Basic common sense would have it, that a person would “weigh anchor” to unsecure from a spot and set sail to new horizons. Just “mashing” the motor and dragging the anchor from its resting spot would cause unnecessary damage to critical systems on a boat! Why is it then, that I so often see wheel chocks mangled, squashed and pulled across the yard from truckers so eager to “set sail”? Is it not just as important to remember to unsecure your trailer before “yanking” it from the customer’s dock?
Being a local operator where time is of the essence, I understand all too well the need to “not let grass grow under my feet” at any one stop. There should never be a time though that the need to be moving quickly outweighs the need to be safe. Wheel chocks prevent trailer movement while forklifts are inside for a good reason. A good friend of mine, that just so happens to load me at a regular customer of mine quite frequently, almost died because a chock was pulled prematurely with him on the edge of the trailer in his forklift. It is just as important for us, as drivers, to remember to pull the chock before leaving as it is to make sure it is in place during loading and unloading!
All too often I see mangled chocks that have been driven over and today I was reminded by the more uncommon sight of a chock that had been dragged all the way from the door to the other side of the customer’s yard from the spot right next to where I was unloading. There is nothing like helplessly watching someone’s tractor hop along as they pull against their immobilized trailer axle with a chock stuck under its wheel! Be sure you use this device that is intended for safety as it was designed, making sure to remove it or have a worker remove it when the process is finished. Properly “weighing anchor” will not only reduce unnecessary strain on your equipment, but also will help prevent a messy ordeal from damaging a customer’s property!