Rookies mistakes happen take your time and breath

mpd240 · Dec 1, 2020

I had a buddy drive off with fork lift driver and forklift in his trailer. They gave him the green light and off he went. Made it a couple hundred yards to where he was supposed to park to check his load. The dock workers we’re supposed to close the roll up door. Guy was pissed to say the least. However the screw up was the dock worker. He gave my buddy the green light. Said someone else flipped the light when they were talking to him while he was backing out.

nredfor88 · Dec 1, 2020

MACK E-6 said: ↑

I’m not exactly how much of an issue it is, but apparently the problem is the trailers with excessive rear overhang and air suspensions. Trailer axles slid up means the end of the trailer could be too low for the dock to start with, and then the overhang could create a leverage effect to wind up raising the front off the ground on a dropped trailer.

With air suspensions, they sink under a load, and when the load is removed they’ll rise way above the starting height.

That’s the only theory I can come up with to justify this.

A forklift operator at one place I pick up from prefers loading my spring ride liftgate trailer.
Click to expand...

I’ve always thought something similar for air ride. Also there may be more wear on the air bags if the tandems are up front allowing the suspension greater travel as the forklift enters and exits. I’ve been to places that don’t care if you slide the tandem, but I always do regardless.

25(2)+2 · Dec 1, 2020

There's a place we go to that has the dock locks thatsit just a bit high, and you either have to hit it harder than I like, slide the axle clear back, or, if there's a reason not to slide, I drop the air on the tractor, just before, and it raises that bumper just enough to slide up the lock smoothly. Place is a shallow well setup.

The plant is straight level, we use chocks. Not as much reason for chocks with a well dropping down. If the wheels will turn, it will roll over a chock anyway.

We had a safety guy want us to use jackstands at the plant, but those are long gone. I got greased clothing every time I had to move one of those dirty things in the dark.

Pup trailers often have a leg to drop down when unhooked, I've never seen that on a tandem trailer.

Ridgeline · Dec 1, 2020

Well not the drivers fault.

AKDoug · Dec 1, 2020

MACK E-6 said: ↑

I’m not exactly how much of an issue it is, but apparently the problem is the trailers with excessive rear overhang and air suspensions. Trailer axles slid up means the end of the trailer could be too low for the dock to start with, and then the overhang could create a leverage effect to wind up raising the front off the ground on a dropped trailer.

With air suspensions, they sink under a load, and when the load is removed they’ll rise way above the starting height.

That’s the only theory I can come up with to justify this.

A forklift operator at one place I pick up from prefers loading my spring ride liftgate trailer.
Click to expand...

Copy. My 48' Utility vans have swing down arms when I set the trailer brakes, physically locking the suspension at the correct height and not allowing the trailer to sink. It also doesn't rise when unloaded. I run with my tandems slid all the way forward and I haven't moved them in ages.

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