Containers

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi all, hoping someone can help me out here. Im doing some Saturday work soon on containers I have never done them before there are a few things im not sure about.

Firstly. Who cuts the bolts off the door when you get to a rdc ?
Where is the paper kept for the load ? I know on ferry trailers its in a tube on the outside is it like that or does the office get it sent to them?
Thirdly I have a reload where do I put the paper work for it ? And will they give me a seal or do I need my own from our office?

Cheers in a Advance Craig.

2

The place you deliver the container has bolt croppers to open it when you arrive,I wouldn’t recommend getting your own bolt croppers to keep in your cab because if anything is missing inside the container, the driver is to blame .
Normally when you collect the container from the port or docks , an self service machine will print out the paperwork or the container shipping office may give it to you .
The number on the bolt seal must match up to your paperwork, if customs or any other authority opened it, they should stamp the new seal number on the paperwork.

I don’t think the paperwork will be inside and there are no plastic tubes in containers to leave paperwork when you collected it and reloaded it .
Where you reloaded it, they will have the bolt seals.
Different ports operate in different ways and it takes a few days to get used to it, when checking in, say you have not done containers before and they will be happy to help out and give you maps of the docks or ask another driver .
If you get a hand ball load, it can be five hours or more to unload tiny boxes filled to the roof, the receiver will arrange workers to unload it or reload it, you don’t touch the load.
Some places can take days of sitting around, take a good book and something to occupy you while waiting.

It’s a Marmite job, love it or hate it, beware of top heavy unstable loads that could tip your lorry over on the first roundabout out the port .
Beware of insects and snakes inside if it came from a long way, some containers get fumigated , so goods in staff have to wait until that has cleared before unloading.
No worries for overnight parking unlike tautliner trailers that get cut with peep holes, but put a Bulldog rear door lock on .

3

I’ve done boxes out of Immingham/Killingholme and usually the paperwork is on the last pallet or tucked on the right hand side rolled up behind the little welded strut on the side of the box.

If you get a reload, I do the same, stick it on the bottom of the last pallet or on the floor so driver can reach it the other side.

Some blokes carry bolt croppers and cut the bolt off themselves but unless you know the place and know they won’t reject it if you’ve cut the seal, I would let them do it.

Carry a lump hammer to persuade stiff twist locks and rusty doors. If you were full time boxes I would say get a scaffold bar but ■■■■■■■■ to carrying that with you in your bag every weekend… a hammer will do the job.

Remember to drop trailer suspension before you back onto a bay or you might damage the loading dock in some places.

4

Are deep sea and cross channel boxes handled differently?
Many years since I’ve done either.

5

Another thing with containers, you get to go off the beaten track, for example a family or business moving to the Middle East or the USA for a house move, free cups of tea from the householder .
Interesting and unusual loads such as machinery or scientific equipment, unusual food or drink ingredients.
You could be at a farm , small hamlets, or places designed for access for horse and carts , mirror folding in time.You will have plenty of time for a shower or something to eat at a subsidised RDC or factory canteens (Well , you could before Coronavirus came along ) or even time for exercise, give goods in or out your mobile number if it will be a very long tip, so they can ring when empty.
You will need to shrink the skeletal trailer to take 20 foot boxes from 40 footers , when unloading on bay doors the 20 foot box will be moved to the back of the skeletal from the middle position or ride position while driving on the roads .
Beware of high cubes, check for low bridges, allow more time for diverting.HC boxes are over height.
Some containers have fridge motors attached to the front.

6

Franglais:
Are deep sea and cross channel boxes handled differently?
Many years since I’ve done either.

i think with short sea you would be expected to help with unloading not so with deep sea, lucy a mod on here would know more as she was on for containerships…

7

m.a.n rules:

Franglais:
Are deep sea and cross channel boxes handled differently?
Many years since I’ve done either.

i think with short sea you would be expected to help with unloading not so with deep sea, lucy a mod on here would know more as she was on for containerships…

Sounds familiar.
The OP hasn’t actually said it’s deep sea boxes. Maybe you and I assume it is, as an experienced driver might specify short crossings, but a newer driver might not?

8

m.a.n rules:

Franglais:
Are deep sea and cross channel boxes handled differently?
Many years since I’ve done either.

i think with short sea you would be expected to help with unloading not so with deep sea, lucy a mod on here would know more as she was on for containerships…

How would you know if you had a short sea box on? I only ever did deep sea boxs so never had that scenario.

