How to bump a Dock... Jack-knifed?

Do you mean like parallel parked with trailer in dock?

 

i have only had to end up like that a couple of times myself at an on/off street delivery.

i had to be somewhat closer to the building nearly at a 90 degree angle, rather than the usual 45?

then i just backed into the area. if i recall, i may have locked up the trailer brakes with the trolly, to give me a near perfect pivot. then released them to allow the rest of the backing into the spot.

but been like EON's since i had to do that backing for that delivery, that way.

 

Its tough and against a wall or old type dock its easier.The problem with attempting this is that you have to be spot on when you get to the dock. As you approach 90 degrees with the tractor, the tail of the trailer is no longer moving backwards... its already moving sideways.

 

Put your wheels all the way back, bump the dock at an angle and push it square with the tractor.

 

years ago down town Chicago, back down and alley, the dock is flush against the wall. The guy pushes a green dumpster to the back of my truck, throws a sheet of thin metal across. He says, Run it fast, cut across the dumpster, into the building. HELL NO, I says. He says, trust me. 2 construction workers hear this, and make a bet with each other, it will fall in. I say, sign the bill, if it falls, its your problem. It worked. not too keen on me running with a skid across a dumpster.

 

Easy in the winter time. Just hit the corner of the dock with the corner of the trailer. Then just keep pushing with the truck and it will pivot in place as the trailer tires slide on the ice and snow.

 

I come back at a 45 degree angle and when I get about 2 foot from the dock cut it all the way over hard and usually works for me biggest problem is make sure your tandems are almost where you want them to end up when you cut it ... hard to adjust it seems like I only do it 4 or 5 times a year and i go to a lot of smaller companies never will get good at it

 

It's not easy. And a lot of it is just luck and/or trial and error, even for the old hands. The initial angle and point at which you begin your cut must be nearly perfect. Having the tandems back, bumping the dock near the correct spot, then "pushing" until perpendicular with the dock is doable in some situations but it's a good way to tear stuff up on your trailer or their dock.

Some times, if you can back in as normal, do so, and drop and move out of the way is the easiest solution.