B737-900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155; Flight Crew Type 30
Workload; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy
Flight was a 737-900ER. After landing we received an ACARS message that due to center of gravity loading; 25 bags would have to be offloaded from the aft pit before we deplaned passengers. This was the first we heard of the issues; and it came at a very congested time in the cockpit when clearing the runway and trying to navigate taxi instructions. We had little time to coordinate with the flight attendants and passengers. However; the station/ramp did not follow the procedure. The ramp went immediately to the forward pit first to start unloading bags; and the Customer Service Representatives (CSR) immediately opened the jetway and wanted to offload passengers. My First Officer said the same experience had recently happened to him at [another airport]. The ACARS sends a confusing message about offloading bags from the aft pit before any passengers can get off the airplane. This confusing message comes at an extremely inconvenient time; and could potentially cause a taxi deviation or runway incursion. Likewise; the station seems to not know anything about this procedure; and the crew has to try and rush and intervene with ramp loaders and jetway drivers while trying to shut down the engines and secure the cockpit. We had flown for 5 and 1/2 hours with the load of passengers and bags determined; but didn't get this message until after landing. This procedure is not working. It is dangerous for the flight crew trying to taxi and park the aircraft; and the baggage handlers and gate agents are apparently not receiving the information at all.
B737-900 Captain reported receiving critical information regarding offloading procedures at the last minute taxiing into gate.