Painting on aluminum

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by gentleroger, Aug 1, 2020.

  1. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

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    We've got a customer who is having continual issues getting the correct trailer number on the BOL. The problem is the clerk calls the spotter to put an empty into dock **, then the loader is supposed to go out and put a jackstand underneath, wheel chocks on both sides, and a glad hand lock (thanks Landstar for ripping out a dock lock). The loader then loads the trailer and turns in a tally sheet with the trailer number to the clerk, who bills out the load. There is a trailer number stenciled inside the trailer, but on many trailers it has been rubbed off, or covered by discardable load securement devices, or is otherwise illegible. I've tried taking a Sharpie to the trailer walls, but that worked for all of three days.

    I'm thinking we could put the trailer number on the inside of the roof so it can't (in theory) be rubbed away or obscured. The roof is sheet aluminum, would spray paint work or do I need something else?
     
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  3. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    No expert. But what about that rubber paint? The flex seal stuff
     
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  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If you give the aluminum a light sand with like 1000 grit paper and wipe the area down real good with isopropyl alcohol I'm sure spray paint would stay there just fine.
     
  5. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Yes, especially on the inside. Just rough it a little to give the paint something to bite into, then clean it real well.

    How many trailers are you talking about? FastSigns or a similar place could print out vinyl numbers too.
     
  6. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    So why can't the loader get the trailer number while he is doing all that other stuff outside the trailer?
    It is plain enough on the outside of the trailer, right?

    And most places I go to ask me the trailer number when I check in.
    ?
    ???
    Why leave it to someone reading it from the inside of the trailer when there are so many problems that way?
    ???


    It really sounds like a brain dead customer if they can't figure out how to obtain the correct trailer number.
     
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  7. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

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    Brain dead would be a step up for these guys.

    Thursday night I have a couple of hours left and I hope to get under the first pull for Friday morning early which will either get me home early or mean a really nice paycheck, but the load isn't ready. They say it will be ready 0500, delivery is by 0700 48 miles away on two lane roads, hard appointment time. I hit the yard at 0530 (tight yes, but still possible), load's not ready - they didn't have the raw material to make the product. Didn't you know that at 1830 last night? So now my clock has started, but the next load doesn't deliver until 1100, 46 miles away.

    At end of day Friday they told us we had 18 loads for Monday, we have 10 drivers running the account, so a very light day. This morning I got a call asking if I could stage at the customer Sunday night because now we have 25 loads - still possible, but tough. I can't for a variety of reasons - starting with "your failure to plan is not my problem" and running the gambit to "I just don't give a gosh darn". This afternoon dispatcher gives me a call just because he needed someone to b**** to and we are up to 34 loads. Customer is saying "we signed with you because you said we'd have surge capacity". Yeah, but you have to give us some notice. If at noon on Friday we're not projected to be balanced in our market for Monday, our area planners start soliciting fright on the spot market to make sure we can get guys moving. If you ask for Monday capacity on Saturday morning, boy you sure are SOL. If you ask for it Saturday afternoon, up your ziggy with a wah wah brush.
     
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  8. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Go to an auto paint store and they will set you up with an etching primer and paint. Clean the surface really well, use the etching primer and let it dry, then use the paint.

    It won't come off.
     
  9. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    but, then you have to get the people to look up to find the number.

    nobody looks up.
     
  10. Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    I bought a used trailer with the trailer number on a little plaque riveted to the trailer wall. Six years later, still there.
     
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  11. Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

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    Something must be in the water. I mean c'mon even TQL doesn't screw up my wagon number lol and that's saying something
     
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  12. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

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