Climbing in and out of trailers

All the chem trailers I have pulled have ladders and catwalks lots easier than a van. On the cement trailers theres no catwalk just a round trailer and manholes right smack dab in the way, there the ones I found creepy.

 

Just getting it done; best way you can, with what you have to work with..
Same trucking since the 50's. Some thing's don't change much.

 

At 5'8"and 300lbs with a bad knee at 61 years old I can get up there but I worry about getting hurt.
First I close one door and use it for a handle but yesterday I was in Oklahoma and had to sweep one out, it must have been 120 in there. So I found a collapseable ladder for 60 bucks on Amazon

 

There you go, safe is always best. I carry my 48" step ladder, had a guy laughing thought it was hysterical, then he slipped being macho and now hes off on workmans comp injured a disk in his lower back. Go with what you feel is safest.

 

My 60 year old knees and back warned me a long time ago that if I continued climbing in and jumping out of trailers, they would make life miserable for me. Bought a 4 ft folding ladder and keep it in the back of the trailer. Works like a charm. Maybe someday I'll get one of those pull out ladders installed on the back of my trailer.

Don't be one of those fat old farts that tries to get other drivers to climb in their trailer to remove their load locks for them. Had one of those guys a few weeks ago at a receiver. He told me "we drivers need to look out for one another", and I said "we need to look out for ourselves first", and I said I couldn't help him. I would have let him use my ladder, but my trailer was still sealed. He managed to find another sucker.

 

So bitter, might be ready for home time there bud.

 

i guess you don't read the signature lines..been retired since last year, after 48 years.....there bud.

 

Ok instead of home time you could enjoy a nice midday nap or a cool beverage bud

 

I pull reefer. I shut and latch the left door. Then partially shut the right door. then step up Onto the bumper with my fingers in the drain channel for balance reasons.. then I put my left foot sideways on the ledge around the lights and the width of the trailer. It’s only about a 2” ledge so that’s the dangerous part. I use the hinge on the partially closed door as a hand hold. Some of our newer trailers have a grab bar on the left door to help. I swing the right leg up and in the trailer and stand up. Takes a little practice but is pretty easy, even for a fat dude like me.
After 30 years of carpentry, my knees do not like the kneeling into the trailer method.
Our newest trailers have a pull out/slide out stepS on the right side to help climbing in.

 

FYI. Here is the guidance from the official OSHA website in response to this very question.
The finest government gobbledygook which at the end says: Tough luck, no requirements(hand holds, steps, etc. ) you are on your own to fall out of the truck as much as you want.

Requirements for Rails and Steps for Access to Semi-Trailers (Walking and working surfaces, motor vehicles, stairs) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration