How to Receive Your Generator Shipment

Receiving your Generator can be an exciting time!  In all the excitement, here are some pointers to keep it a positive experience.

Delivery Appointment

• Usually the trucker’s Customer Service Department will call you a day ahead of the delivery to make an appointment.  This appointment is subject to change, so see below, and prepare to be flexible.
• Get the phone number for the dispatcher at the terminal that will actually make the delivery.
• Get the PRO number or tracking number of your shipment.
• If you have a dock and a forklift, you are all set.  Remember that unloading, rigging, and installation are not included, so delivery is “complete” when the driver has the Generator at the back of the truck.
• If you ordered liftgate delivery to the pavement, make sure that the driver will have a liftgate and a pallet jack.  Delivery is “complete” when the driver has the Generator on the pavement.
• Early on the morning of your appointment (6am-8am), call the dispatcher.  Ask him when he estimates that you will receive the freight.  This may be different from your appointment, because at that time they did not know what other freight would arrive for the same delivery route.
• If your delivery needs a liftgate and a pallet jack, remind the dispatcher.
• If possible, get the driver’s cell-phone number; or call the dispatcher again if there is any problem.

In Case of Damage During Shipping

• Damage is rare, but if there is any, these steps are essential to get it fixed at the trucker’s expense.
• Please make sure that your receiving personnel will inspect the Generator and Switch for damage. 
• If there is any damage, they MUST have the truck driver sign on the paperwork that the shipment was delivered “damaged”, and KEEP THAT COPY.  Otherwise, the trucker may deny the damage claim. 
• Ideally, receiving personnel would also take a photo of any damage to help with the claim.  If the photo is a digital photo, then it can be emailed as necessary.
• ASAP please fax us the Bill of Lading with the driver’s signature, and call us.

Unloading and Handling the Generator

• You are responsible for any damage during off-loading, moving, or setting the Generator in place.
• Although the Generator is a heavy piece of equipment, its housing is only sheet metal that is easily damaged.
• To move the Generator to the end of the trailer, use a forklift truck, pallet jack, rollers, or hand trucks.  Do not drag it to the end of the trailer.
• When using a forklift truck, make sure that the forks are low, not tilted, and go into the fork pockets of the pallet.  Most damage is caused by the forks being too high and denting the housing, or being tilted upward so that the underside of the Generator is damaged.
• When a loading dock is not available, off-load the Generator by using the lift-gate or other equipment designed for lifting.  Do not use makeshift ramps to slide the Generator off the truck or onto the pad.
• To lift the Generator, use a spreader bar with nylon slings, rated for the weight of the Generator, and attach them only to the Generac-recommended lifting points for that specific model.  Do not lift the Generator with chains.
• If you transport the generator, hold it in place with load bars or similar equipment on the pallet, not on the Generator housing.  The Generator is firmly bolted to the pallet.  Do not use straps on the housing, since the housing will easily bend or distort.