Any truckers out there
 

Just looking out the window and trying to work out how you put one articlated trailer on top of another one? I am talking about the flatbed ones that move plant etc.

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Assuming I've read your question properly. Three options for putting a trailer on a flat bed.

1) Back it on, drive off.
2) Drive on, then down a ramp (or usually onto a ledge that the flatbed convienetly parked next to) at the other end. Unless you're used to doing it, this can take a little practice to get the trailer straight.
3) Crane. Usually not that practical.

Usually there's no need for it, unless the trailer is out of action & needs repairs to make it roadworthy.

Not a truck driver, but work in Logistics ;)

Re: Any truckers out there
 

I know this is incredibly sad but I'd really like to see cars being loaded onto a transporter :D

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Right the one I saw today, the bottom one had a ledge/end on the kingpin end so if I truck had driven on the trailer it wouldn't have been able to get off and the both trailers were facing the same direction, must have been a crane.

I reckon some long distance firms might do it to save cost moving empty traliers around, being in the plant game might also explain the cranes?

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Im a trucker and I believe they back them onto a bay and then reverse the trailer off the bay and onto the trailer, then drop the trailer and pull off, never done it but it seems about right.

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Amongst many other driving jobs, I did transporters for about 9 months a couple of years ago, not a job for everyone. When you put your first car onto an artic trailer top deck you have to put it on in reverse and then effectively reverse off the deck and into a couple of square basketball hoops, thing is you have to reverse up fast so you dont burn the clutch out and then time it right to drop into the hoops, after that all the other cars are a doodle to go on, but I know drivers who have gone off the trailer peak backwards.Its good watching a good driver doing it but not as much fun doin it yourself ;)

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Very sad, I watch it most days :) , there are about three car delivery/hire companies on the estate that I work. They move all the ramps about to get them the right height, its actually quite complicated. I have seem the underside of a brand new LWB sprinter getting a pasting cos the muppet wasnt watching what he was doing.

One thing i dont understand about the tralier hydralics is they can move each side independently (tilt the ramps like the camber on the road except more exteme), these seems to complicated things. Anyway i should probaly be working and not looking at car transporters, cant belive i have written this much anyway.

Re: Any truckers out there
 

You're right, it can be done to save fuel costs (but only if you need a flatbed AND another trailer at the same place), which without the engine is pretty useless normally.

However, a client of ours parks trailers in the yard full of stock (including refrigerated units when the warehouse is full). If a trailer is out of action (because of a broken axel etc) and it can't be repaired in situ, then they'll stick it on a flatbed, take it across the road to their other yard, and repair/dispose of it there. Obviously any stock has to be unloaded first too.

Re: Any truckers out there
 

Lift it with sky hooks!