Working with Truck Trailers & Railroad Cars

Using a forklift to load or unload truck trailers and railroad cars adds another dimension of operational risk. Truck trailers and railroad cars must be stabilized. Communication between vehicle operators is essential and can prevent serious injuries. Which operator is responsible for which safety measure needs to be made clear. In addition, there are special precautions that employers and workers should take, as follows:

• Immobilize the trailer truck or railroad car.
  • The brakes of highway trucks should be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels to prevent the trucks from rolling while they are boarded with powered industrial trucks.
  • Wheel stops or other recognized positive protection should be provided to prevent railroad cars from moving during loading or unloading operations.
  • Fixed jacks may be necessary to support a semitrailer and prevent upending during the loading or unloading when the trailer is not coupled to a tractor.
• Create a stable path to the trailer truck or railroad car.
  • Use approved bridge plates, which are devices for spanning short distances.
  • Portable bridge plates must be secured in position, either by being anchored or equipped with devices which will prevent their slipping.
  • Drive straight across bridge plates when entering or exiting the truck trailer or railroad car.
• Make sure the weight of the forklift and its load can be supported.
  • Bridge plates must be strong enough to carry the load imposed on them.
  • In determining the capacity of the trailer floor to support a forklift, consider various factors, including floor thickness and cross-member spacing or unsupported floor area. In general, the larger the unsupported area, the lower the forklift capacity the trailer will have for the same floor thickness.
• Make sure there is enough room for the forklift to enter the enclosed space. Ensure that the height of the entry door is adequate to clear the height of your vehicle, taking into consideration the height of the loading platform.

Finally, operators should use dock lights and headlights when working in a dark trailer and sound the horn when entering or exiting the trailer.

To learn more about Forklift Safety visit our Forklift Safety Online Training web page.