Generally speaking, how close must a truck be backed to a dock

I will admit to limited experience with training walls, but why don't you want to be up against the dock? I've seen a few docks with plates so short that a few inches away from contact will be too far for it to reach. Unless both dock and trailer are missing their bump pads I see no reason not to literally bump the dock and leave it there.

 

Rookies!
Try bumping the dock while having to jack knife the tractor to the left or right to allow traffic to pass by!

 

Make it touch and lock the wheels. The fancy fancy new wheels on the brand new trailer.

 

Does backing onto the customer's scale count?

 

FlaSwampRat:

I sure don’t want to see that style of dock wheel locks when I have to plow snow.

someone is going to have to bring out the shovels.

 

"Ridge, this is not four to six inches."

 

I can tell you, I'm my experience, when you bump them flushly oftentimes you'll have to go back out and pull up 2-3 inches to allow the plate to rise and clear the tail of the trailer.
This is more common with manual plates and seldom an issue with hydraulic docks.
To eliminate the walk, I usually bump it flush, and ease up very slightly to allow a tiny bridge.
Those dock lips are 8-10 inches ... so a tiny pull up normally is not a detriment.

Just me.

 

When I’m bumping 4-5 docks a day on Thursday’s, every dock I’ve backed up to, I leave about an inch between the trailer and dock bumpers.

The trailer I use doesn’t have a air suspension dump.

So that space allows some up and down motion.

I do make sure all the dock plates are resting on the trailer floor with plenty of lip on it.