I can only speak from my own experience in this matter. I attempted with every effort to unload the priority bags first. I don't know how big CO (Colgan) is in TUS but our operation at the last place I worked, we had 4 baggage carts. 2 were used to unload the plane and 2 were used to load the plane. So at any one time, we usually only had 2 empty carts.
This type of luggage (priority tagged) is supposed to be loaded last so that it is the first off in the next city (on bulk loaded planes) When they just throw the luggage on with no care for the bag in the upline city, it makes it very difficult to sort this on the arrival. When I saw a priority tagged bag come off in the middle of unloading, I would put it off to the side and load it on the cart near the other priority bags later. This didn't always happen so many times the bag(s) ended mixed with the non-priority tagged bags.
Now, the plane is all unloaded and it's time to drop the bags in baggage claim. Many times, the person who loaded the carts is not the one who goes to baggage claim. They should know anyway where the priority bags are on the cart but sometimes either they don't know or care. Alot of these guys are making fast-food money and really can't be bothered in what order they unload a cart. To quote Metallica......sad but true.
Sorry for the long-winded response but this is my experience and I'm sure there are other reasons as well but no need to make this any longer than it is.
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