is it easier to use a tug motor to shunt on-site?
does connecting red/yellow airlines multiple times aswell as carrying out the rest of the coupling prodcedure cause fatigue if you were coupling/ uncoupling 10-15 trailers per shift?
does connecting red airline multiple times under air pressure cause stress/ wear and tear on shoulders?
has anyone heard of any injuries by anyone connecting red/yellow pressured suzies
kel1j:
is it easier to use a tug motor to shunt on-site?
does connecting red/yellow airlines multiple times aswell as carrying out the rest of the coupling prodcedure cause fatigue if you were coupling/ uncoupling 10-15 trailers per shift?
does connecting red airline multiple times under air pressure cause stress/ wear and tear on shoulders?
has anyone heard of any injuries by anyone connecting red/yellow pressured suzies
Terbergs/kalmars are designed to move trailers about sites so yes obviously it will be easier than a unit. Also the handling and the way they manoeuvre and the visibility is far superior to a unit. Only time a unit might have an advantage is on a rainy night in a well lit yard. All the yard lights bounce of your windows and you see shadows and movement everywhere.
The only fatigue you’ll get by shunting is maybe sore knees, if you shunt all your life you will have knee problems regardless if you jump or step. I’ve shunted with a unit when the tug has been out of commission and I went home crippled.
You don’t feel any pressure on the air lines whatsoever, you have taps which control the air pressure. No injuries to shoulders, like I said the biggest thing for shunters is your knees. Companies could sort the knee issue thing if they’d spec park brakes on the headboard but it’s very rare to see a park brake on a headboard.
I’m just the stand in shunter at my place. It’s nice to get a shot now and again away from the bread and butter but I doubt I could do it full time. After a week or 2 it starts becoming brain damage.
To op question: depends if your working for a pallet company then it’s fair game you can drive with curtains opened not strapped load ,legs not wound up fifth wheel high to the sky
See yellow turberg ones running around on roads in Trafford park moving trailers between syobart sites night and day.
Usually empty trailers curtains tired back lifted about 50ft in the air.
And I’d of thought as your going on a public road red diesel would be a no no.
kel1j:
is it easier to use a tug motor to shunt on-site?
does connecting red/yellow airlines multiple times aswell as carrying out the rest of the coupling prodcedure cause fatigue if you were coupling/ uncoupling 10-15 trailers per shift?
does connecting red airline multiple times under air pressure cause stress/ wear and tear on shoulders?
has anyone heard of any injuries by anyone connecting red/yellow pressured suzies
If the air lines are causing YOU pain, report it.
Make a written report reporting YOUR problems.
A paper (e-mail) trail will probably wake up the managers.
If the shunt unit used is only used in the yard, then surely taps can be fitted?
If no response try talking to these:
hse.gov.uk/contact/concerns.htm
They are there to prevent injury, not just accident investigation.
If you are in pain after doing a dozen trailer air lines? Then do ten, and then take an hours rest to recover.
Tell the manager you are in pain because of your job.
See how that goes. 
edd1974:
See yellow turberg ones running around on roads in Trafford park moving trailers between syobart sites night and day.
Usually empty trailers curtains tired back lifted about 50ft in the air.And I’d of thought as your going on a public road red diesel would be a no no.
Rules changing April this year regarding cherry.
No longer allowed in many vehicles, even on private land. With some exceptions.
gov.uk/government/publicati … ntitlement
Keep the flashing light Off unless you have a little tadger 
HSE on Musculoskeletal disorders at work
hse.gov.uk/msd/msds.htm
I would have thought the most important thing would be to connect ALL the suzies rather than just pushing the shunt button.
Conor:
mosesmaster:
Just started a new job shunting with a tug & road legal. A few questions.
1: How far can you travel on road, is there a limit on miles. Distance.
2:do you have to wind legs fully to travel; on road or just jack up as you would in yard for moving around.
3: do you have to have your’e flashing roof lights when on public roads.
