Apparatus and method for freight delivery and pick-up

1. A system comprising:

a user apparatus including:

a user interface configured to communicate with drivers of freight vehicles using a minimized interface configured to have capabilities related to driver check-in, wherein the user apparatus is fixed at a building or stationary kiosk that is separate from a loading/unloading facility; and

one or more input and output devices that are configured to automatically receive driver and/or vehicle information, the input and output devices including:

a Department of Transportation (DOT) reader configured to automatically read a DOT number of a driver's vehicle; and

a card reader configured to automatically read a driver's license or TWIC card,

wherein the user apparatus is configured to automatically perform driver and/or vehicle authorization based on the received driver and/or vehicle information obtained by the DOT reader and the card reader; and

an administrator apparatus configured to automatically coordinate arrival of a plurality of vehicles at the loading/unloading facility to remove or mitigate bottlenecks associated with vehicles awaiting an opportunity to load or unload cargo by performing operations including:

communicating with one or more sensors at the loading/unloading facility;

automatically determining loading/unloading dock availability based on sensor input; and

sending a message to the user interface communicating information including one or more of a check-in time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck and trailer identifying information, scale in/weight documentation, and an authorized driver release.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user apparatus receives input information indicative of at least one of a check-in time, a pick-up/drop-off time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck or trailer identifying information, or scale in/weight information.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the administrator apparatus relays to the user apparatus at least one of an assigned loading dock, a loading dock current usage graphic, a pick-up/drop-off time, or an authorized driver release.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a logistics support facility in communication with at least one of the administrator apparatus, user apparatus, or loading/unloading facility.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a scale system that is in communication with at least one of the administrator apparatus, user apparatus, or loading/unloading facility.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user apparatus and the administrator apparatus each include camera systems that are in communication with one another.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user apparatus verifies driver security information and authorizes the driver for delivery at the loading/unloading facility.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the administrator apparatus and user apparatus are located at a same facility.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the administrator apparatus and user apparatus are located at different facilities.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the administrator apparatus is located at the loading/unloading facility.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pager system in communication with the driver and the administrator apparatus.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user apparatus includes at least one of a kiosk or a wall mounted display.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user apparatus further comprises an optical scanner.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an administrator system that interfaces with the administrator apparatus and the user apparatus and the loading/unloading facility and coordinates the arrival of a delivery/pick-up vehicle at the loading/unloading facility.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the loading/unloading facility includes a sensor to detect the presence of a delivery/pick-up vehicle at a loading dock located at the loading/unloading facility, wherein the sensor is in communication with the administrator apparatus.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a user apparatus including at least one processor configured to execute instructions to communicate with drivers of freight delivery/pick-up vehicles and further configured to gather information regarding drivers and delivery schedules, the user apparatus further comprising:

a Department of Transportation (DOT) reader configured to automatically read a DOT number of a driver's vehicle,

wherein the user apparatus is configured to automatically perform driver and/or vehicle authorization based on received driver and/or vehicle information obtained by the DOT reader,

wherein the user apparatus is fixed at a building or stationary kiosk that is separate from a loading/unloading facility; and

an administrator apparatus that is configured to automatically coordinate arrival of a plurality of vehicles at the loading/unloading facility to remove or mitigate bottlenecks associated with vehicles awaiting an opportunity to load or unload cargo by performing operations including:

communicating with one or more sensors at the loading/unloading facility;

automatically determining loading/unloading dock availability based on sensor input; and

sending a message to the user interface communicating information including one or more of a check-in time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck and trailer identifying information, scale in/weight documentation, and an authorized driver release.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the user apparatus receives input information indicative of at least one of a check-in time, a pick-up/drop-off time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck or trailer identifying information or scale in/weight information.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the administrator apparatus relays to the user apparatus at least one of an assigned loading dock, a loading dock current usage graphic, a pick-up/drop-off time or an authorized driver release.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a pager system including a pager in communication with the administrator apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a camera system in communication with the administrator apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising an optical scanner.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a card reader configured to identify a driver of the delivery/pick-up vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the user apparatus verifies driver security information and authorizes the driver for delivery at the loading/unloading facility.

24. A processor implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor circuit of a user apparatus that is fixed at a building or stationary kiosk that is separate from a loading/unloading facility, driver information for a driver of a freight delivery/pick-up vehicle,

wherein the driver information is received by performing operations comprising:

controlling a DOT reader to automatically read a DOT number of a driver's vehicle; and

automatically performing driver and/or vehicle authorization based on received driver and/or vehicle information obtained by the DOT reader;

communicating the driver information to an administrator apparatus in communication with the loading/unloading facility;

communicating loading/unloading information from the loading/unloading facility to the administrator apparatus;

utilizing, by the administrator apparatus, the driver information and the loading/unloading information to automatically coordinate arrival of a plurality of vehicles at the loading/unloading facility to remove or mitigate bottlenecks associated with vehicles awaiting an opportunity to load or unload cargo by performing operations including:

communicating with one or more sensors at the loading/unloading facility;

automatically determining loading/unloading dock availability based on sensor input; and

sending a message to the user interface communicating information including one or more of a check-in time, authorization information, driver identifying information, truck and trailer identifying information, scale in/weight documentation, and an authorized driver release.