Lowering Landing Gear At Stops
Topic 32248 | Page 1
A few places make me do it but also make me pull away from the trailer or complete move from it
I pickup at a paper roll place that makes you lower landing gear but not slide tandems. Currently at an Anchor Hocking facility that makes you slide tandems , drop trailer in door, attach a air line lock and then bobtail to a lot by the guard shack.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
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".
No consignee has ever asked - nor have I ever lowered - the landing gear while attached, and getting unloaded.
Consignee:
The customer the freight is being delivered to. Also referred to as "the receiver". The shipper is the customer that is shipping the goods, the consignee is the customer receiving the goods.
I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense to lower landing gear if you are still connected to your trailer. The trailer is already resting on the 5th wheel. Being required to slide the tandems back makes more sense since there is more stable support in the rear for a forklift to roll into a trailer. Like Don, I've never been asked to lower the landing gear while still attached.
Actually, maybe I have. At Johnstown, NY Walmart DC. They usually ask you to disconnect, lower landing gear and pull forward a couple feet. I think they also have "Winter rules" where you don't have to disconnect but, they still have you lower the landing gear. This may have something to do with the potential for the truck to slide a little but on icy pavement while being unloaded.
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".
Does anyone lower their landing gear when getting loaded/unloaded? I almost always have to slide my tandems to the rear when I get loaded/unloaded. And I understand the reason for that practice. If sliding tandems to the rear gives the trailer more stability with a forklift going back and forth, why don’t distribution centers require drivers to also lower the landing gear? Advantages, disadvantages?
Lowering the landing gear with the truck and trailer still hooked does nothing to stabilize the trailer. Trailer stability is why consignees have rules about sliding tandems and/or detaching from the trailer. If you are going to lower the landing gear, just detach from the trailer because it's off the ground (or should be) until you do. If you lower the landing gear far enough to have the feet firmly on the ground, why are you still attached?
I hope that makes sense.
Consignee:
The customer the freight is being delivered to. Also referred to as "the receiver". The shipper is the customer that is shipping the goods, the consignee is the customer receiving the goods.
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".
I've been to a few that require it lowered for loading paper rolls.
Lowering the gear will help stabilize the trailer then. It also helps during high winds when parked, Ryan.
I've been to a few that require it lowered for loading paper rolls.
Lowering the gear will help stabilize the trailer then. It also helps during high winds when parked, Ryan.
Why not fully disconnect? I understand regarding high winds because it can prevent a tip over. I am not arguing what you are saying. I am genuinely wondering what the reasoning is for lowering the landing gear and remaining attached while being loaded.
I've been to a few that require it lowered for loading paper rolls.
Lowering the gear will help stabilize the trailer then. It also helps during high winds when parked, Ryan.
Why not fully disconnect? I understand regarding high winds because it can prevent a tip over. I am not arguing what you are saying. I am genuinely wondering what the reasoning is for lowering the landing gear and remaining attached while being loaded.
Have you ever experimented with lowering the landing gear while still attached and being loaded/unloaded? If you are in the sleeper compartment during the process you will notice a difference. Try it and see.
I've been to a few that require it lowered for loading paper rolls.
Lowering the gear will help stabilize the trailer then. It also helps during high winds when parked, Ryan.
Why not fully disconnect? I understand regarding high winds because it can prevent a tip over. I am not arguing what you are saying. I am genuinely wondering what the reasoning is for lowering the landing gear and remaining attached while being loaded.
Have you ever experimented with lowering the landing gear while still attached and being loaded/unloaded? If you are in the sleeper compartment during the process you will notice a difference. Try it and see.
But why remain connected? Is it simply for the convenience of not having to reconnect?
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Advice For New Truck Drivers Tips for Parking Truck Driver Safety Truck Equipment
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Does anyone lower their landing gear when getting loaded/unloaded? I almost always have to slide my tandems to the rear when I get loaded/unloaded. And I understand the reason for that practice. If sliding tandems to the rear gives the trailer more stability with a forklift going back and forth, why don’t distribution centers require drivers to also lower the landing gear? Advantages, disadvantages?
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".