Trailer docking question

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by wildbill123, Apr 16, 2011.

  1. CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    Just let the clutch out a hair and maintain positive pressure as you pop the brakes. Then it will stay against the dock.
     
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  3. wildbill123

    wildbill123 Heavy Load Member

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    That's how I do it now, then the air bleeds out and trailer comes forward a little then I release and bump it back again. My problem is that sometimes it takes about ten minutes for the air to bleed out of the trailer suspension. I was wondering if there is a way to make sure the air has already dumped before I put the dock plate in ? Sometimes I have to set and release three times to get the air to dump. These guys on the docks are very fast, some of them have the dock plate in before I get it bumped back.
     
  4. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    There's more than enough slow ones to make up for that. I've never had a problem like you describe, the Great Danes don't have dump valves. The Utility trailers have blocks in the suspension so they don't drop much when the bags deflate. That's fine as long as it works.


    Tandems clear back as a blanket recommendation doesn't work for us, too many places are uneven, sometime clear back puts the trailer too high and sometimes too low if there is a drop next to the dock. Shippers and receivers will tell you how they want the tandems positioned if it matters, if they don't sometimes you have to change things to make it work. I'd just as soon not pull those Utility trailers, but some times, they work out better, especially for brokered loads where the docks are set up different than where we usually go.
     
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  5. wildbill123

    wildbill123 Heavy Load Member

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    I pull about six different trailers a day, they are older trailers. Some of them drop pretty quick after setting the brakes, and some take a while longer. I'm starting to think there might be a little something wrong with a couple of the trailers we pull. But nobody else seems to be having the problem I'm having. It just makes me wonder if I'm doing something different than the other drivers ?
     
  6. THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

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    I always use chocks as well. If the shipper or reciever doesnt have chocks, then I'll find a 2 x 4.
     
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