Pallet configuration for heavy loads?

I always put my single in row2, and then started in the center of load with any others. So 20 pallets would be single in 2 & 6, 19 -- 2, 5 & 7, 18 -- 2, 4, 6 & 8

That's in a reefer, and it served me well in both 48' & 53' trailers. Seemed to stabilize the single better, and it forced the reefer to pull more from the bottom of the bulkhead.

 

I'm surprised the way hammer loads it isn't too heavy up front. I don't want those tandems further forward than legally necessary, I hate the whale tail swing. What you don't want to have happen is have your trailer axles all the way up and only weighing maybe 32000 forcing you into a rework or play the fuel game when it wasn't necessary.

It's one of those things you get a feel for it. Know your equipment, which hole is the shortest and longest. Try different methods. Over time you can eyeball it and see where approximately the last pallets will sit. Even break out your tape measure and measure the pallets if they are onions or spuds or similar and the pallet is slightly bigger than the standard 40"×48". Some pallets are smaller. Grapes are sometimes on small pallets but they are heavy. That's always fun. I almost always load everything straight in. You can turn the singles sideways for a bit more stability if you wish. I have also found 2 singles in the nose both sideways then double all straight in also works. 53' can put 13 straight in per side, you want to try to always use 11 spaces per side or 22 skid spots. So think about where you want your singles to be.

 

Because sometimes it was a slick side. The singles wouldn’t fall because they were wedged in by the doubles. As fas as them loading it that way, they had been doing it that way long before I started there. It worked out, so I just went with it. On top of which, it was only 50ish miles back to the DC and I was driving a daycab most of the time.

 

That's the row with the singles. 20 pallets, singles in rows 2 & 6, etc. If you want to do the single in the nose, change the two to a one. This keeps the load's center of gravity in the same place.

 

I started that years ago, my first over the road job with JMI, we didn't have sliders on most of our trailers. You learned in a hurry how to load right the first time. Single in the nose always left me a touch heavy on the rear. If I was a bit heavy up front, I could adjust with fuel if needed. But it was usually balanced just right.

 

Never turned singles, never had an issue. If you're a smooth driver it ain't going anywhere.

 

I've had singles of bagged potatoes fall over... Usually only the top half, it slides off... But its always a particular shipper that pinches pennies everywhere including the shrink wrap... Sometimes nearly 18 inches between the bottom of one wrap to the top of the next lower wrap. I just pay the lumper extra to restack and write it up for reimbursement... Haven't had any refused because of this... YET

Edit: I hate auto correct!!!