Dry Van Lesson Learned
Topic 29112 | Page 1
When I was in school - many moons ago - I used to sit at a produce distributor after school near my house - that had THE.WORST.DOCKS., and watch how drivers dealt with them.
If you look at the palm trees on the bottom - there's a CURB there. I've seen drivers RIP TIRES & BREAK FRONT AXLES, hopping that curb at the wrong angle trying to get the front of the tractor swung around. Imagine the docs being filled with sleeper rigs, and trying to get into an open one.
And the older drivers were kind enough to talk about their technique(s) for dealing with docks like these.
One driver did, what he referred to as a "power slide". He left his tandems unlocked, and used the trailer brake (or Johnson Bar - that name always made me laugh for some bizarre reason) - to move the tandems forwards and backwards to get into the hole. He would slide FORWARD to take advantage of the shorter wheelbase of the trailer - to shorten the swing of the front of his tractor. Once the trailer was in the hole, he would do a pull up and slide his tandems rearward.
Docks want the tandems back - so avoid the "teeter/totter effect" when the forklift goes in/out of the trailer.
BEWARE THOUGH - with your trailer tandems FORWARD - the rear of the trailer WILL "SWING" MUCH FASTER/WIDER than it would with the tandems towards the back. MOVE SLOW AND MAKE SLOW CORRECTIONS, as the trailer swing will be GREATLY EXAGGERATED.
This guy was so cool - he had me hang on his step and watch his movements - then - LET ME IN THE DRIVERS SEAT TO TRY IT MYSELF.
That was 11 years ago - probably couldn't do that again to save my life (since I haven't gotten out there).
Thanks for sharing your experience...
Rick
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Being new to the world of dryvan I still consider myself a work in progress.
Today I was trying to back into a tight dock with no room for tractor swing. No matter what I did I couldn't make the dock. Finally an older driver came over and offered some advice.
"Your never gonna make that dock with your tandems slid all the way back. Slide them all the way forward until your in the dock then slide them back."
It seems pretty simple but my brain was just not going to that conclusion until he said something. My brain was just thinking of the sign that said slide tandems before docking.
I was very grateful for his input and thanked him. He told me in his 30 years of driving he still learns tips and tricks and tries to pass them on when he can. It just goes to show that you should never stop learning or improving in this career.
I have been driving 5 years and hate backing with the tandems all the way back. Others will say that is the way to do it. The true answer is whatever way works best for you. Great tooic!
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Dryvan:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
Good advice from "the older driver". I hate that term...
One thing this young guy does is unlock the tandems at the same time you break the seal, remove the door lock, and open the doors.
This does three things:
First, if you need to cut the trailer in tight to make the dock approach (as you described), just set the trailer brakes then move the tandems.
Second, it saves you a trip in and out of the cab later. Nearly every shipper and receiver will require tandems to the rear, doors open, and tires chocked before they begin.
Lastly, this is when you do a walk around the area you are about to back in, just like the film you watched during Roehl orientation. Remember?
Some places require that you slide the tandems before leaving the inbound gate. This doesn't mean that you cannot adjust them several times if needed before you get backed into your assigned door.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Good advice from "the older driver". I hate that term...
One thing this young guy does is unlock the tandems at the same time you break the seal, remove the door lock, and open the doors.
This does three things:
First, if you need to cut the trailer in tight to make the dock approach (as you described), just set the trailer brakes then move the tandems.
Second, it saves you a trip in and out of the cab later. Nearly every shipper and receiver will require tandems to the rear, doors open, and tires chocked before they begin.
Lastly, this is when you do a walk around the area you are about to back in, just like the film you watched during Roehl orientation. Remember?
Some places require that you slide the tandems before leaving the inbound gate. This doesn't mean that you cannot adjust them several times if needed before you get backed into your assigned door.
He referred to himself as an older driver. Lol. He walked up and said "hey young pup let an older driver instill some wisdom on you."
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Good advice from "the older driver". I hate that term...
One thing this young guy does is unlock the tandems at the same time you break the seal, remove the door lock, and open the doors.
This does three things:
First, if you need to cut the trailer in tight to make the dock approach (as you described), just set the trailer brakes then move the tandems.
Second, it saves you a trip in and out of the cab later. Nearly every shipper and receiver will require tandems to the rear, doors open, and tires chocked before they begin.
Lastly, this is when you do a walk around the area you are about to back in, just like the film you watched during Roehl orientation. Remember?
Some places require that you slide the tandems before leaving the inbound gate. This doesn't mean that you cannot adjust them several times if needed before you get backed into your assigned door.
^^^ That there is exactly how MY 'older driver' does it, Pack. Great advice for the 'up and coming' drivers. Made me nervous as '...' when I first rode w/him and experienced it, though. (Facepalm here...) Was a bit noisy, haha!
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Gotta be smooth and cool sliding the tandems. People are watching! Do it so slow that it doesn't even make a sound.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Gotta be smooth and cool sliding the tandems. People are watching! Do it so slow that it doesn't even make a sound.
Oops . . . LoL! I'll have to give him that pointer! 
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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Being new to the world of dryvan I still consider myself a work in progress.
Today I was trying to back into a tight dock with no room for tractor swing. No matter what I did I couldn't make the dock. Finally an older driver came over and offered some advice.
"Your never gonna make that dock with your tandems slid all the way back. Slide them all the way forward until your in the dock then slide them back."
It seems pretty simple but my brain was just not going to that conclusion until he said something. My brain was just thinking of the sign that said slide tandems before docking.
I was very grateful for his input and thanked him. He told me in his 30 years of driving he still learns tips and tricks and tries to pass them on when he can. It just goes to show that you should never stop learning or improving in this career.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Dryvan:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.