Chapter 3. STORAGE PROCEDURES

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

CHAPTER 3

STORAGE PROCEDURES

Section I. Receiving

space for expected due-ins. However, through advance

3-1. General.

planning, general determinations can be made on where

receipts will be stored.

a. Prompt and accurate processing of receipts is a

prime requisite of an effective supply system. The

3-3. Spotting and Control of Carriers.

details of receiving operations are influenced by the

types of supplies to be handled, distance to the storage

location, type of MHE available, and the physical

a. Although current directives require that the

characteristics of the storage installation.

consignee be notified prior to the shipment arrival,

railcars and trucks may arrive with little or no advance

b. Although the basic principles of receiving are

notice. Carrier scheduling can provide better workload

universally applicable wherever supplies are received

leveling.

for storage and subsequent distribution, receipts of

classified, pilferable, and sensitive items (including

b. Upon notification of or arrival of a shipment, the

small arms) require special handling and controls over

carrier must be directed to the desired unloading site.

and above the basic receiving principles. Section VIII of

This action is called spotting. Proper spotting results in

this chapter delineates the controls necessary to process

the following:

these types of materials. Procedures for receiving

(1) Straight line flow so that minimum travel

hazardous materials may be found in TM 38-410/DLAM

distances and handling actions will be necessary from

4145.11/NAVSUP PUB 573/AFR 69-9/MCO 4450.12,

the carrier to the receiving area or storage location.

Storage and Handling of Hazardous Materials.

(2) Continuous flow and proper balance

between labor and equipment. Lost motion and waiting

3-2. Planning and Coordinating the Operation.

time for labor and equipment must be held to a

minimum.

a. The planning of receiving operations requires

(3) Localizing the unloading operation makes

complete coordination among the storage activities

supervision easier. Also, the use of shorter hauls may

responsible for the different phases of the operation.

reduce requirements for MHE.

This is particularly true for items with a security

c. Truckloads or carloads of a single item or other

classification.

The proper evaluation of advance

large quantities of an item should be spotted for

information prior to actual material receipt is of utmost

unloading at the warehouse where the material will be

importance to ensure that appropriate preliminary steps

stored. This should also be done for heavy or large

are taken to receive the supplies as efficiently and

cube items not suitable for handling in a central

economically as possible.

Any correspondence

receiving area. Some carrier tariff provisions provide

concerning due-in receipts should be considered in

for multiple deliveries at the receiving installation. Such

planning. Prepositioned material receipt documents,

a provision should be used when practical to position

purchase orders, contract schedules, advance bills of

material near the final storage location.

lading, or other shipping documents are types of data

d. Truckloads or carloads of mixed material,

used to determine approximate arrival dates and type

containers with more than one line item, parcel post

and quantity of supplies. Pertinent information on

items, and returns from local shop facilities, and other

significant due-in receipts must be given to personnel

organizations can normally be spotted and processed

concerned

with

warehousing,

transportation,

more efficiently through a central receiving activity.

preservation, packing, and inspection.

e. Unloading operations to release the carrier must

b. Planning and coordinating promote effective

be closely monitored as there are specific periods for

storage space utilization, efficient assignment of labor

carrier holding without a penalty charge. These periods

and equipment, and recognition of receipts requiring

are called free time. If the carrier is retained beyond the

special handling or processing. Normally, it is not

authorized free time, time in excess is subject to

recommended practice to reserve specific storage

demurrage or detention charges.

3-1