Why you ALWAYS want to check your load
 

Last night a poorly loaded trailer shifted on a driver from Oakland who had come up to my barn in Reno. The shifting load broke the ride side springs on his drive axle, bent the rim and droped the driveline.

He was lucky the trailer did not roll.

22000lbs of Alfalfa cubes in 50 lbs bags on pallets, 3 of the 9 pallets were on one side of the trailer with NOTHING to stop them from shifting.

That was probably from having to dodge all them dang Mulies
on your "goat trail" through them 3,000 ft. canyons. :)

....shoulda stayed in Reno. Poor homeboy from the Big City. :lol:
Probably got lost twice on the way too. :?
Was the Hooker still with him? 8) :lol:

That alfa-alfa is some good stuff. Moo cows likey alfa-alfa. :lol: 8)

Our pups are 3 compartment trailers. We have the zone 1, which is the freezer in the front. They also have zone 2, which is the cooler compartment in the center, and in the back, is where the dry goods are. Well, the warehouse loads on the left side. The bulk heads swing open on the right side. The warehouse tries their best to keep the right side of the tailer loaded lighter, so the drivers can get all the way up to the front compartment without having to use the side doors of the trailer. It does make it a lot easier, and faster when you can open the bulk heads to get to the cooler, and freezer. Well, the bad thing about that is when you got a "leaner." Some of those lighter loads can make a trailer lean. It can be fun on a windy night when you got that back trailer leaning, and wiggling. :shock:

How do you check a load that is has a federal seal?

Can't.
And I've had other loads I couldn't check, too.
There's a place up in Tennessee where you back into the dock with your doors closed!
Then you feel them banging around and loading you and when you pull out you're all sealed. It a food place near knoxville.
Then there's the place in New York where the guy loding you is wearing a space suit.............he's loading lead and doesn't want to breath all the fumes. It's OK if you do, though :lol:

WOW, you're a little harsh here. Not gonna say what I probably should of said, but will ask, just what "goat trail" and 3,000 ft canyons you refering to? Last I remember when I drove from my house in Sacramento (elev. 200 ft) to Reno, it was about a 7,000ft change in elevation to Truckee.

Sorry Lunker.
I was just acting up, and trying to be funny. It doesn't always work out. :) My humor is free at least. :lol:

BUT...ya know what... :?
I was thinking about the roads in the Reno area...Where you find the Ranches. .....not Hwy 80. I know ALL those roads...and yes they do have some BIG Mulies...BIG Bear...and narrow mountain roads...(goat trails I call them) and some steep canyons. I've been in a few. Use to ride my Horse all the time around Squaw Valley....and down the American to Auburn. (100 miles)(Tevis Cup Race)

I've delivered powdered milk to a Rancher up one of those canyons myself...with a KW W-900 and a 53' Reefer unit....like in 4th gear...and it was an experiance. Actually...the toughest part was when I got to his Ranch...and I first pulled in the drive. Had to back out...get turned around...and then back in...up to his Barn...and guess what... :lol:

no loading docks up there. :lol: These Ranchers look like dried Cactus....and hard as Granite.

Hey Roadie...

Sounds like you spent some time livin out this way...where were you?

:)
About 17 years off and on in the Marin, Sonoma and Napa Counties.
Started in Sausalito in '74. I moved around a lot in my youth. Worked as a Ca. licensed Builder mostly in San Francisco, Sausalito, Tiberon, Mill Valley and San Anselmo.
I did a lot of Rodeo, Trail Riding, Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Canoeing, and Skiing. Found my way up to the Mountains quite a bit.

Had two favorite places. Trinity Mts. around Wyntoon....and the Sierra's along the Feather near La Porte.

Ah yes, Trinity Lake and those big smallies. La Porte and Little Grass Valley, beautiful lake!

Ain't it fun when you highjack a thread?

I seem to have a habit of that. :?
But it's not always a bad thing...ofcourse long as no ill intendtions or bad manners...it does bump the thread back to the top. :D

I try to contribute best I can....and I believe come-backs are good manners.

Ian must live in some steep terrain....for this load to shift like that. But like he indicated...he believes the load was poorly loaded, and maybe not properly secured.

I didn't gleen enough info to get a clear picture of this mess...but the point was made.

Personally...I take the time and interest in my loads. I take in account where I am traveling with it too. There are many things to consider.
If I off load anything...and I feel it is important to reposition the rest of my loads...for my next drop...I Git 'R Done. If some dock help is unwilling to help...I make sure their Boss helps them reconsider...before I move.

Sometimes this takes more time than it should, but I won't loose patience over it. It's like the load I'm on right now. I had to load 43k (17 pallets) in a 53' Reefer. I figured it 12 long....and its going from Northern Michigan to California. So I set my tandems for the Ca. Bridge law. Turns out I was 1k over on my tail. Well...dang it I guessed wrong. I shoulda went 11 long. Wouldn't you know the dock help went on lunch. It was another 2 hours before I could roll. I got my load RIGHT though. It's a sealed load...but it is palletized very well.

Lots of times...I'll see product loaded...you "know" will not ride well. These dock workers don't give a rats behind....and it shows on some of their work. If I see fork lift damage...or poorly palletized loads...I make sure it gets delt with...or I won't let it go on my Trailer....OR... :evil: I make sure it says "Shipper load and count" on my BOL.

Still...once it's on my Trailer...I use what care is needed to make the delivery. Some stuff requires a lot of "babysitting." Could even be watching the tempurature closely.
On sealed loads...(Reefer unit) I can peer in through my rear vent door to see the tail. When you are sealed...you generally use a smoother touch...so you don't open the doors at your destination and have to cry...or point fingers.

If I'm in rough terrain...well there is a little common sense necessary. Loadlocks or tape or shrink wrap...will only do so much.
But strapped or chained loads...if done right should survive a lot.

:P Okay...I still didn't contribute much to this thread. :lol:
....but it's time for my afternoon nap...and dreams of Jessica Alba giving me a tongue bath. :oops: :twisted: :roll: :? 8) :D :D :D :D :arrow:

In this case the load shifted on a surface street in Sparks between the terminal and the I80.

Given that the load made it all the way from southern Idaho without incident I suspect that the driver took a corner a wee bit too fast.