hello people,
i’m starting on container work tomorrow , as i have never done this type of work before any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated , i know i’m going to be scratching my head for the next few weeks ,but hopefully in a couple of months i’ll have the job sorted
Bring books/newspapers or dvd player because some tips can take hours! 
remember too unlock the twist locks before the straddle lifts the box
Take extra lunch and drinks to work with you. The illegals that come out when you open the doors will be grateful for it.
A piece of hollow pipe is handy & may assist you if the door won’t open, lump hammer is helpful for giving a hefty tap when needed.
bonnie lass:
A piece of hollow pipe is handy & may assist you if the door won’t open, lump hammer is helpful for giving a hefty tap when needed.
and a couple of bungee cords for holding crappy doors open.
chilistrucker:
bonnie lass:
A piece of hollow pipe is handy & may assist you if the door won’t open, lump hammer is helpful for giving a hefty tap when needed.and a couple of bungee cords for holding crappy doors open.
thanks for the advice ,when i visit felixtowe docks do they have a site map? as i was told it’s difficult to get your bearings
Get to grips with how the skelly works before the pressure is on.
I’ve not been there, I used to go to Southampton, and Birmingham( this did have a site map when I was there) although some of the numbers were well worn out on site 
. I just asked if I was unsure.
If you get two 20ft boxes to go on , make sure you know which way they want the doors facing on both boxes, it’s too late you get back & they are facing the wrong way, means another trip back to docks to turn them around!!
Also if the front box has the doors rear facing, pull forward before the second box is put on , & get the seal number , & reverse back again, make sure the correct twist locks are open for both boxes.
Felixstowe is a lot simpler than it used to be. You will need to sort a rhides card on your first trip. This will be done at the police station. Follow the signs for 8/9 berth, it’s on the left approx 500 yards before. Park in the lorry park (through the containers) just after, then walk in the office on the furthest side. Show your licence and they will sort you out. You can get a map here too
If in doubt, ASK…
Most box jockey`s are helpful, they will put you straight 
chilistrucker:
bonnie lass:
A piece of hollow pipe is handy & may assist you if the door won’t open, lump hammer is helpful for giving a hefty tap when needed.and a couple of bungee cords for holding crappy doors open.
I was lucky with that one , the doors used to stay back ok, once you’d persuaded them to open in the first place.
Stanley Mitchell:
If in doubt, ASK…
Most box jockey`s are helpful, they will put you straight
yep i’ll be rattling my fellow drivers eardrums these coming weeks as you say most drivers should point me in the right direction
If you have a 20’ box on that weighs more than 8 ton (more or less) make sure you line it up with the loading bay or ramp etc before you shorten the chassis. When you shorten the chassis ( so the box moves to the back of the trailer) the weight lifts the front of the trailer taking the weight off the drive wheels making traction difficult.
When you first get any loaded box on take it easy for the first couple of corners or roundabouts as some of them are badly loaded.
Make sure you get the box the right way around, not always obvious, loading scrap you some times need the doors facing the front.
Always check empty boxes when you pick them up even newish boxes have holes in them as I found out once. Check them before you book them out.
When opening the doors BEWARE the contents often fall out, this can be painful, I know.
The hammer and bar will also come in useful when the pins won’t go in. A couple of things that might help this, Make sure you’ve got plenty of air pressure and lifting the trailer can help.
inb4 toby mentions snakes & other creatures
customers like to think they know how the trailer works and will mess around with the trailer suspension and will occasionally try to “help” you with the locking pins. If you’re not happy with it just say so. Most container yards are reasonably similar, roll forward until the lifter beeps his horn & wear a hard hat even though it won’t make a blind bit of difference if a box falls on you.
As said before, watch for falling boxes, I’ve had the last 5ft of a tightly packed reefer box tumble out on me so always be prepared to scarper. (I did have a picture of it somewhere, I’ll see if I can find it.)
Take it steady around the ports, they are all reasonably simple however when you get used to them.
Three sizes of containers, 20, 40 and 45 feet long, the rear of the trailer should have an extendable under run bar that you pull out for a 45 box.
Handball deliveries can take five hours or more, I had a bicycle and went off for hours,gave the goods in my mobile number to call when empty.
A rear door lock is an idea, Bulldog brand.
On boxes, park where you want, nobody can cut the sides like tautliners.
Some loads need fumigation to kill insects, this takes a few hours as goods in won’t unload it until it’s vented off.
Loads with strong odours, such as paints or varnish will need to be vented off by leaving the doors open.
Don’t carry bolt croppers in your cab, if anything is missing, you get the blame.
Unload depots all have croppers.
Watch out for snakes and insects or other biting animals that have hitched a free ride from a exotic and far away country.
I found a two foot long lizard in a box from India, it was dead.
Boxes are Marmite, like or no likey.
Most of the things you will need to know have been covered.
Carry a hammer and a length of steel pipe/tube for doors and twist locks.
Cable ties or bungee cords for doors with no tie backs.
Make sure you have a hard hat for docks and rail terminals.
Check empty boxes for holes/water ingress/bad odours/ floor condition before signing for it, check loaded/import boxes that the seal is intact before leaving the dock or terminal.
Don’t drive a loaded 20" in the shortened position always get it where you want it then shorten the chassis.
Take plenty of food and entertainment books/dvd’s/magazines ect as you can be loading/unloading a long time at some places.
Most docks will have a sitemap/plan available from security when you check in, just tell them you’ve never been before. They can be intimidating places when you’re not sure what you’re meant to be doing.
Get someone to show you how to set up the chassis for different boxes before you go out on you’re own. Some shorten by a button others you disconnect the red line and others have button and swap the air line.
When you stop and are having a box lifted drop the suspension down on the unit to level the box and make sure the twist locks are open.
Make sure the chassis is set up for the right size of box/boxes before the loader comes.
If unsure of anything ask another driver most are happy to help
Good m8 
Tilbury for me is much easier than Felixtowe when is the first time, now over the time go straight to both
Not a good way to go, if a python or boa constrictor comes out the back door.
The coroner will report the cause of death as asphyxiation.
The Dcpc does not cover snake attacks.
Or show the snake to goods in staff, a planned five hour tip will take five minutes.