehicle miles not driven empty).

• Trailer turnaround time (dwell reduction).

• Cost savings vs. standard repositioning costs.

• Number of street turns executed per period and percentage of eligible loads converted.

Final Thoughts

As carriers and shippers push for efficiency and sustainability, the Street Turn remains a pragmatic, low-tech yet high-impact tactic. When supported by clear processes, agreements, and modern freight technology, street turns turn idle assets into productive moves — saving money, time, and fuel while improving network fluidity. For any operations manager seeking quick wins, establishing a controlled street turn program is an effective next step.