9

Thanks for the replies its much appreciated. I’m guessing they are short sea boxes coming into hull and immingham docks.

10

msgyorkie:

m.a.n rules:

Franglais:
Are deep sea and cross channel boxes handled differently?
Many years since I’ve done either.

i think with short sea you would be expected to help with unloading not so with deep sea, lucy a mod on here would know more as she was on for containerships…

How would you know if you had a short sea box on? I only ever did deep sea boxs so never had that scenario.

That’s my questioning.
Short sea boxes (ex EU) won’t need the same customs clearances will they? Not for a few more weeks anyway. Just like dropped trailers.
Ex US or China boxes will. Admittedly the driver won’t see much of that, without clearance they won’t get a PIN or whatever to collect them.

11

Hi

Bolt Seal - Customer’s problem. As stated above, if you mention you have cutters, if there’s anything off about the seal, they’ll blame you! Likewise, if you notice anything untoward, or if there’s no seal, don’t take it off the dock/railhead, report it straight away, make sure your arse is covered!

Paperwork - You’re nothing to do with the load inside the container (unless its hazardous), your paperwork only covers the delivery of the container as a whole so your boss should give you a delivery note which covers the movement of the box from the port to the customer, which they then sign to say you delivered it with the seal intact, or words to that effect plus any identifying booking references.

Load - The load inside is their responsibility. Unless your boss has told you to beforehand and you’ve agreed a bonus for it, don’t get inside. If the customer finds out you haven’t done boxes they might try and pull a fast one and get you to tip it. They’ll deny all knowledge if you get hurt by a falling box etc…

Doors - Stand to one side when you open the doors. If it’s been rough at sea, or loaded by a ■■■■■ boxes may be leaning on the back doors. Crack the doors slightly, if you see anything leaning on the doors, tell the customer, let them catch the box…

Trailer Height - The floor of a container is a lot higher off the ground than a standard curtainsider, so always dump your air before backing onto a dock leveller, even then the box may side above the buffers on the warehouse.

Stability - The centre of gravity is a LOT higher than most other types of trailer. And you do not know what standard, if any, it has been loaded to, so drop your speed by an extra 5-10 mph on corners/roundabouts. Very easy to roll one if the load shifts unexpectedly.

Double and triple check the box number. A Maersk 40 high cube has got several thousands of identical twins. If you pick up MRSU1234567 instead of MRKU1234567 it gets very embarassing at the customer site… Or so I’m told… :open_mouth: :laughing:

HTH

12

Highly embarrassing to get the wrong box number, imagine a full load of blow up dolls and the latest toys from Anne Summers and you rock up to tip it at the Christians charity warehouse , or the Jehovah’s Witnesses depot .

13

Wrong box number…

Should technically never be able to exit the port.

Make sure the box you’re getting is the usual doors to the back. Every now and then, there’s a wrong 'un.

14

This guy has said he hasnt done containers before, in fact i havnt done them since the 60`s, so advice is wanting to know some answers…no one has yet said he has to apply for a dock pass, or whatever its called, whats involved in that, is it a question of turning up, filling in a form of I>D. that covers you for 6/12 months etc…i am interested, as pretty sure there is a card a driver must carry.

15

RHIDES card or road haulier identity system at some ports, or Gateway pass, or pull in , sit in a room to watch a video on health and safety with a multiple choice quiz at the end .
Then master the VBS or vehicle booking system which the haulier should arrange for the driver.
Beware some ports have active police patrols with radar speed cameras inside the port zone, in the past, drivers could eat in the dockers staff canteen but those days are long gone.
Any towns or villages near to ports will have weight limits so taking the artic to the seaside for fish and chips is now not allowed but you could in the past .

16

off the top so someone correct me if I’m wrong, not done containers for 3 years now, too much waiting around for my liking :wink:

Box Heights:
8’ 6" Standard Box: 13’ 6"
9’ 6" High Cube: 14’ 6"

another thing, alway remember to take off your twistlocks when getting a box off, important that. not so much when getting a box on, if you’ve forgot to unlock a twistlock and the stradler drops an empty on top of it then a healthy stab on the brakes usually gets it to spin around into the correct position.