DOCK/FACILITY ETIQUETTE 101 long format.

The megas must have all released a huge batch of fresh drivers as we have had a huge influx of new drivers show up to our facility clueless and causing all kinds of unwarranted chaos.

RESEARCH THE LOCATION, roads to the facility, where the entrance and exit are, google satellite and google street view are god sent in the modern age of trucking, if can give you so much information.

Have your pick up numbers or BOL ready BEFORE reaching the receptionist or security gate, you are 1 out of millions of truck drivers, NO you dont deserve special treatment to sit and block an inbound/exit gate until your company sends you correct information. If you are asked what you are delivering, you should know, not reply "idk lol"

upon getting your dock, proceed accordingly and in an efficient manner, none of this 4mph nonsense so you can cheat your clock. if you are new to the facility, simply ask for directions to your dock from the receptionist/ security guard.

while moving to your dock, scan around, look at the space you have, be aware of bad drivers and inanimate objects that could be in your way or end up in your way, this also gives you an opportunity to figure out HOW you want to bump that dock based on the space you may have, unless the facility warrants it or its very low traffic WAIT to slide your tandems until you are in your dock, this ensures you are out of the way sooner, when you are ready to start your maneuver TURN YOUR HAZARDS ON, this is the trucking universal sign that you are bumping a dock. PS, if its night time and youre in a dock waiting, TURN YOUR #### HEADLIGHTS OFF.

is it thumb twiddling time? before relaxing, set yourself up for an efficient exit, know where you are going set up your gps or trip plan, know where the closest truck stops are incase you are not allowed to park onsite. There is no excuse for not knowing where youre going

when you accept or are given a load it literally tells you where its picking up and delivering, there are no surprises, if youre unsure, CALL THE CUSTOMER.

REMEMBER YOUR PPE HI-VIS, the last thing anyone wants is another person getting run over because theyre too cool for PPE and if you end up getting hit while not wearing ppe on site where hi-vis is required? you're out of luck, out of a job, and your case is getting thrown out.

take the time you need to bump your dock in a safe manner, there are no hard docks just docks that take a little longer to bump.

you may think the facility employees are just a bunch of a-holes because theyre watching you struggle, I mean yeah, we are, BUT for insurance reasons we simply can not help you on the off chance you still manage to cause damage as that will cause us to be on the hook, im not losing my job over you. You're a professional driver, you should be able to bump any dock you're given.

upon load/unload finish, pull forward, either you or the person loading you closes your doors and seals you up, SLIDE YOUR TANDEMS IN YOUR DOCK, nothing grinds my gears more than when a driver pulls out from their spot only to park and block multiple docks all so they can twiddle their thumbs and slide their tandems. IT IS YOUR DOCK UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO LEAVE, but if you leave your dock before you are ready, you are no longer entitled to take your time impeding others, if another driver is waiting for the dock you're in, well they can wait a little longer, it aint their dock yet.

here is a trick for non air ride trailers, you dont need to lock the pins when you are being loaded / unloaded if theyre slid all the way to the rear, this allows you to pull forward, set your trailer brakes then immediately back up to your desired tandem position before ever stepping out of the truck.

for air ride trailers, you can SET your pins simply by releasing your trailer brakes and then resetting them, rock back or forward for the audible CLUNK the pins make when seating.

once youre all sealed up and ready to go, make your way to the exit in an efficient manner, again the 4mph nonsense aint it man and expecting other drivers to move so you can slide your tandems in the exit gate is a quick way to start an argument.

if your truck is equipped with a kingpin pressure gauge, FIGURE OUT WHAT PSI with a fully loaded truck/trailer gets you legal on all axles, for example my truck fully loaded is 62 psi, if im at or within 1psi of 62 then Im confident my rig was legal prior to scaling if i felt the need to even scale.

loaded to the doors, i lock my tandems moving forward, not loaded to the doors, i lock my tandems moving back.

This will help you slide your tandems to a general location prior to leaving your dock at a facility in case you happen to end up at a facility that gives you your BOL at the exit gate.

oh hey look at that, because you set yourself up for an efficient exit, your gps is set, you know where the truck stops are, and you can leave quick saving time on your clock to maximize that sweet sweet CPM.


Advice
-you make up time being efficient, not by going fast.