Backing Practice - Store Deliveries

This is primarily for rookies and those considering a career to get thinking about different dock situations and how to best approach it. Here is the dock for one of our Omaha NE stores. I approached from the right of the picture on Center Street. Although I'm in a daycab I've seen guys with sleepers get in as well.

Red X marks the dock area, today I took the dock between the staged trailer (not there today) and the compactor. Here is the view after I was in the dock to give you a better idea of the room available

Delivery time was just before 4am and the store is closed. It was previously a 8am delivery time but due to congestion with other vendors it was changed. You need to commit to how you arrive before getting there because your view is blocked from the road and it's a busy area the later it gets.

I've got one I'm at right now in Richmond, VA that could qualify. I'm too tech challenged to post the cool pics and details, though. You can check it out online.

Alside Materials at 8423 Sanford Drive in Richmond, VA.

Love these exercises! Thanks for the homework!

I would come down Center St, make the right onto 52nd. Make right into shopping center and proceed across the front of stores then make a right to the left side of tree/island into parking aisle. Straight back on a slight angle towards dock area then turn into a blind side for the bump

For Packrat’s spot, Alside Materials at 8423 Sanford Drive in Richmond, VA.

Guessing you came in off of Staples Mill onto Janway and around curve to Sanford!! I would make left into lot just past building towards truck parking area and swing around planter island on my right side back towards street to get truck as straight as possible. Then sight side from angle or straight back if I got truck straight, past the parked trucks keeping tight to them until back tandoms were clear and then cut wheel to blind side towards dock. Looks like you might have to overshoot the dock and pull to straighten out for the bump depending on where the other trucks are parked upon arrival and which door needs to be hit

I've got one I'm at right now in Richmond, VA that could qualify. I'm too tech challenged to post the cool pics and details, though. You can check it out online.

Alside Materials at 8423 Sanford Drive in Richmond, VA.

Packrat,

Where were you backing in the picture?

I went off the overhead view! Looks like the docks are in the back right hand corner of building behind the truck parking spots

Both of those are ugly, packrats is just just devious. I’m gonna need a Boy Scout troupe worth of spotters, a pack mule, laser level, and two rolls of duct tape before I can even start. Seriously, who designs those things. Did you have to pull into the street to set up for a straight line past the parked trucks and oddest on the blind side for the dock? Or is there enough room to swing around in front of auto parts store?

Wild Bill MacGyver says....

I’m gonna need a Boy Scout troupe worth of spotters, a pack mule, laser level, and two rolls of duct tape before I can even start.

Wild Bill MacGyver says....

I’m gonna need a Boy Scout troupe worth of spotters, a pack mule, laser level, and two rolls of duct tape before I can even start.

Better start work on that Mullet!

Packrat that looks like a fun place to be!

Delco Dave i like the way you think! How you described could possibly work if the parking lot is empty in that area. The first couple times I delivered there it was about 8am with many customers shopping so going down the aisles isnt an option. To make it down the aisle you need to either utilize the parking spaces or jump the curb and watch out for rocks. Some guys don't care if they run over landscaping or curbs but I'm not one of them. There really isnt a right or wrong way to do it as long as you get in safely. Personally, I've found it easiest to come around the front of the store as you described but do a 90 into the dock. You end up needing to readjust once your back end gets in but atleast I don't need to worry about vehicles driving behind me. Its still rather tight and the biggest issue is the back of the tractor getting very close to the island. I've seen some guys come in off 51st and use the aisles as well. I just prefer coming off 52nd because i feel it gives you more options to choose from. The biggest downside is you need to be passed 51st to assess how you're going to do it this time. I've also seen Nabisco pull into the dock area and whip a U-turn but he was only pulling a 28' trailer.