Hello again, and welcome. There we go, a little more formal on that greeting! Yo driver what’s up? Hope it’s your run count, things are really hopping out there! Knocked down a few personal bests over the last few days myself! Easy to do when driving night and day! Shout out to the new drivers I met out there over the weekend, keep up the good work! Thanks for the questions, and here’s some more insights on breaking down the numbers.
Disclaimer: this isn’t about math. No math tests or equations, so breathe easy. We’ll cover some of that, when we can see April 15th on the horizon. Ouch, and let’s talk about some other numbers. House numbers, business numbers, and phone numbers. Yeah, those are little groups of numbers we do all the time as drivers. However, just cause we do them all the time doesn’t mean they’re always easy to find.
Finding Numbers
Sometimes those numbers are cleverly hidden in plain sight. It’s important to know where to look, because that’s one of the most important clues that you’ve found your destination. Confirming those numbers, means you’re not in the wrong spot. Being in the wrong spot, delays completion, and causes confusion, we want to try and avoid that always.
The days before 3rd party delivery apps really took hold, were dominated by in house delivery crews. GPS systems weren’t as advanced, and not everyone had a phone that contained one. One of the top insights passed on to new hires, was to know where you were going before you left. Sounds easy, and it’s actually easy to overlook with the very useful GPS systems we carry in our pockets these days.
The new hires would memorize how many driveways past the corner. Or perhaps memorize 4th residence from the left of the turnaround. And then confirm the numbers. Eventually things like these memory tricks became unnecessary, as the area became familiar. The only thing needed then, were the numbers, to confirm destination.
Fast forward to today, and we still need those numbers for confirmation. With residential addresses, we look at mailboxes for the most likely place to find a number. Sometimes on one side, or both. Occasionally, on a metal plate on top. And sometimes on the post or column of the mailbox, and sometimes not there at all, but on the curb just below the mailbox. Or possibly a reflective ground stake beside the mailbox.
Scanning
If nowhere around that box, scanning the porch posts of the house is the next most likely place for the number. Also scan the area around the front door, usually on the left or right of the door. Occasionally it will be above the front door. It’s on the post of the box in the pic above, tough to see though, so you have to go easy and deliberate in the hoods.
Scanning is something that improves the more you do it. After a while, it’s an auto pilot thing, to scan as you near the destination in unknown areas. Most neighborhoods have a common theme with house numbers, see a few with numbers on the curbing, scan curbs. First five have numbers on posts? Scan posts as you go. And so on.
In the rare event there’s absolutely no numbers to use for confirmation of destination, it’s still possible to pinpoint that location. If the preceding numbers were counting consistently up to the blank house, drive on past a few more, and see how the count goes. If it looks like this : 13-15-blank-19-21-23… that blank, is likely number 17. Use that phone number, and make extra sure.
Businesses
Business numbers are a little less cleverly hidden, and are usually easily identified. Often the client/customer will give very specific instructions on drop off location, such as door numbers, suite numbers and gate numbers. Included with these details is also, usually, a contact number for any problems that may arise.
One week away, are you ready? Halloween and all the great festivities! Serious road time ahead driver! In keeping with the safety idea, I put together some info on what happens when it’s the wrong destination. I included it with this link cause it’s safety info. See ya out there, zoom zoom!
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