Or imagine that the trailer you are inspecting is swept out and clean, but you notice large cracks in the floor of the trailer. Do you reject the trailer? Do you tape up the cracks or lay cardboard down on the floor to cover up the cracks and then load the trailer? Does it depend on the customer? Does it matter if the product is on pallets or sits directly on the trailer floor?
Deciding if a trailer can be loaded or if a trailer should be rejected is not always an easy task. What can seem as harmless as cracks in a trailer floor or liquid in the nose of a trailer can lead to serious issues. These issues can jeopardize the safety and integrity of the product and the health and well-being of the customer.
Contamination during transport
Contamination of products during transportation remains a significant issue. Trailers that are not clean and kept well-maintained, trailers that have transported hazardous materials on previous loads, as well as LTL loads pose the greatest …show more content…
When you first enter a trailer, inspect the trailer’s interior. Does the trailer have a strong, chemical odor? If so, reject the trailer until the trailer has “aired out” and the odor is no longer present. Look for any daylight coming through the roof, walls, or floor of the trailer. If it is raining, inspect the roof for any dripping water. Daylight and dripping water in a trailer means that there is a hole somewhere in the trailer. Reject the trailer and have the driver repair the hole. Please remember that tape, foam insulation, and other temporary fixes are not