Lorry's and curtain siders are designed so that fork lift trucks can drive into them to unload / load goods, but does anyone know what the load limits are that the trailers must meet? I can find information on the axle weight limit for vehicles going into containers which is around 5400kgs, but cannot find similar information for standard trailers, but I assume they must be manufactured to a certain standard?
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I know this is a weight question but not sure you should drive onto curtain siders. We always loaded these from ground level.

I'd check with the manufacturer or you could try finding a local distribution centre in your area and phoning their safety manager. The big food chains should have depots near you and they will have these sort of issues.

Maybe I need to get out more but I have only seen one site that allowed fork lifts onto the vehicle ( not curtain siders ). They stopped this after two incidents where the fork lift went through the floor tipping the driver from his seat. On a curtain sider he may have fallen from the trailer.

I have seen fork lifts bring goods to the vehicle and then it has been placed on using hand pallet trucks or ride on trucks. Slower of course.

I have seen ride on trucks go through trailer floors as well.

Remember - you need to think about the fork lift movement not just the static weight.

Also - and might be obvious - but don't expect the landing legs to support the load during loading when the cab / unit is removed. The legs are not designed for this. The movement of the fork lift on the back will force the legs forward sooner or later.

Hi,

It is perfectly safe to load with FLT's and PPT's etc. In a previous life I worked for very large distribution company and we loaded curtain siders from the rear in a 24-7 operation on about 30 doors. Had the odd truck wheel go through the floor but that was due to defective trailer (and yes you will only get the wheel go through!) never had any go through the side! We did put Jacks under the front however to support the weight.

But to answer the original question (scary for this forum) try the manufacturer (as previously mentioned) or check the spec sheet for the trailer you are using. The company the services / MOT's will also know. Here's a rough guide however that may help:


Standard box trailer
Max. Capacity Max Weight
88.37 m3 28.48t
87.67 m3 26.22t

Standard curtain-side trailer
Max. Capacity Max Weight
88.8 m3 28.98t

I've always looked on the side curtains as simply protection for the goods inside once in transit.

They should not be used to help secure the goods and don't act as edge protection to prevent a fall from height.

But yes - I have also seen many operators that do allow ride-on / stand-on trucks onto curtain siders and seem to think curtains secure the load. Don't agree with it though.

Thought HSE put something out on this subject a couple of years back but can't find?

It has nothing to do with luck! It is a very common practice on sites and the site I worked on was a COMAH site, so we had plenty of visits from various HSE inspectors, various audits etc and no issues or concerns raised.

So nothing to do with luck as people have put it. More to do with the correct Risk Assessments, SSOW and Training! Let me put it in to prospective for you over the course of one year we would have over 13,140,000 MHE movement on and off trailers. I worked on the site for 3 years and not one went through the side, came close to going through the side etc....so hardly luck!!

What's the two things you look at when you undertake a Risk Assessment. Severity and Likelihood. I've never cut my finger off when using a pair of scissors, have I just been lucky so far?

Now I assume you are talking from experience of working with curtain siders, loading them etc and that you only load with the curtains fully clipped in, which would support a truck that fell against it. I assume that you are also aware that more accidents occur when they are side loaded due to loads falling.

So lets go back to the Risk Assessment. Likelihood and my previous figure of the amount of loads which would determine that 'luck' is not a factor. No occurrences, but lets just ban it anyway because 'it looks unsafe, and we have just been lucky'. Is this not the 'Bonkers Conkers' we are trying to get away from. People making judgement calls with out doing a Risk Assessment and having full knowledge and facts?

If it was truely as unsafe as most people make out and is a process that has been going on for a long time, why have the HSE never banned it?

In the paper trade it was also required to drive into back of the trailers - either in a sunken loading bay area or via a dock leveler with no issues - sometimes the only way.
Like Mr F we only had minor instances where the floor plates cracked etc. No issues of trucks going over the side.
Again a heaily regulated indutry - inspectors were happy.

David