Don't Leave the Dock!

[ihamner]

Just a reminder - especially to new drivers! While unloading at a dock we had a forklift (new forklift driver) crash into our truck. The damage was to the frame at the top of the truck (preventing the doors from completely closing). It isn't a lot of damage but we had to go out of service to get it repaired (giving up two pre-dispatches at a minimum). My point is: if you ever have anything do damage your truck while at a dock DO NOT LEAVE THE DOCK until you have spoken with your insurance company. We stayed, even though the consignee wanted us out of the way. We took pictures and got all the insurance information (including a claim number) before we moved away from the dock. Once you have moved away from a dock the company may claim anything. Keep your insurance information handy and make sure you get the insurance information from the company where the damage is done.


India Hamner
[font color="purple"] FEDEX [/font][font color="blue"]Custom Critical[/font]
D Unit
Every day should be an adventure, not a treadmill.

 

[cheri1122]

Great advice, India, and I hope the insurance will cover your lost income, as well - no reason you should pay for someone else's carelessness.

 

[greg334]

Well here is something to add, it is difficult to watch them load a truck when you are not allowed to be there.

#1 - I had a paper run in PA this year and the shipper refused me access to my truck. They put a hole in my insulation that I found when I pulled away from the dock and because I did pull away, I was told they are not at fault.

#2 - I had a load for auto parts and also could not have access to my truck during loading. I could not see that they put a few minor holes in the insulation during loading because they loaded everything in the rear. I was told I could not make a claim because I was at the delivery when I made the discovery.

#3 - I was offered and accepted a load one night. I got to the shipper, I went in to get my dock assignments, pulling my truck into the dock, lower my dollies and going back into the place. I was told they will load me and tell me when it is ready for me to pull away from the dock. I told the shipping clerk I am pulling away from the dock now because the truck does not get loaded without me standing there - no exceptions. She got p*ssed off and I told her too bad, it is not her truck but mine. I won out on that one and several after that. I have since made shoring bar locks so no one can remove the shoring bar without my key.

 

[geo]

when i drove a straight truck and they told me , i couldn't go on the dock pull out the green book and shown them that the drive will supervise loading of the truck and it will be loaded the way i want it done

long time ago drove a dump truck and loader load the truck off center and told me that next time i'll know who the boss is
he was a bit surprize when i raise the box and dump 10 yards of sand in sand pit and told him to load it right and he said college boy i will have to teach you a lesson told him i wan't know college boy and that if he got out of loader that would be his first and last mistake
he remember me and realize i would do what i said

 

[arkjarhead]

Master lock makes a lock that is like a pin and the pin goes through the hole and there is a little box that lock on the pin. If you could find one of those you could drill a small hole in the load lock then it couldn't be taken down without you there. So they would have no choice but to let you be there.