I really messed up today.

I use 2 pieces of small rope and tie doors open with latches. To many times I have had doors come loose and swing free. Been driving for 23 years and still to this day make mistakes and learn new things. When i stop learning its time to stop driving. Sorry about your bad luck but I bet it doesn't happen again.Costly that a learn you file....Peace Out....

 

been there done that it sucks, but always remember g.o.a.l. get out and look has saved me more times than i can count.

 

When I had vans, I always switched out the latches for the spring loaded type of hooks found on dog leashes. Never had a door get loose on me.

 

I just see a trailer and the sleeper.

Ya got to hatw them tailgating trailers.

 

Testing the door latches is fairly easy. After opening them and latching them, shove them against the trailer wall a couple of time hard. .Doing that more than likely will cause them to jump loose. If they don't it is a good chance they won't come loose backing. It works for me. I pull the same trailer every day and every day I slam the door against the wall . Just in case.

 

My younger brother is a yard jockey for a multi billion dollar grocery distribution center, Does about 300 moves in a 5 day period.

One thing He taught me, Carry bungie cords for the barn doors. Wrap it around the handle or post on each door and then slap it underneath on the supports. He calls it secondary measures and never had a door swing free more then a couple inches.

Stupid little trick saved me 1 time during a pull out of a tight space, tucked in that door nicely and added some comfort knowing that door was not going anywhere and had a few more inches for wiggle room.

 

Not an O/O, but years ago, I hooked to a drop trailer in a door in the Charleston, SC area. Trailer loaded and ready to go. Very tight docks, and really not practical to shimmy down between the trailers for any reason...no chocks provided because of this.

Anyway, I hook up, and start to ease out in granny. Windows down, radios off, looking left, right, left, right, left, ri......OH ####!!!

My right side door had come loose from its tether, and swung just enough to embed itself in the corner of the sleeper of the Advance Auto Parts tractor next to me (no cab extenders). Pushed the corner of the sleeper in for top to bottom. AA guy was cool.....I was livid.

Turns out previous drivers had made a temporary repair with twine! The twine failed, and viola! Preventable. Warped the door, but I was able to slam-and-latch it closed. Just a bad break.....still angers me, and this happened 14 years ago.

 

If I understand it correctly your right side door came unlatched on the trailer while you were backing in and it caught? This really is just a case of bad luck and could happen to anyone. Yeah it sucks it cost you the load but I think your being way to hard on yourself.

 

I Believe the old saying goes "to err is human to forgive divine", forgive yourself too, you live you learn.

 

Who knows, if you had got the load something worse may have happened.