Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin
I did a lot of tandem sliding in 2004 running 48 state reefer.
By the 3rd month, I was very comfortable with the entire process. Knowing how to load heavy or light pallets that made a full load, how far to slide, all that stuff.
I always thought that was the trick. Load it correct first. Heavy pallets should have very few up front. Like single, single, double, single, double, single, double, etc. Just to keep weight off the drivers. The lighter pallets you could load double, single, double, single. It took some time to look at the amount of pallets and the net weight, then determine a good loading pattern (and get it right).
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There's couple points here-- that I'd like to remind you of.
(1) You do want-- as much weight as possible up front as legally allowable.
you certainly don't want the majority of your weight in the center of the trailer( this is what- breaks trailers in half) and you'd be better having any
extra(illegal-over weight) on your drives than on your trailer tandems--- there's a chance you can burn off fuel weight- but if it's setting on the rear- you're just SOL- unless you have a first stop that's just down the road before the scale house.
Also, in winter-- the weight on the drives is far more important than toward the rear.
That used to be a "trap" that shipper's dock workers would frequently pull on drivers--- asking the unfamiliar driver( who's never loaded there before) how he "wants" it loaded. These guys load trailers every day.... then the "professional" comes in and ends up-- having to come back multiple times to get it right. Biggest problem is they don't load like a 48' -- and end up with too much weight on the rear. Knowing how much each stack weights and exactly how many "pulls" or "stacks" you're getting-- if they are on pallets or slips all that has to be taken into account. And watching to make sure they either pinwheel or don't pinwheel -- stagger or
load it straight on. It's also a good idea to find out how long-- the fork lift driver's been working there-- determine-- if you should go with his judgement or your own-- especially, if he can't even tell you the weights of the pallets.