Backing Through Door

I did that a LOT when I went back to pulling swing doors after pulling roll-ups for a few years.

 

Yup I can relate to that!!! backing into a hole sucks but after a while it's just like any other dock....one I just LOVE ( note sarcasm) is Raymundo's in Chicago....what a PITA

pull your rig into the drive thru of a bank and then back across the street down the hill of a driveway...just make sure they open the garage doors...LOL

 

Yeah, backing into a building can be lots of fun...NOT!!! I had to hit the dock in the old Hammermill plant in Erie, PA a few times. To add to the stress, the idiot forklift driver I had to deal with hated, and I do mean HATED truck drivers. Liked to throw crap down in the way while I was moving back, so I had to stop and check yet again that there weren't any obstacles. Like lumber filled with nails waiting for a trailer tire. Or shining the dock light directly at my mirror, cause being blind is so much FUN. After the third time I hit that dock, me and Mr. Forklift Driver had a brief chat with his supervisor, after we had a brief "chat" between ourselves. End of the day, he was out of a job and I never went back to Hammermill. Win some, lose some.

 

some of those fork drivers are really useless meatsacks for sure

 

Rather than putting a flashlight on the dock facing you,, try to find one you can attach to the trailer, like one of the old magnetic ones and put it on the back of the trailer pointing at the dock,,almost like a back-up light,,then it won't be shining in your eyes and it will light the way,,two would be ideal one on each side

 

Those little LED lights aren't bright enough to blind you, but they are bright enough to see inside a darkened dock on a sunlit day.

I do have a couple of magnets on an LED light to attach to the trailer bumper. Point the light right at the ground and it gives you a little dot of light to use as a reference to the exact rear point of your trailer when backing against another trailer, light pole, etc. Saves multiple trips out of the cab when you need to park very close to another object.

Just throw a rag on the ground at the point where you want to stop. When the point of light reaches the rag--stop--you're done.

 

Make sure your mirrors and windows are squeaky clean when backing into a black hole, you would be surprised between a few dirty spots and glass that is clean. You can also use your brake lights for added light.

 

Good tip Rockee, that really does make a huge difference! Especially when the sun is rising and setting.

Excellent job Wildbill! We knew you could do it! Now you are familiar with it if you ever go back there again.

 

here are some hints to back to most any dock.
when opening the doors, dont worry about securing them to the trailer, they're like birds, let them fly free.
Time is of the essence, put into high reverse, the dock isn't going anywhere, it'll stop you when you get to it.
you dont need to be straight on the dock. forklifts can steer, dock at an angle, it makes things interesting for the lumpers. Make them earn their overpriced fees.
Lay on the airhorn everytime you back up. Make sure everyone sees how good you are at backing. It's especially important to do this at truckstops late at night. Truckers can't see you backing up when they're sleeping!