scraped up my first trailer today

The company used to just have roll up door trailers. But, they decided it might be cheaper to go with swing door trailers. So, whenever they decided to buy newer trailers, they would get about 10 trailers. After a while, they had gotten about 30 swing door trailers, and having to pay replace all the hinges on a door that had come unlatched, they started putting the spring loaded snaps on the end of the chains. That would solve the problem for a while. But, after a while, the springs would wear out so the snap wouldn't hold, or the end of it would just break off, and a door would swing open. I tell you, they replaced a lot of hinges. Funny part is, when I was otr, I never had a swing door come unlatched. But, this company was ridiculous with all those doors swinging out. Probably because they would never buy a trailer that wasn't at least 10 years old.

 

We drop and hook a lot and most the trailers I pick up have fresh scrapes on them. I've scraped a couple too. (lightly) It's really no big deal. Don't worry about it

 

Ya dude, it happens to all of us sooner or later. The guy who says he has never damaged anything is either a lier or has a bad memory. As far as backing in to a real tight spot, let an old man tell ya the secret to make it easier, be sure and get you a good running start.
And the door coming unlatched thing has happened to me, some latches that aren't broke will come unlatched if the lot has a lot of pot (not marijuana) holes to bounce the trailer around.

 

I drive at night for a large brewery as a spotter,about two months now. I "skinned" the door of a reefer,putting it in a door that a noob had no business trying to,and night before last had a major brain fart and pulled a trailer off the dock with the dock lock still engaged,came up on my computer as ready to be pulled,we had a bunch holding on the puter to be done I was trying to hustle and get things done fast,had been told numerous times by the supervisors not to worry about how many are holding just keep plugging away.
I backed up tug test,hooked up airline,jacked it up and went to take off. didnt hurt the lock,but bent the bumper on the trailer,felt stupid.

 

Heck this type of battle damages happen everyday and a lot more than you think. I was at a DC up by Philadelphia and the drop lot spot that the customer wanted the trailer in was way to tight (only about 2 inches to spare on both sides). I told them that with my large car and the way the lot was laid out I couldn't get it to fit. They had me drop in so the yard dog could spot it. Well as I cam back through with my empty I noticed that the trailer I had brought in and the ones on the side were sideswiped pretty bad.

 

Yup...been there, done that.

But my biggest Homer Simpson "doh" moment happened last year. April 1st (of all days), I get my first and only ticket in a CMV...passing lane on I-75 north of Knoxville. Got out from behind that dumper a little early. So did the two guys behind me. We all got hit.

Then, 32 days later, I back into a fence and bend it. At one of our terminals. In front of the office.

Bobtail. I was more concerned with making sure I set myself in the space such that when either I or one of the neighboring drivers opened their doors, our mirrors would not contact each other. But I forgot what was behind me. Still got my bonus that quarter, as they didn't attach any monetary damages to the fence.

I also saw a CRE spotter at the SLC yard cut a turn WAYYY too short....like halfway....and neatly crease the trailer he was toting. He did that right in front of our class (yes, I went there...1997...but I went through rehab and have been a productive citizen ever since!).


So cheer up! Something happens to us all!