While engaging in loading, unloading, and securement processes, you must do the following:
Wear proper clothing
- Long pants should always be worn during the loading/unloading and securement process. These should be heavy work pants and not wind or track pants, nor sweat pants.
- Properly fitting clothes should be worn. Pants and shirts that are too large or too small can cause injury.
- Close toed shoes with rubber soles should be worn. Sandals, slippers, and shoes that have no back are not allowed.
Use your personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Hard Hat with chin strap
- High visibility vest, jacket, or shirt with reflective tape
- Leather work gloves
- Safety glasses with side shields
- Steel toe work boots – required by certain shippers and consignees
- Long sleeve shirt – required by certain shippers and consignees
Protect yourself from slips, trips, and falls
- Know your load and be aware of tripping hazards. Tarped loads can have hard to see trip and fall hazards.
- Use any and all fall protection provided by the shipper or receiver.
- Wear proper footwear.
- Always use 3-point contact when entering or exiting the tractor, when climbing up to and down from the trailer, as well as when climbing on cargo loaded on the trailer.
- Never jump off a trailer.
- Be mindful of wet or icy surfaces both on the ground and on the trailer.
During the loading process
- Stay off the trailer during the loading and process.
- Stay alert. The loading/unloading process involves the use of heavy equipment. This equipment can have large blind spots. Lift cables and chains can break. Hydraulics can fail. Operators can make mistakes. Make sure you are in a safe area while this equipment is in use.
- Inspect your securement devices before each use. If anything is damaged or worn contact your Driver Manager to get a plan in place to replace it.
- Inspect the freight being hauled for damage. Any damage seen at the shipper should be reported to your Driver Manager or to Risk Management.
- Be sure the trailer deck is free of debris (rocks, nails, etc.) before and after the loading process.
- If you are unsure about how to properly secure the freight you are hauling contact the Safety Department.
During the unloading process
- Stay off the trailer during the unloading process.
- Stay alert. Be mindful of equipment in operation and keep a safe distance.
- Watch for shifting freight when releasing tie-downs. Freight can shift once these tie-downs are released. Release the first or last tie-down over the load last and be sure you have an escape route to get out of the way if anything moves.
- Inspect your securement devices after use. If anything is damaged or worn contact your Driver Manager to get a plan in place to replace it.
- Look at your signed Bill of Lading to be sure that the consignee did not notate any damage or issues with the load. If there is damaged on the BOL it should be reported to the Risk Management Department.