Pull-Ups

I was pretty decent with a box, and then spent 4 years running a step deck spread axle, backing around obstacles in the dark off the pavement. It was a little different going back to a closed tandem, and having to hit a small target straight after all that oddball stuff. We had electric dump valves, and I learned to air up the back end when it was straight with the door so that 12 foot of tail didn't knock something over.

Loading turkeys, you will most times have to turn around and back around to get the trailer loaded without tipping it over. We didn't use dump valves on those because they are too unstable.

Many places are too short to get a good setup, and some lots are just nasty, there are places where you end up with the tractor almost jack knifed with the trailer because there isn't enough room to get it straight, you kind of work it in where you want by pulling ahead and backing up until it's lined up.

The DHL yard by Ohare is a good example of one that's interesting, I doubt that the dock plate would fit in the old 96 inch reefers, and the fence was right there. At least they had lines on both sides to line up with.

Last time in Chicago, I got one that a guy came out and helped me so I didn't hit anything, the trailer had to be a little crooked so that the door would clear the trailer next to it, Then, I had to slide the tandems back and back it in again. Sometimes there are tricks you need to use. The guy guiding me didn't know the city well but he helped me do that one without damage.

There's another place I have been to there where the docks were designed for roll doors, 2 102s with swing doors had the doors pushed almost tight against the trailer and you couldn't get out of your truck if there was another on both sides.

My wife was along for that one, she was impressed.

I still don't like dark truck stops at night. Better to be driving and park during the day IMO.