Backing Practice - Store Edition

New and prospective drivers first please. Here's a store I had in Vinton Iowa. It's our smaller concept store under the Dollar Fresh brand. Dock is at top left of building in photo

1030am delivery time today parking lot looked like this. Photo taken safely parked on the side of road waiting for the dock.

Closer look at Hyvee in the dock

How would you plan to hit the dock going before arrival, and would your approach change if faced with obstacles like those pictured?

New and prospective drivers first please. Here's a store I had in Vinton Iowa. It's our smaller concept store under the Dollar Fresh brand. Dock is at top left of building in photo

1030am delivery time today parking lot looked like this. Photo taken safely parked on the side of road waiting for the dock.

Closer look at Hyvee in the dock

How would you plan to hit the dock going before arrival, and would your approach change if faced with obstacles like those pictured?

I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable trying to back a truck between the Hyvee truck and that dumpster. But, it's really hard for me to tell how much clearance there actually is between the Hyvee truck and the dumpster. I might see if the Hyvee truck is going to be pulling out soon then reassess.

I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable trying to back a truck between the Hyvee truck and that dumpster. But, it's really hard for me to tell how much clearance there actually is between the Hyvee truck and the dumpster. I might see if the Hyvee truck is going to be pulling out soon then reassess.

There's only 1 loading dock here. Picture of Hyvee in dock was taken when I walked from the street to get a better look at things. To open and close my doors I needed to be either at an angle or behind/ ahead of the dumpster. What's hidden on the side of the truck is stacks of empty pallets and cardboard bales that stick out about the same width as the dumpster.

It's not a typical dock, it's basically a large door that goes up similiar to a garage door and has concrete posts with a yellow plastic covering that you lightly bump on the outside. Inside is a scissor lift you need to raise and lower with the pallets.

With the obstacles in the way, I could see pulling in, and essentially doing a blind side horse shoe backwards, essentially a blind 90, just at the outer edge of the parking lot. trying to figure out how to avoid doing a blind side, but with the lot full, not seeing it avoidable.

I, personally, wouldn't feel comfortable trying to back a truck between the Hyvee truck and that dumpster. But, it's really hard for me to tell how much clearance there actually is between the Hyvee truck and the dumpster. I might see if the Hyvee truck is going to be pulling out soon then reassess.

There's only 1 loading dock here. Picture of Hyvee in dock was taken when I walked from the street to get a better look at things. To open and close my doors I needed to be either at an angle or behind/ ahead of the dumpster. What's hidden on the side of the truck is stacks of empty pallets and cardboard bales that stick out about the same width as the dumpster.

It's not a typical dock, it's basically a large door that goes up similiar to a garage door and has concrete posts with a yellow plastic covering that you lightly bump on the outside. Inside is a scissor lift you need to raise and lower with the pallets.

I thought I saw two docks beside each other from the overhead view.

It is hard to tell how much room thete is. My first thought would be to drive through the parking lot between the building and fuel lines, then make a right, drive around, straighten the trailer and back to the door. I doubt though there is enough room for this :-) The whole setup is obviously built for box trucks.

I like the way you guys are thinking. I'll be back in a few hours to post the ending of what ended up happening with this store. I'd estimate they receive a minimum of 10 53 foot trailers in there a week just from our DC and the Hyvee DC's. They're a smaller store and don't have the storage space so usually a majority of what they get goes straight to the shelves. Today I delivered 4 small pallets. The soda and beer vendors typically run shorter trailers and possibly lift gates so it's not as important they hit the dock. The way I look at it is many other drivers have figured out a way to get it done no reason I can't.

I like the way you guys are thinking. I'll be back in a few hours to post the ending of what ended up happening with this store. I'd estimate they receive a minimum of 10 53 foot trailers in there a week just from our DC and the Hyvee DC's. They're a smaller store and don't have the storage space so usually a majority of what they get goes straight to the shelves. Today I delivered 4 small pallets. The soda and beer vendors typically run shorter trailers and possibly lift gates so it's not as important they hit the dock. The way I look at it is many other drivers have figured out a way to get it done no reason I can't.

I have learned that truck drivers can be some of the most creative and resourceful people out there. Of course you can do it.

It is hard to tell how much room thete is. My first thought would be to drive through the parking lot between the building and fuel lines, then make a right, drive around, straighten the trailer and back to the door. I doubt though there is enough room for this :-) The whole setup is obviously built for box trucks.

That was basically my first thought too.

From the first pic it looks like the hashed area on the near side of the dock is full of pallets which wouldn't help any, but there's enough room under the roof of the fuel station to clip quite a bit of corner, which should make it pretty doable.

You could always do the ol get as close as you can pull their pallets to the back and floor it method