Connect Dumpster Tasks

Connecting dumpster tasks allows Docket to accurately track open rentals, resource availability, and job progression across your schedule. It helps maintain clean workflows between related tasks and reduces errors or gaps in reporting.

Because tasks can be created at different points in a job’s lifecycle, Docket provides several ways to connect them.

Before You Start

Here are a few things to know before you continue:

• Depending on how your permissions are set up you may not be able to access some or all of these settings. Please reach out to your Admin if additional access is needed.
• We strongly suggest connecting dumpster tasks when first creating them to save time and improve accuracy across scheduling and availability tracking.
• This article assumes you're already familiar with how to create a dumpster task.
  • Click here to learn how to create a one-time dumpster task.
  • Click here to learn how to create a recurring dumpster task.

Schedule a Next Task During Task Creation

This is the most efficient way to connect tasks and should be used whenever you know the next step in a rental's lifecycle, like the pick up date or next service date.

Please Note: We don't suggest using the Schedule Next Task function for long-term rentals that need recurring service tasks, like dump-and-returns or exchanges. Click here to learn more about setting up recurring tasks for long-term rental services.

To schedule the next task during task creation, just follow the instructions below:

1. Create a new dumpster task completely before coming back to create the rental's next task.
2. When you're ready to create the next task, look at the Scheduling section.
3. In the Schedule Next Task area, select the task type that comes next for the rental. 
   
   
4. Enter the task's details. This next task will inherit most of its details from the initial task that comes before it.
5. Assuming the first task's details are good to go, click "Create" to save and connect both tasks at once.
   
   

Your billing automations will run on both tasks at the same time, so you may see the invoice editor open two separate invoices, one for each task. 

Schedule Next Task from an Existing Task

Use this method to add a follow-up task to an existing task, like when an additional service is needed during a rental that wasn't previously planned for.

To schedule the next task from an existing task, just follow the instructions below:

1. Open the existing task.
2. Look at the Scheduling section.
3. In the Schedule Next Task area, select the task type.
   
   
4. Enter the task's details. This next task will inherit most of its details from the initial task that comes before it.
5. Click "Update" at the bottom to save and connect the new task.
   
   

Your billing automations will run for the new task, so you may see the invoice editor appear after saving the new task. 

Connect a New Dumpster Task to a Previous Drop-Off Task

If you're halfway through creating a new task and realize it needs to be connected to its previous drop off task, you don't need to find the drop off task and start over in the Schedule Next Task area.

Instead, use this method to connect your new task to its previous drop-off.

TIP: You may need the task (ID) number of the drop off task you want to connect. A task (ID) number is the number that appears at the top of the task on the Schedule page.

To connect a new task to its drop off, just follow the instructions below:

1. At the top of your new dumpster task, select the drop off task this should be connected to.
   
   
2. If the drop off task doesn't appear in the drop-down list, click on the task search link to find the drop off using its task ID (the number at the top of the task on the Schedule page).
   
   
3. After the drop off task has been selected, continue filling out the rest of the task's information and save it like normal.

 After the new task is saved, it'll automatically be connected to the drop off task on the Schedule page.

Assign Next Task to an Existing Dumpster Task (Assign Two Existing Tasks to Each Other)

Use this method when two tasks were created separately and need to be linked. 

TIP: You'll need the task number of the dumpster task that comes second between the two you want to connect. A task (ID) number is the number that appears at the top of the task on the Schedule page.

To assign two existing tasks to each other, just follow the instructions below:

1. Open the task that comes first between the two of them.
2. Click to expand the Scheduling section.
3. Under the Schedule Next Task area, you'll see a place to Assign Next Task. Enter the task's ID that comes next and click the Search button.
   
    
4. Click "Assign" next to the correct task to connect them.
   
   

The two tasks will automatically be connected on the Schedule page.

Schedule Next Dumpster Task via Open Rentals

Use this method when a drop off has been completed, but no follow-up task has been scheduled.

To schedule a next task using Open Rentals, just follow the instructions below:

1. Click into "Assets" in the left-hand menu.
2. Click into "Open Rentals".
3. Find the rental without a next task.
4. Click "Schedule Pick Up".
   
    
5. Create the task like normal.
6. Click "Create" at the bottom when you're done.

The next dumpster task will be connected to the original task and your billing automations will run like normal. 

Confirm Tasks Are Connected

There are two ways to confirm if tasks are connected:

1. By clicking on a task on the Schedule page.
2. By opening a task.

Confirm Task Connection via Schedule Page

To quickly check if a task is connected to any other tasks, just follow the instructions below:

1. From the Schedule page, click on a task.
2. If it highlights green, it's connected to other tasks. Those connected tasks will also highlight green if they're displayed on the schedule.
   
   

Confirm Task Connection via Task Details

To quickly check if a task is connected to any other tasks, just follow the instructions below:

1. Open a task.
2. If it's connected to any other tasks, you'll see navigation buttons at the top.
   
   

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Support team through the chat widget on the bottom of this page or by sending an email to support@yourdocket.com!