Any feedback would be welcome on these matters, Thanks.
- No distance limit but not allowed on motorways as it can’t do 50MPH
- Legs fully up.
- No.
There is no law regarding minimum speed limits on UK motorways
mosesmaster:
Thanks but no thanks on doing a course.
You need one if you’re even asking if you have to wind the legs up. I mean come on, the other questions I could understand but that one?
kel1j:
is it easier to use a tug motor to shunt on-site?
does connecting red/yellow airlines multiple times aswell as carrying out the rest of the coupling prodcedure cause fatigue if you were coupling/ uncoupling 10-15 trailers per shift?
does connecting red airline multiple times under air pressure cause stress/ wear and tear on shoulders?
has anyone heard of any injuries by anyone connecting red/yellow pressured suzies
Clearly you’ve never done shunting in a unit or if you have you’ve never done it in a tug.
Oh christ it’s infinitely easier. The one thing you’re not taking into account is the climbing in and out of the cab, up and down on the catwalk. Whilst that’s OK a few times on a shift when you’re doing it every few minutes throughout a shift it becomes knackering very quickly. You still have to put air lines on but they have taps on so it’s not under pressure. And yes, it does cause wear and tear on shoulders if you’re connecting pressurised ones lots of times a day.
Also tugs have much tighter turning circles and much better visibility so they’ll be able to reverse into spaces you’d struggle with a unit and blindside are a piece of cake.
There is a maximum distance for Tug use on road if your running on cherry I believe,we used to run between two warehouses years ago but I can’t remember what it was,tug has to have a number plate on and be taxed(tax rate was low though) can’t run with fifth wheel up and all lights have to work as pointed out earlier.
It might have changed with distance and tax now because this was about 10 year ago,they binned it off after a couple of month at out place and just got drivers to run stuff across in end.
On terberg units the suzies are usualy not pressurised as you have valves on them so the connecting up is not putting any strain on you, when going on the road they usually once again travel only very short distances not miles. Each firm will have its own rules about legs up or down but on the road they need to be up.
As mentioned come April they will longer be able to use red diesel so any points on that are a moot subject. Same as fridges won’t be able to use red derv anymore.
Sent from my CPH2173 using Tapatalk
We have been told we will not be able to use red diesel for our donkey engines on tankers either.
I’m an ex shunter. I got bored of being better than everyone else so went back on the road.
The distance on red diesel is 1km point to point, not 1km from base. But, as has been said, moot point from April.
As for the legs, ■■■■ that. I used to just drive with the 5th wheel fully raised. I really fail to see the problem with it. I see lots of shunters doing the same. Trust me, you’ll soon tire of doing the legs. Occasionally we’d get a talking to coz some big cheese from head office visited and saw us so for a few days we’d do it but after that …
Is it illegal, I really don’t know. If there is a specific law that states you must raise the legs then let’s see it. Even if there is has anyone every heard of anyone getting done. I mean, it’s illegal to use your fog lights in the rain or use front fog lights just to look cool (Nissan Juke drivers are triple retards for this) but this is a highly visible daily occurrence and nothing is done.
Safe to say the cops don’t care.
jrl driver:
there are all sorts of legal stuff to be taken into account i would imagine,like making sure it’s insured to be driven on the road is the main thing,it’s you that will get nicked & have 6 points on your licence if it isn’t insured.
No, the same statutory defence (S143(3) Road Traffic Act 1988) that applies to any driver of a company vehicle is applicable to shunt vehicles as well. In essence, unless they’ve told you it’s not insured for use on the road, then it’s not your problem.
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk
If you do use one for road use though you need to seriously avoid nights out in them as you won’t half wake up with a stiff neck!
merc0447:
the biggest thing for shunters is your knees. Companies could sort the knee issue thing if they’d spec park brakes on the headboard but it’s very rare to see a park brake on a headboard.
I can see your viewpoint on all the rest of it, but what’s the knee issue that would be addressed by having the park brake button on the headboard?