What's up dock? How close is close enough when backing up?

Most docks have the yellow lines to help, but I try to get as even as I can on each side. Sometimes I'm a bit off, but a little is ok. If it won't work for them they'll let you know. Then I get out to check that I didn't settle forward after setting the brakes.

 

I usually bump it and then let any pressure against it release. The only problems I've ever had were on some docks if you flush against the bumpers, the dock plate can't unfold - and in that case they have you move forward a few inches.

 

for the most part you have to be pretty straight. Some places have fairly short dock plates and if you aren't straight enough the dock plate won't be inside the trailer all the way. Some places are super picky.

I went to the docks in Galveston TX earlier this year. My trailer settles forward when I pull the breaks. The jerk of a dock supervisor kept telling me I need to quit pulling forward, he wouldn't load me until I was totally flush. It took someone ramming the pieces of wood they use for chocks as soon as I hit the dock for me to be close enough for his liking. The whole drama started because I was about an inch off. I really don't think he liked women, much less a white woman, but that is only my theory on this.

 

If your trailer rubber bumpers touch the dock walls you may tare up your rubber bumper guards when you finally set the truck and trailer brakes unless you have an airbag stopper on your trailer and most of them don't. I always keep my trailer just a hair far enough from touching the dock & I go back and check to make sure that i didn't pull away more than an inch or so.
Hope that helps

 

What I do is this.. throw 4 ways on and back up until my 4 ways start getting dim (most of my deliveries are night time).. When I slowly bump dock.. I pull away just enough to keep from tearing up the bumper guards.. My rule of thumb is if the trailer is against the dock pad we are good.... So I just barely touch the pad... That makes it close enough so the people can't accused me of stuff "falling" off the truck.. and I can have room for bigger dock plates to swing and gives the suspension room to work without ripping the guards off..

And no I have never been accused of stuff "falling" off the truck.... I just know how shippers and receivers think...

 

Pull ups are free. I'm a perfectionist so I have to be perfect, lol. But just as long as that dock plate will reach in there on the far away side you are okay.

 

I back up to it and bump it slowly. I then let the clutch out half way (in reverse) to hold pressure on it. I then pull both brakes and then put clutch back in and shift to neutral. Iv never seen a dock plate that couldn't come out when your against the bumpers. Your trailer wont move as much if your firmly against the bumpers.

 

Im pretty sure he is talking about vans/flatbeds, not tankers.