Loading, single axle truck, weight of forklift, etc.

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by Trugo, Sep 26, 2017.

  1. Trugo

    Trugo Light Load Member

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    new to the business. I'm driving my 2001 single axle freightliner 26ft straight truck doing ltl deliveries. This is a single rear axle truck with a 16,000kg / 35,000lb gvwr.

    Most of the docks I go to use forklifts. My truck appears stressed when the forklift goes in and out. I'm thinking forklifts are too heavy for the truck.

    Opinions? How do others with single axle trucks get loaded? Pump truck only??

    Thanks
     
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  3. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Many have a set of landing legs off a trailer put on rear of truck frame to keep fork/lifts weight on legs and not your springs but you must watch the deck so lift tires wont fall thru when a heavy pallet is being loaded, if they have a smaller fork lift have them use it not the largest one in warehouse?
     
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  4. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    I always just used a pallet jack. They just sat the pallets on the rear and I put them where I wanted.
    A bit of sweat equity is good for your health.
     
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  5. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    Our straight trucks say "NO FORKLIFTS ALLOWED" on the roll-up door. I assume there's a reason for that. Get a pallet jack.
     
  6. Trugo

    Trugo Light Load Member

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    Good advice
     
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  7. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Ours too.

    The dock idiots routinely ignore that however.
     
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  8. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    Truth be told, I don't think I'd worry much about it. It's a good bet your truck has a 23k lb rated axle under it.

    One time I would suggest caution is at the docks that use this kind of plate, AND it's higher than your truck.

    [​IMG]

    If the place has THIS kind, the cause for concern is less, IMHO, because the angle isn't as steep and the forklift would be less likely to bottom out and get stuck.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Trugo

    Trugo Light Load Member

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    Typically I see the second kind. Don't think I've seen that top one yet. Ran all day today telling all the dockies to keep out, and it was not bad at all. Maybe it takes a little more time. I'll save the forklift entries for the odd no option occasion.
     
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  10. JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    Most places that have forklifts also have electric pallet jacks that weigh a third or less of what the forklift weighs. Those, or a hand jack...I personally wouldn't care to have a standard forklift in a straight truck, not so much for the axle weight rating as the decking/flooring in the box.
     
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  11. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    Yeah, I was thinking it was more about the floor handling that much weight.
     
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