Process of Loading and unloading of car trailer (or any other type of trailer)is risky, and you should always think carefully about how you load them. Heavy loads, moving vehicles, or overturning ones, and working at height can all cause injuries or even death.However, if you follow the right safety guidelines, there is nothing to stop you from safely loading a flatbed trailer.
The following tips/guidelines will help you durin loading and unloading a car trailer.
Safety basics
1. Define the load
Before loading, identify what the load is to be. You should be able to clearly see it in the trailer. Identify what will be loaded onto the trailer and what will be loaded into the cabin. If you don’t know this up front, you may get it wrong, or else you may unknowingly load something unsafe or that you won’t be able to unload.
2. Respect the load restrictions
If you are leaving a load on the trailer, you may not be allowed to unload it. Before loading you should check the load restrictions on the trailer. They may say “no loading or unloading” or “no trucks higher than ten feet”. This is a general statement, and can be adjusted on request, so you should check the regulation before loading.
3. Make a ‘go safe’ plan
Before loading, write down a plan for what you are going to do, how you will do it, and who is responsible for what. If you’re loading a trailer, make sure you will be able to close the divider between your trailer and the cabin. Also, have someone you trust in place to receive the trailer and follow the plan should anything go wrong.
4. Arrange alternative loading methods
As well as using the trailer, you may have to move things into the cabin or drop them off elsewhere. If you’re not able to fit in the car, use a utility trailer, the car may be able to fit in the back of another car, or you may need to fill the cabin with bags and boxes. You could even use a dolly and a truck.
A flatbed trailer isn’t the only way to transport things, so if you have to use one, it’s best to look out for alternatives.
What to do after loading
1. Hook up
When you have safely loaded your trailer, it’s important to secure it. Use a secure ‘jack hook’ on the trailer. It will be locked to the hitch (the part that goes under the car) using the ‘lock nut’. The jack hook should have a U-notch which fits in the locking nut.
2. Drive
Drive slowly. It’s only normal to be cautious when you are dealing with so much weight. Never make more than a mile an hour over the limit. Keep in mind that if you hit a kerb, a parked car, or another vehicle, the weight of your millennium trailer could cause an accident or even cause the whole vehicle to overturn.
3. Unload
Although flatbed trailers and moving vehicles can be loaded by ladder trucks and other equipment, most of the time, they can be unloaded by hand. Usually, the way to safely unload them is through “steerable” dollies that can move the load on tracks.
5. Always secure load
After you’ve unloaded, always follow the proper instructions to secure your load. Never leave it as it is. If you’re planning on leaving the load overnight, then make sure you secure it properly before you go to bed.
