Is this bad?
Posted by Important_Drink_1871@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 47 comments
Im new to this trucking stuff and constantly finding small things wrong with the trailers, I’m not always sure if something is worth reporting. Is this bad enough to call maintenance or should I just keep chugg-a-luggin’?
GordTransport1958@reddit
Id do a CYA and report to your company with pictures..but not illegal damage to hold you up
Felixfops@reddit
Fix it with a hammer
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Dont do that it's aluminum
Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor@reddit
I’ve literally had a jagged piece poking out and got a big rubber hammer from the TA mechanic to bang it in place
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Yea supposed to use rubber mallet/heat
TwoToadsKick@reddit
Aluminium is, in fact, malleable.
homucifer666@reddit
Depends on the treatment, shape, and metalurgical composition.
3xxx series, like in aluminium cans, will often bend and deform before breaking.
6xxx and 7xxx series used for aircraft and firearms will usually fracture before bending.
I don't know which type of aluminium trailers are made of, but I'm not going to start hammering on something if I don't know if I'm going to cause more damage doing so.
West_Imagination3237@reddit
Solid presentation of information, coupled with an astuteness in delivering your conclusion. Well done Anon.
Nasty_Rex@reddit
Hit it with a hammer whenever ^they^ aren't looking
Any-Comfortable-4888@reddit
Yeah but have you ever tried to smash aluminum that is that think back into shape? It doesn't work!
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Smashing it with a hammer will make it Crack, but go off
deadpat03@reddit
That's literally how they fix it. Did you think it was glass?
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Don't quit your day job there big guy....
Fixing bent aluminum with a hammer is generally not recommended, especially for critical parts like wheels, as it can cause cracking and structural failure. While a rubber mallet or careful hammering with heat can work for minor dents on non-structural pieces, aluminum's brittle nature means it can easily break,
juggerjew@reddit
This is not a critical part, guarantee some light work with a hammer and it would look fine.
Independent_Leg7358@reddit
It is a critical part. Lower frame rail.
However it's in tension not compression. Best would be to leave it alone.
TwoToadsKick@reddit
Never drove on an aluminum wheel before
FloppyTacoflaps@reddit
Not on a bent or damaged one
BedAdministrative619@reddit
Full send
GroundbreakingSir386@reddit
DOT has a problem with everything this looks like it came from the inside forklift hit the sidewalls always inspect your trailer when your leaving the shipper make sure they didn’t damage the trailer I work in LTL so this happens a ton.
Artistickidcudi@reddit
People are saying hammer but some large pliers will work. Just use a lot of force.
Chemical-Baby3632@reddit
How did you do that?
🤓
genocyde26008219@reddit
Send iiiit! But seriously call maintenance and ask first. At least make them aware of it
c0caine_cinderella@reddit
This guy is the TMC of dryvan
MeatloafCupcake@reddit
Give it another 20 years and she'll be one fine pallet trailer.
Ok_Bug_6470@reddit
Bruh
Outside_Squirrel_839@reddit
That’s what using the railroad to ship trailers. The machines they use to pick up the trailer causes that type of damage sometimes at the four pick up points sometimes directly across on the other side of trailer it all depends on the skill of the operator
freightliner_fever_@reddit
yup. straight to jail
No_Inflation7432@reddit
Pretty sure it was like that before you got it
Prior-Ad-7329@reddit
As long as it’s not cracked and none of the fasteners are cracked or broken
keytiri@reddit
Looks fine, but I’d note the dmg on dvir and add a picture; I usually only do text descriptions for minor stuff and nothing has come back to bite me yet, but they could be building a file on me for all I know. If they want to get anal, I’d be happy to start inundating them with every imperfection. For major dmg I submit pictures immediately to our road breakdown.
homucifer666@reddit
Before you hook up, take pictures and make note of any damage or issues before you take control of it. Email or submit it to whoever tracks your equipment maintenance as proof that this was the condition you found it in so any later damage claims bounce off of you.
JohanBroad@reddit
^This! ^
Document everything before you hook to that trailer. If you have doubts call your safety dept. and ask.
warwgn@reddit
CYA: Cover Your Ass!
Call maintenance, and ask if it’s been reported by anyone else before you. If it has, no problem.
If it hasn’t…. There’s potential that if you don’t call and report it, someone else after you WILL report it, and you’ll be pulled into safety and written up for damage you didn’t cause.
HighwayStar71@reddit
If I did that, I would be spending half my time on the phone with safety and taking pictures.
1morepl8@reddit
Drop and hook gang lol. Line haul trailers are fucked.
SnooChipmunks6620@reddit
Yup what war said. My own bosses knows how I operate so I never worry about finding damage. Or if anyone finds damage after me.
Not everyone is fortunate as I am with that work environment. But still, check and report it in. I always ask, has this been reported? If not, they're coming out to document it.
Born-Lie8688@reddit
Pipe wrench and bend back.
daemonescanem@reddit
If its dirty its old. If its shiny and clean its new.
MisterSirEsq@reddit
That'll buff out.
geneticdeadender@reddit
It is fine. If you had a puncture of the sheet metal above it would have to be fixed. Some all weather tape would do it until you could apply a permanent sheet metal patch.
Intelligent-Site7686@reddit
The average trailer I hook up to is way worse
copper_wing@reddit
Same. No holes in the floor, no daylight through the sides and insulation? Run it.
donnthebuilder@reddit
must be one of those fancy trailers
Ornery_Ads@reddit
Not a great picture.
If it's torn, it needs to be fixed, but can still be used.
If it's just bent, it's fine.
It the crossmember is detached from the lower rail (look at it from underneath the trailer), then it's an immediate oos in my book (unless it's an empty move), but technically not an oos for DOT.
Either way, take some pictures and email them to whoever takes damage reports with your company.
HowlingWolven@reddit
Straight to jail.
bingius_@reddit
Fuck it call maintenance. Better safe than sorry. But realistically in the dispatch side of things I don’t even worry about those.
But I’m not the one on the road, if you are worried about it have them check it out.
Yadilie@reddit
Are the cross members visibly bent or cracked? If not then it's fine. Most trailers wouldn't be on the road if this was an issue.