unloading of freight. How common is it to have to unload your truck?

Dear Frank: Stick to offering advice about bumpy roads. Anything more complicated seems to cause you some problems.

Take care!

 

It is okay to disagree and it can be done on a level discussion to avoid the tensions.

There are multiple threads on the topic. All one has to do is call their safety director and ask what they would do if you had a prescription of Vicoden. They will shut you down in a heartbeat. I know, I've been shutdown twice with different companies after dentist appointments for 72 hours.
No insurance company will accept the liability. So anything that happens with a drug test is irrelevant. You have a regular doctor versus a DOT knowledgeable doctor.

 

No tensions here. Just trying to clarify a common misconception regarding what will trigger a positive DOT drug test. I wouldn't tell a safety director that i was taking a 1-a-day vitamin. But I also wouldn't drive a truck if I was munching pain pills

 

Anyway, back to the original topic. I work LTL and on occasions I unload the truck. Sometimes I use a forklift, other times with a manual pallet jack. Rarely do I handle it by hand UNLESS I dump a pallet and have to clean up my mess. My average weight for manual lifting usually doesn't exceed 50 lbs.

 

Your point is too assumptive, as to the type of drugs being tested. Any employer/clinic can have the more stringent tests done, hence if you have it and they test for it, you fail.

-----Wikipedia

We will, respectfully, have to agree to disagree on this point.

 

Oh I thought the discussion was about DOT drug testing for truck drivers. Sure, a companies pre-employment screen can test you for anything they want. However, a DOT drug test spells out exactly what is to be tested for and the laboratory procedures required for DOT certification.

Back to unloading trucks - it stinks (and so will you when you're done)! You will it more in private carriers (companies using their trucks to haul their products) and ltl. I lasted less than 3-months at a job that required driver unloading. Wheeling the stuff off with a pallet jack was easy. But, these God Foresaken food warehouses have this TI X HI requirement. Loaded on your truck might be pallets stacked 10 by 20 high. The food warehouse hands you a TI X HI sheet that states they want the pallets broken down to 5 by 2 high. You end busting your butt to find pallets, break down all your pallets, restack on the new pallets, and shrinkwrap. Not fun!

 

Okay, now we're on the same page. Thanks for the clarification. In my experience, however, the companies replace their drug screen (pre-employment) parameters for the general DOT's when they are sending you to their physician/clinic for DOT testing. Just a point though. If the doctor is aware of you taking those drugs, he probably won't sign off, even if you are paying and it's the lower test. The self-disclosure section of the long form becomes a hurdle for the driver, should he be on those medications, prescription or not, since legally, he is forced to disclose that information and can be held criminally liable if he falsifies.

Sounds like a Walmart DC load.

When I did an unload 2 years ago for a bedding and linen chain, when slipping back into van, the problem was the "help" at the drop-off points. All I was supposed to do was bring it to the end for them to take off. In Georgia and yes, it was hot and stinky....but the problem was, as old as I was, the young ones couldn't keep up with me...so I ended up helping them do their work too, and sweating in the truck. Decided that was the last van unload I would do.

 

depends on the job you hire for. in my situation, i run a dedicated account. the warehouse loads us, palletized loads and some "loose pieces" all of which i have an electric pallet jack and my hands. i do 3 stops nightly, and i have to unload then reload my trailer at each stop.

it is easy some nights, other nights, i have some heavy lifting of some of the loose pieces.

 

The best thing to do is make it clear up front of what your willing to do. I will not unload freight unless it comes out of a hose. I made this clear to May and to IWX and neither had a problem. I never had to load or unload a trailer for either one. I did have occassions at IWX where I choose to unload because of the lumper fees I could get paid, but it was never discussed with them.