Ask a Yard Dog

Well this got interesting, I'll try to reply to everyone.

As I said, if you treat with me respect I have zero problem giving it in return. I'll usually even try to be polite with the rude ones, cause I understand everyone can have a bad day, but I still have a breaking point.

We had a guy try this on us actually. One of our first rows in the lot is just for reefer trailers, its further apart so we can spin around without tearing the reefers off. Well van drivers always like to park here. One guy decided to go in there, we asked him to move and he grumbled and did.

In an attempt to 'get back at us', he did this and when we asked him about it, he just laughed and said 'good luck'. Well, we used that handy radio they gave us and informed the shipping office. They refused to give him his bills and made him come down and crank the trailer up, all while our whole shift sat around and watched him with a smile. Icing on the cake, the DC banned him from the facility and informed his company he would be banned and why.

As I've said our DC does not screw around. I've seen road drivers get fired over their actions on our campus, i've seen security escort people off campus, and I've seen security resort to calling the local police to get rid of people. All more times then one would think.

Now this on the other hand is probably the dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum (and thats saying a lot). Not to mention is legitimately dangerous and could get someone hurt.

All our loads are high value and with that come security cameras everywhere (the kind of cameras that can zoom in a mile and see you pick your nose), on top of this the yard guys are also watching drivers all the time. Most likely you'd get caught trying this and you would be kicked off campus and I wouldn't be surprised if they involved Police in it.

I hope for others sake you're not this dumb to try this.

I appreciate it. As I've stated, while I did not drive OTR for long, I did do it. So I understand some of what you guys/gals go through. I've seen more then my share of bad and good drivers. Theirs some I will joke with and trade stories and others that I just walk away from.

Even though I can get busy, it doesn't mean I'm not willing to lend a hand. I've helped drivers slide tandems, fix trailers, guide them into spots and even just last week laid under a trailer and showed a rookie driver how to beat the brakes on a frozen trailers.

Theirs good and bad eggs out there in both our professions. I just try to keep a smile and do what I can.

Honestly the hardest thing about the job is what the whole job is, backing trailers. I was never a fantastic backer out on the road, I was one of the guys who avoided truck stops because I was too afraid to back into spots. So coming to a job where I'm backing so much was a bit of an adjustment. While most of it seems second nature now, theirs a lot of real tight spots we back into. We have few doors where you got maybe 2-3 inches from a concrete ramp. Sometimes you're dealing with half broken trailers that don't stop when you want them too (*cough* swift *end cough*) and sometimes you have to blindside. Add all this in various weather from pouring rain, to heavy fog, and to snow.

In the end it comes down to simply practice makes perfect. The yard trucks do turn quicker and are more maneuverable then an OTR truck and once you get the feel of them, this becomes a great advantage.

Just like in the big truck. ALWAYS do a tug test. It's saved my ### more times then I could ever count. I've seen more then my share of drivers drop trailers because the 5th wheel wasn't locked and it's just a pain to deal with. Sometimes if I'm unsure, I'll lift the trailer up and pull again. If i'm still unsure, get out and look.

When I unhook from a trailer, something I always do is look behind me right before I pull out to make sure my lines aren't still attached. Very good habit to get into.

Depends. During busy season average maybe 60-70 or so. Slower season it's around 30-40.

None of our pups have nose pins.

Well one thing we do is every trailer we put in the door we attach a bungee to each door encase the holdbacks fails so it has an extra thing to keep the door from moving. Failure to use bungees will result in a write up, multiple instances and you're gone.

Door will just get you wrote up if you haven't had under accidents, though if it happens again or another accident of sorts, you'd be gone. Company also will report it on DAC too.

Clean as in sweep and stuff? No. But if we're slow we will organize it. We have specific carriers that go in each row and so on. So we'll tidy it up and make it all purty like.

I figure similar to a fox.

Pretty much. First truck be a big POS that barely runs and probably isn't even safe to drive. A new guy is never going to be on par speed wise with a guy who's been doing it awhile. Just take your time and don't cause an accident. As you get more comfortable and familiar, speed will start coming in more.

Dress for the weather.
Gloves are great cause lines get grease all over them.
Flashlight needed if working nights.
Carhartts are awesome for winter.
If you don't have a hammer, get one. They're invaluable between beating breaks, closing those half broken trailer doors, and pretty much beating every container that comes in cause they're pieces of junk.