the maoster:
caledoniandream:
You ever wondered why shunters are the most grumpy people in the world.
Oi, I resemble that remark! 
. Judging by the amount of coffees that visiting drivers buy me I reckon that I must be doing something right. I’m NOT the yard policeman, I won’t chastise anybody for speeding, not wearing steelies , not wearing a hi vis etc for the simple reason that I don’t care.
Like a lot of things it all comes down to the attitude test; I greet every single driver with a cheery “good morning/afternoon” and expect that to be reciprocated. If a driver just grunts or ignores me then all bets are off as far as I’m concerned. I’m a lorry driver first and foremost and totally understand that it may be someone’s first visit and will go out of my way to explain procedures etc to them, all I ask in return is civility.
It’s a funny one because I’m always polite and respectful to everyone until they do something to annoy me. I go some places and the shunter is the most friendly person you could wish to deal with then you go to others and they are SO grumpy without you doing anything other than asking where to park or where the office is.
switchlogic:
the nodding donkey:
switchlogic:
Shutters also do shocking amounts of damage. I’ll stick with taking my time
Maybe you should check they have fully opened first…?
Touchè
I must admit that my distrust of warehouse staff goes so far as to make me check several times before, and during, passing a roller shutter door… …
caledoniandream:
Its easy in a Terberg (other makes are available)or something similair, as they are very short, have a massive lock, and alround visible.
I know shunter who change approx 50 trailers in a 12 hour shift, if you cant do it than you will never be able to do it.
Is that changing a loaded one for an empty one from the same bay or just putting an empty one on a bay? 50 in 12hrs isn’t very many imho…4 an hour? We have to do (at most, 10-12/night…mostly empty, from fence to bay…takes about hour and half on your own and we have to use our ‘regular’ units, Actros with fixed lifter (no twin steer) and that lovely auto box! 2 doing it (one driving and ‘clipping’ in on o/s of trailer, other working n/s of trailer and opening the doors) can have that done in about 40 minutes. And anybody who has been in to Bidvest at Reading will know how tight that yard can get…even worse since they put those rubber stops on the ground to stop the cabbages from reversing into that bright, shiny metal thing called a Fence! 
Actrosman:
caledoniandream:
Its easy in a Terberg (other makes are available)or something similair, as they are very short, have a massive lock, and alround visible.
I know shunter who change approx 50 trailers in a 12 hour shift, if you cant do it than you will never be able to do it.
Is that changing a loaded one for an empty one from the same bay or just putting an empty one on a bay? 50 in 12hrs isn’t very many imho…4 an hour? We have to do (at most, 10-12/night…mostly empty, from fence to bay…takes about hour and half on your own and we have to use our ‘regular’ units, Actros with fixed lifter (no twin steer) and that lovely auto box! 2 doing it (one driving and ‘clipping’ in on o/s of trailer, other working n/s of trailer and opening the doors) can have that done in about 40 minutes. And anybody who has been in to Bidvest at Reading will know how tight that yard can get…even worse since they put those rubber stops on the ground to stop the cabbages from reversing into that bright, shiny metal thing called a Fence!
That is collecting an empty, drop it, pull loaded away, drop it, put empty on bay, pick loaded up, weigh out, seal and park on the other side of the factory.
It’s not a bad job with a tug, but hard work if you had to do it with a standard truck.
No arms left after winding the legs
Backing onto a bay is very easy for the experienced driver, sometime with no shunts ( 1 hittter ) others with 2.3. depends on the yard, how much room you have to shunt, and the patience of other drivers not prepared to wait while you do it…as for shunters, i will agree that they are a lot easier than a convential artic, BUT, in some places i have seen them struggle a bit…all depends !!!