Is shipper/receiver responsible for damage to trailer?

Boss man was already in a foul mood when I arrived. He about bit another guy's head off when he saw him starting to take pictures, so I thought it best to "not go there".

 

On the flip side of the topic of this thread, there are some forklift drivers that can do some pretty amazing and creative stuff. In a warehouse opportunities to show those skills might be limited, but I'm always impressed with the guys that work in pipe yards, driving those big articulating forklifts, laying down a layer of pipe across the deck as easy as a feather. Or the guys on the skyjacks extending out 25' to pick one drill collar off the back of the rack, fighting the teeter totter. Some guys and gals take pride in what they do

 

always "walk" your trailer.

have had forks out the side, thru the front, booms thru the roof.

 

Don't care what the sign says, I've threatened a few shippers who made the claim that they are not responsible, I always get paid. The sign means nothing because you didn't agree to it, and especially if they tell you where to park or dock, they are assuming the responsibility.

Had a forklift driver rip out a threashold plate on a reefer trailer with a tuck under lift gate. The deck plate didn't reach into the trailer and I warned the idiot to pull up his forks before he hits the dock plate, he didn't and peirced the edge of a 10 gauge piece of steel and pulling it up then ripped it out of the floor. I made such a big stink about it, he kept saying he isn't responsible and pointer to the sign that said not responsibl but I kept telling him get his manager. The manager said the same thing, not responsible and I told him to get his boss who said to me file the claim and told them to take the sign down. I had I told repaired at a kidron dealer on their dime. A lot of work had to be done becuase the forks also caught the door frame and bottom stainless protector. It took two weeks to get it all done. Oh and they fired the forklift driver.

 

Correct. Any good lawyer would argue that the sign only proves they knew their site was dangerous.

 

It depends on how honest people loading you are. Some are pos scum bags that need to be choked and will lie their way out of anything.

 

unfortunately I have found many instances where the damage wasn't visible till trailer was unloaded then you don't know who did it shipper or receiver.

 

I had an instance where I delivered some big metal things not even sure what they were but went to scrap yard. They told me to drop trailer and park way over here basically out of the view of trailer. not sure what was gonna happen next but what I saw them do to my trailer after that made me sick to my stomach. they hooked up to trailer on one of those trucks that are made for hauling like dumpsters and such well they picked trailer up so it was vertical and shook it to allow the freight to fall out the back. on its way out was banging on the sides and ceiling. I was livid and i approached him and was like wtf do you think your doing? he laughed and said I just do what they tell me to do. then I was handed my paperwork. and that was that i went to office to complain the wouldn't let me talk to anyone. what really made me mad was when I looked across the way and saw a portable dock sitting their. I was like really a portable dock and their gonna do this when they didnt have too. oh they was just being lazy. not much i could do about it ended up having to buy a new trailer few months down the road.