if your stetching a skelly with a heavy box always try and do it on level ground
and make sure your fith wheel is set right if have it right up near the unit you will never get a 45 box on and some of the lifters dont give a ■■■■ and will quite happily take your cab out
Doors to the rear usually helps
cliffton 27:
if your stetching a skelly with a heavy box always try and do it on level ground
and make sure your fith wheel is set right if have it right up near the unit you will never get a 45 box on and some of the lifters dont give a [zb] and will quite happily take your cab out
actually, you are better off if you are facing down hill, the weight of the box helps it start moving, and it doesn’t require as much effort from the unit to get it going 
When you arrive at a delivery at 8am don’t throw a strop when the yard man tells you that you aren’t booked in until 1pm. That’s what phones are for - phone the office and it’s not your problem any more. Kick off and you will surely have to wait as long as they can hang it out.
Carry a lump hammer to ‘persuade’ reluctant doors to open and close. Remember to open the doors before you back on to a ramp or dock.
shuttlespanker:
cliffton 27:
if your stetching a skelly with a heavy box always try and do it on level ground
and make sure your fith wheel is set right if have it right up near the unit you will never get a 45 box on and some of the lifters dont give a [zb] and will quite happily take your cab outactually, you are better off if you are facing down hill, the weight of the box helps it start moving, and it doesn’t require as much effort from the unit to get it going
very true i meant as apposed to a slight incline i was in derby once loading animal skins took me forever to stretch it even with raising the tri and dropping the unit to level it out 
cliffton 27:
shuttlespanker:
cliffton 27:
if your stetching a skelly with a heavy box always try and do it on level ground
and make sure your fith wheel is set right if have it right up near the unit you will never get a 45 box on and some of the lifters dont give a [zb] and will quite happily take your cab outactually, you are better off if you are facing down hill, the weight of the box helps it start moving, and it doesn’t require as much effort from the unit to get it going
very true i meant as apposed to a slight incline i was in derby once loading animal skins took me forever to stretch it even with raising the tri and dropping the unit to level it out
the place on the Ascot Drive estate?
Pretend you’re 18, 
and about to do ’ P ’ coy! 
because if you don’t you’ll be thirty stone before you know it! 
Santa:
When you arrive at a delivery at 8am don’t throw a strop when the yard man tells you that you aren’t booked in until 1pm. That’s what phones are for - phone the office and it’s not your problem any more. Kick off and you will surely have to wait as long as they can hang it out.Carry a lump hammer to ‘persuade’ reluctant doors to open and close. Remember to open the doors before you back on to a ramp or dock.
yeah, that helps 
not that i did it myself last week
As you mention Tilbuy then I would seriously take heed of the advice regarding reading material.
The crane drivers have had there wages reduced from (MMTM) £12.50 p/h to £7 p/h so they are on a major go slow.
Joined the back of the queue at 13:30 and came back out at around 16:30 last week.
Dont be afraid to ask. We all had a “first visit” to each site and thats how we learnt.
Regarding shortening skellies by akaday, he is bang on. Leave it as long as possible. Take your time, as Spanky says you dont know how its loaded and subject to contrary to popular belief within certain sectors it is not your responsibility to cut seals and check what is in there.
Go by the information that your sheet says regarding booking times. Find out the demurrage procedure for your firm/shipping line.
Most importantly have fun and if you see us out and about then introduce yourself and ill happily help you any which way i can.
malcolmj:
Doors to the rear usually helps
Apart from loading scrap metal
Here’s a quick question for you container lads.
When you have two 20’s on your trailer, the rear one has the doors facing the rear for unloading, the front box has the doors facing the back of the cab. To unload that box, do you drop the trailer and the customer uses a mobile ramp up to the box, or, do you turn the cab out the way to allow access, or, something else■■?
Drop the trailer for a front box. Usually tip or load with pump truck, or hand ball ie personal effects. Not very easy to get a ramp on the front box
OVLOV JAY:
Drop the trailer for a front box. Usually tip or load with pump truck, or hand ball ie personal effects. Not very easy to get a ramp on the front box
Thanks for that. Seen loads like it and always wondered 
There’s a video on you tube of a fella putting a container on a loading bay at the front of the trailer. Truck and trailer jackknifed with a dock leveller thing in over the front of the trailer. Pretty cool actually. Ill see can I find the link.
Put a bike in the cab, on very long tips, i would give them my phone number and say call me an hour away from being empty, and do a few hours cycling.There is no law to say you have to sit there while being unloaded.
goonerewill:
if you load front box first it is a lot harder to line the pins up with the crane driver when loading 2nd box as you can,t see past the front box
i think this is down to personal preference, when i’m twinning boxes up i always put the front one on first so i’ve got the weight at the front whilst moving about the dock - putting the back container is’nt too difficult, the ■■■■■■ drivers usually stop a foot or so off your trailer, then just back up very slowly, touch boxes if need be - it wont hurt owt as long as your dont ram it lol. 
If your having more than one box to be put on , make sure that your twist locks are up to accommodate the size of each box, & your seal number written down before the next box is put on, or you may not be able to read it when the next box is put behind it! , check your doors are facing the correct way, & check the box number is correct as they bring it to you. Do not do twist locks when backed onto the bay, or seal numbers or anything else, pull forward straight to do what you need to & reverse back again.
I usually have the front box on first. A hammer is always handy I have needed mine on quite a number of occasions, & a torch, one of those that you wear on your head is quite handy, it may feel silly but it does leave your hands free if need be, I have one & on nights I check the locks are giving total clearance to be lifted, I haven’t needed to wear it on my head , but on occasion have nearly needed that option. 
If you back onto a bay don’t forget to open your doors & if you are uncoupling the trailer don’t forget your number plate!
Nice easy job, can’t add much to what the others have said, however I used to have a 3’ scaffolding pole to help with the stiff doors. (leverage) with the lump hammer for final adjustment.
Thanks for all the advice. Never too old to learn something new and always accept useful advice!
Great info I will use this at my new job with maritime