How can I stop our trailers from getting scratched, dinged, etc.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by sanddollar, Sep 14, 2016.

  1. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    You just look guilty. :dontknow:
     
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  3. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    I was thinking those long foam tubes used for swimming... Fairly cheap at Walmart.

    Beside all the drivers would be very unproductive all standing around popping the bubbles and making designs across the sides of the trailers.

    Cheap company logos too I guess.
     
  4. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Guess I should have read further before responding. LOL
     
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  5. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Love that show!!!
     
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  6. Wooly Rhino

    Wooly Rhino Road Train Member

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    I also like "Bar Rescue". It is like a train wreck but I still watch it. Same show every week just different actors.


    My Daughter and her boyfriend are at Spirits on Bourbon Street in New Orleans tonight. They sent me a picture 2205.jpeg
     
    Lepton1, MidWest_MacDaddy and Big Don Thank this.
  7. Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    @Wooly Rhino, very nice! Looks like they are having a great time!
     
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  8. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Lovely couple and a beautiful daughter.
    She must take after her mother... :p
     
    Wooly Rhino Thanks this.
  9. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Is that Johnny Manziel in the background?
     
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  10. mugurpe

    mugurpe Medium Load Member

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    I think the suggestions to out-source is a good one. But there may be other details to the business that make that tricky, sanddollar isn't really giving us the whole scoop on what they do or why. Suggesting they get better drivers and pay them more is a lot easier said than done. I have a very tight yard (we gotta pull mirrors in to get some of the trucks in) and we've had 1 damages in 10 years due to parking in our own yard and it was a very small scratch on our own fender.

    My suggestions:
    lots of effective line-striping with the kind of paint that lights up at night like the state uses on roads. Extend the lines farther than you think you need them as it gives drivers good point of reference of how their truck is oriented.

    put a ton of cones with the reflective tape on the tops out in the yard. Teach your drivers to bump them like they're a dock. It's easy to not back too far if you just go tap the cone with the back corner of your trailer.

    have some staff troll the yard once a day documenting damage, cleaning things, putting the cones back where they belong. It'll demonstrate you A) care about the yard, which might change some attitiudes B) make it easier for the drivers C) hold people accountable. People also get better at backing when everything is clean, hard to say why, but it's true.

    have a mirror/window wash station in the yard. I've seen people do some dumb #### because they can't see anything in their mirrors. Especially on rentals. Make it easy for clean windows and mirrors to happen and it'll make it a LOT easier for the drivers to park effectively.

    Lighting. I dunno what your yard is like but if any of this is happening in the dark, lighting goes a long way.

    What season are you seasonal? There are other seasonal businesses you might be able to partner with for labor/equipment/etc that works out well for both of you. Moving companies, tent rentals, etc could be helpful partners for equipment/drivers.
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
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