(By Greg Rourke) – Here’s a little lesson on load securement. Take notes, there may be a quiz later.
What we have here is a van trailer full of shopping carts. Shopping carts have wheels. The load should have been secured with ratchet straps or tension poles that jam against the sides of the trailer. In any case, the trailer doors couldn’t have been closed until it left the dock. So the driver pulls forward and we have an unscheduled offload.
So who’s at fault here? As a former trucker, the final responsibility is with the driver. What we can’t see is at many docks there is a red/green signal the driver can see in his mirrors…was he given the green? Did the dockhands say they would tie the carts down? What was the guy with the board trying to accomplish? All we know for sure is the truck leaves the dock and hilarity ensues.
Watch this vid twice for the full effect. Once to see the carts cascading out of the trailer, and then again to watch the expressions of the guys who are going to have to pick up all the carts.
Newton is better known for his laws of motion…not a yummy fig cookie. Happy trails to you!! 🙂
Having driven truck for many years I did find some location that did not allow drivers on to the loading docks. You are at their mercy when that happens. I see a target trailer and very red shopping carts. Guessing Target location, distribution center. Never delivered to one so don’t know their policy. Normally though, it’s the driver who has the last word on how HIS trailer is being loaded.
Tension bars will fold up. Nail 2x4s to the floor and use straps to keep the cars in place. Those carts weigh more than a full size pick up. Imagine that, left in neutral, pulling away from the dock.
Right on ‘target’.
over the PA: “Cleanup in loading aby four!!”
Trailer has swinging doors. The guy in black shirt looks as if he’s about to secure the load with that plate. I suspect the driver pulled forward to close the doors, before the dock guy could secure the load.
I can top that. A swift driver didn’t properly secure his load of diet sprite cans. When he arrived at the warehouse, the trailer was dripping diet sprite, the door was open and it looked like someone played dice with the 16 pallets of product. The driver asked me what to do about it, my response “take it back.” I honestly think there was a trail of diet sprite from where ever he hit the curb to our warehouse in The Dalles then back to Portland…. it’s been 20 years and I still remember the look on his face when I told him to take it back (I’m so fired was the look).
It’s worse when the cargo is eggs…
Pallets of fresh strawberries will fall like dominos if not well secured. Saw a inexperienced driver buried by six pallets of berries when he opened his doors.The clean up was a 8 hour job.
But they have unisex bathrooms!
Big deal, looks like every Target parking lot I’ve ever pulled into.