ODFL | Never Just Pull Out

BillyLo

Service 2.0 OD Strong All Time Mastio Champion
Credits
381
It's an automatic termination now if you pull from a dock with a lift still inside, no second chances. Believe this is a more recent policy because the past drivers would still be working here the next day. We lost our 2nd hostler in just a year over this today. Cutting a corner may cost someone's life.
 
It's an automatic termination now if you pull from a dock with a lift still inside, no second chances. Believe this is a more recent policy because the past drivers would still be working here the next day. We lost our 2nd hostler in just a year over this today. Cutting a corner may cost someone's life.

Absolutely. If I have to pull a load from the door I walk to the back to check if the door is closed/sealed. There have been a couple of times I've had to climb up on the dock and close a door and seal it.
 
It's an automatic termination now if you pull from a dock with a lift still inside, no second chances. Believe this is a more recent policy because the past drivers would still be working here the next day. We lost our 2nd hostler in just a year over this today. Cutting a corner may cost someone's life.
Heard that has been policy since starting work at ODFL.
Question is, if you were told door was closed and a dock person opened the door and put a lift between dock and trailer, who is at fault? The person pulling the trailer from the door or the dock person or both?
 
Heard that has been policy since starting work at ODFL.
Question is, if you were told door was closed and a dock person opened the door and put a lift between dock and trailer, who is at fault? The person pulling the trailer from the door or the dock person or both?
Always the person pulling the trailer out. Put your lock on the door and they can't be put in harm's way. Most of the dock guys are young kids trying to earn some beer money. So just like on the street I'm responsible for their safety as well as my own.
 
Always the person pulling the trailer out. Put your lock on the door and they can't be put in harm's way. Most of the dock guys are young kids trying to earn some beer money. So just like on the street I'm responsible for their safety as well as my own.
Can't put locks or close doors and swing doors.
 
Always the person pulling the trailer out. Put your lock on the door and they can't be put in harm's way. Most of the dock guys are young kids trying to earn some beer money. So just like on the street I'm responsible for their safety as well as my own.

When you touch that steering wheel it is all yours.1 trailer or 2 trailers or 3 trailers,bumper to bumper.
 
But like inthegame said, if you have swinging doors and check the trailer and someone drives a forklift on the trailer while you are getting in the truck, who's fault is it?
 
But like inthegame said, if you have swinging doors and check the trailer and someone drives a forklift on the trailer while you are getting in the truck, who's fault is it?
Still no excuse for getting someone hurt. There are plenty of dock workers or dock sups to be a spotter for you. Ask them to stand by the door and not let people in. This stuff is gone over time and time again in safety meetings. If we as drivers don't have enough common sense to figure this out, what are you gonna do on the road when the ::shit:: hits the fan and there's nobody to hold your hand to make a decision for you.
 
I've been off the plantation for about 10 years so I can't tell you much of anything current but we had a T/M that would fire the driver pulling the trailer out,the man on the lift,and the dock super if a lift hit the ground.I've hit the ground on a lift twice both times my fault.Once switcher pulled the wrong trailer other time trailer was not chocked.Saw many forklifts hit the dirt over the years with few injuries luckily.The T/M's rule almost ended the problem because everyone worked together to protect their job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ump
I've been off the plantation for about 10 years so I can't tell you much of anything current but we had a T/M that would fire the driver pulling the trailer out,the man on the lift,and the dock super if a lift hit the ground.I've hit the ground on a lift twice both times my fault.Once switcher pulled the wrong trailer other time trailer was not chocked.Saw many forklifts hit the dirt over the years with few injuries luckily.The T/M's rule almost ended the problem because everyone worked together to protect their job.

Just out of curiosity, how was the switcher pulling the wrong trailer your fault?
 
I could have put the blades thru the trailer wall to hold it in but I just sat there ,young and dumb,and thought WTF as it went out the end of the trailer.
Man, I couldn't even guess how bizarre it would feel to suddenly be going for a ride like that.

My company runs barn doors on linehaul vans. I always check to see if anyone is standing around the dock door before pulling it. If I see a forklift or anyone standing around, I make sure they know I'm waiting by hooking up the glandhands and light cord.

Actually overheard a dock guy say he'd laugh if I pulled the trailer with the lift on it. I shouted up through the gap that it'd only happen if he kept screwing with the trailer after I got cleared by the supervisor to pull it. He went white as a sheet and walked away.
 
Man, I couldn't even guess how bizarre it would feel to suddenly be going for a ride like that.

My company runs barn doors on linehaul vans. I always check to see if anyone is standing around the dock door before pulling it. If I see a forklift or anyone standing around, I make sure they know I'm waiting by hooking up the glandhands and light cord.

Actually overheard a dock guy say he'd laugh if I pulled the trailer with the lift on it. I shouted up through the gap that it'd only happen if he kept screwing with the trailer after I got cleared by the supervisor to pull it. He went white as a sheet and walked away.

You get along with all the Punjabi's at your outfit?? Hot damn do they drive like their turban is on fire going down the road. Very dangerous trucks to be around.
 
You get along with all the Punjabi's at your outfit?? Hot damn do they drive like their turban is on fire going down the road. Very dangerous trucks to be around.
They're not all bad, but a lot of them drive like crazy for sure. The company is doing their best to weed out the guys who only paid $500 for their license with no in cab training.
 
Over at the Big Purple house had a dock worker tying in some freight standing onthe end of the trailer when the Hostler backe under it and took off before the guy could get out so he just hung on for the ride across the yard yelling and the funny thing was other drivers were yelling at the hostler and all he did was wave to them..looked like Eddy Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop from the 80"s just a swingin..NOthing happened to the driver..geez
 
Over at the Big Purple house had a dock worker tying in some freight standing onthe end of the trailer when the Hostler backe under it and took off before the guy could get out so he just hung on for the ride across the yard yelling and the funny thing was other drivers were yelling at the hostler and all he did was wave to them..looked like Eddy Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop from the 80"s just a swingin..NOthing happened to the driver..geez
While I was there, a hostler at TOL took off with a lift in the trailer. The guy on the lift had enough time to hit the hand brake. Nothing happened to the hostler driver, and all the road drivers got a lecture on making sure the door was closed.
 
Top