Has anybody on here ever delivered to an Aldi store? Just had the honour today for the first time in a while, reminded me how bloody dangerous they are… unloading on a steep slope with the load coming at you, even with the suspension jacked up.
I thought it would be pretty much #1 on the H&S guidelines for building loading bays that you are parked on a level surface. It’s the fact they are intentionally built like that at pretty much all the stores which baffles me.
Sounds like you had a lucky escape…
Should have driven in forwards. LOL.
Never done general haulauge so i hope im not being thick in asking, why are some bays built like that? Just looks like loads more work to me
Kinchy85:
Never done general haulauge so i hope im not being thick in asking, why are some bays built like that? Just looks like loads more work to me
I have asked several Aldi drivers that and they are as perplexed by it as everybody else.
I’ve worked for Wisemans in the past delivering milk to them on cages… that can be a barrel of laughs.
Cos they are designed with someone who’s only experience receiving a delivery is the “delivery at an unusual angle” that got them the promotion to useless loading bay designer from tea boy.
Could you drop suspension on unit to lower front of trailer
You could but some of the bays have such a severe slope it’s only gonna make minimal difference.
…Or never thought of lowering the unit…when i had heavy pallets i used to raise the unit and lower the trailer
the 1 and half tons on the pallet would go down the trailer with ease.
I may be completely wrong, but looking at the floor level of the main building, and the floor level of the loading bay, they appear to be the same level or very close. This would make transfering stock from the loading bay to the shop floor very easy. As the stores customers also like an easy life, walking from their car to the shop doorway, the roadway surrounding the store is roughly level with the shop floor. This just leaves one problem. Unless you drop the trailer down a slope so the trailer floor is also at roughly the level of the shop floor, unloading would require a lift of some sort. Is that a dock leveller on the end of the bay? I’m guessing the planners think a ramp like they have provided is the best solution. You can bet they have never actually had to unload a trailer themselves though.
rob22888:
I’ve worked for Wisemans in the past delivering milk to them on cages… that can be a barrel of laughs.
WHS… Even when trailer is raised right up and unit dropped on it’s arse they are still on a slop and then you have the ramp to contend with as that will be on a steep incline, Some of the store ive been to it’s a case of remove the bar and get out the way. Weve had a couple of drivers injured at these stores
If you think you may get injured ask the store manager to remove the bar…look after number 1 raise your concerns with your boss aswell.If both these options fail you could refuse to do it depends on you situation,most people will back down when you ask them to put it in writing and sign it.HOPE THIS HELPS
Why they have such a steep slope is beyond me.you could drop some thing expensive 
Big Jon’s dad:
I may be completely wrong, but looking at the floor level of the main building, and the floor level of the loading bay, they appear to be the same level or very close. This would make transfering stock from the loading bay to the shop floor very easy. As the stores customers also like an easy life, walking from their car to the shop doorway, the roadway surrounding the store is roughly level with the shop floor. This just leaves one problem. Unless you drop the trailer down a slope so the trailer floor is also at roughly the level of the shop floor, unloading would require a lift of some sort. Is that a dock leveller on the end of the bay? I’m guessing the planners think a ramp like they have provided is the best solution. You can bet they have never actually had to unload a trailer themselves though.
Absolutely spot on there, Big Jon’s dad…
and co-incidently, I was delivering to the Widnes store in the above Google link early this very morning. 
-what are the chances of that,eh.
16 shrinkwrapped pallets of bread, produce, flowers and dairy cabinet stuff. No fuss, no drama, no spillages, no delays. Me and my leccy hand truck, 25 minutes approx. from backing onto the buffers to driving off.
You guys on here just seem to like finding fault with anything Aldi, don’t you,
w1ggo:
rob22888:
I’ve worked for Wisemans in the past delivering milk to them on cages… that can be a barrel of laughs.Even when trailer is raised right up and unit dropped on it’s arse they are still on a slop and then you have the ramp to contend with as that will be on a steep incline, Some of the store ive been to it’s a case of remove the bar and get out the way. Weve had a couple of drivers injured at these stores
You just bar off that stores cages separately, remove the cages one by one replacing the bar after removing each cage.
Stan
We use to have an argos store like that we had to drop the trailer wind the legs right up.
that’s a no sweat tip
when you dump the air out of the unit don’t stop dumping once it gets to the bottom, because as the weight comes off the trailer the remaining air will lift up the lighter load, so don’t take your finger off the button until air stops coming out. or you could leave the ignition on, but that’s not a good idea in widnes (i grew up in widnes!) depending on the truck you might to have dump some more air halfway through.
with pallets
when coming down the trailer have the pallet scraping the floor to act as a brake, and get a feel for the lowering lever so you can lower it a fraction more for more braking, without dumping it like putting the handbrake on! also put the lowering lever in neutral once lifted so you don’t unintentionally lift it anymore. so long as the pump truck handle can rotate at least 90° you can also when once up to speed quickly rotate the handle to 90° to act as a brake
Used to deliver to a Kwik Save south London store with a really steep slope, dangerously so.
Took an extra Anderson lead for the tail lift, and when backed into position lowered the trailer legs about half way down and put the cab suspension to its lowest point, then dropped the trailer on its knees but leaving the edge of the 5th wheel pick up ramps just under and touching the front of the trailer for safety.
This way the trailer ended up perfectly level, took about 5 minutes but better than a half ton cage of tinned goods come flying down the bloody trailer taking me with it.
i did aldi for a bit id rather have the slope than tip a full load n put your empties back on using a poxy scissor lift 6 euro pallets at a time
CRAIG-D:
i did aldi for a bit id rather have the slope than tip a full load n put your empties back on using a poxy scissor lift 6 euro pallets at a time
Agreed! Lift the handle on electric truck it has brakes!!!
Wow Aldi have loading bays, pure luxury that is, try poundstretcher stores, everything comes out the back on a pump truck via the tail-lift.
Seriously, steep delivery points are a pita, I had one on friday, apart from not physically being able to get near the back door, or having a tail-lift & p/t, the strip of concrete that they call access was so steep, even if i’d managed to get on it without putting the skids through the trailer floor, that there was no way I’d have attempted to p/t their pallets off empty let alone loaded. Obviously the company in question had deliveries & collection of their extremely expensive control cabinets low down on their list of priorities when they decided to move premises.