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AM1  
#1 Posted : 22 March 2011 14:38:18(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
AM1

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?
Terry556  
#2 Posted : 22 March 2011 15:11:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Terry556

There should be a plate on the trailer to tell you the gross max weight, etc, it should be on tha chasis somewhere, on the lorry cabs it is just inside the cill as you open the door,
martin1  
#3 Posted : 22 March 2011 16:27:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martin1

I know this is a weight question but not sure you should drive onto curtain siders. We always loaded these from ground level.
AM1  
#4 Posted : 22 March 2011 17:26:36(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
AM1

We have performed many tests to try and find a suitable method of loading from the side, but it is not possible (we are not loading palletised goods). Unfortunately we have to load from the rear. Trailers do sometimes have SWL indicated on them, but this refers to the max load weight of goods, not the maximum load points or axle weight limits of vehicles entering the trailer.
martin1  
#5 Posted : 24 March 2011 14:41:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martin1

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.
Andrew W Walker  
#6 Posted : 24 March 2011 15:24:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Andrew W Walker

At my last employer we never allowed FLT's in the rear of trailers, goods were always loaded with manual or powered pallet trucks. We saw it as too much of a risk that the flt would, at some point, break through the floor. Andy
Mr.Flibble  
#7 Posted : 24 March 2011 17:33:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mr.Flibble

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
HSSnail  
#8 Posted : 25 March 2011 08:46:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

I'm with those who don't think its a good idea to let FLT drive onto the back of curtain sided vehicles - I am afraid the argument "I have done it that way for years and never had an accident" doesn't work for me - being lucky does not make it correct. You also say that the goods are not palletised - I assume they have fixed lifting points in that case or how else are you using a FLT? Why dos that stop you side loading a curtain sider - which is what they were designed for? Brian
martin1  
#9 Posted : 25 March 2011 09:11:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martin1

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?
Andrew W Walker  
#10 Posted : 25 March 2011 09:16:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Andrew W Walker

Martin1 wrote:
Thought HSE put something out on this subject a couple of years back but can't find?
Was this it? http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr662.pdf
Mr.Flibble  
#11 Posted : 25 March 2011 09:54:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mr.Flibble

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!!
martin1  
#12 Posted : 25 March 2011 11:35:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
martin1

Are the curtains designed as fall protection? If not what fall protection do you have in place? Without fall protection does driving onto the back become a working at height issue? If you worked on a roof, near roof edge, without edge protection - and did this many hundreds of times without falling off - does it make it right? Does it prove you have a safe system of work or have been lucky so far? Could do with an HSE guide on this subject.
Mr.Flibble  
#13 Posted : 25 March 2011 12:28:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mr.Flibble

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?
TRISHA  
#14 Posted : 25 March 2011 12:45:23(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TRISHA

Hello, Trisha here, new member as of yesterday, just seen this question on curtain siders and weights, although other members have come up with some good points for H&S they don't answer the maun question. The weight in the curtain sider should be governed by the plate which is usually mid chassis near side (but can be any where on chassis sometimes) no plate then I would question the legality of trailer road worthiness as per VOSA rules. A web site that may be handy is chrishodgetrucks.co.uk on there tool bar is useful info where you can get answers to wieghts sizes etc. hope this helps
David H  
#15 Posted : 25 March 2011 12:50:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David H

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
townshend1012  
#16 Posted : 26 March 2011 21:39:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
townshend1012

The only effective way of doing this is to find out the floor loading limit of the trailer. You could do this by identifying the type of timber used in the floor construction (thickness) and the distance between the supporting joists. Look up the bending moment of the timber in building guides. Find out how much the FLT weighs and calculate the weight on each wheel. Don't forget to add the weight of the load the FLT will be expected to carry when loaded. You should be able to arrive at a figure which will give you the breakthrough limit of the floor. That said, I would still try and find another way of loading/unloading a curtain-sider. They were not designed to support the weight of a sideways tipping FLT, or the weight of the load when going round corners for that matter. The load should be lashed independently of the side-curtains.
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