Are Unload Stands Unsafe?

[stevetheupsguy]

I never even knew those yellow step things were called load stands. I never, ever, used one as I didn't know they existed for that purpose. I'm old school too, unload, lift flaps, unload and move on to the next pup. I actually thought load stands were to make it easy to step outside to the ground.

[bonedog]

Unload stands are an important safety aid but in some circumstances can actually make things more dangerous. I use them most of the time when unloading. There are circumstances where you are better off without them. If the walls of packages are unstable and leaning forward toward you, then you are better off without a load stand because you need to be ready to quickly move out of the way. Also, often times 1 or more of the rubber pegs on the bottom of the load stand are missing which make standing on it like balancing on a teeter-totter. This is a constant problem in my hub because there is no good place to store them when not in the truck. They are bulky and cumbersome and the unload area was never designed to accommodate them. (or extendo's or irreg slides or PAS equipment which has been shoehorned in for that matter) All that said, if you have a truck that was loaded half-way decent (which I know can be rare at times) it will take a lot of strain off your back. I think the reason people don't like them is they feel like it slows them down. It probably does slow you somewhat but not nearly as much as you think. I for one am not gonna cause myself undue strain to make a door break 2 minutes earlier than it would have.

[sx2700]

Originally Posted by stevetheupsguy

Yeah, and what about the blacks, the jews and the gays?

I dunno, what about them? I don't work with any so I can't say. But I do work with women and kids that have no business being there. They can't do the job and it makes my night longer. Take your politically correct, affirmative action BS and shove it.

[Baba gounj]

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

Let me guess--you also walked 5 miles uphill each way to school every day.

Nah only a couple of blocks, downhill.
A local catholic school .

Being 6'2" I could touch the inside roof of the feeders easily.
Besides I never saw a load stand until a couple of years ago.
And for the last few years when it came time to say load a feeder during peak with grounds that had been picked up on a Sat. , the people loading were unbelievably rotten in load quality. I had to jump in there , straighten up the load, & teach them how to do it properly. Many ( including sups ) have no idea other then just to physically throw everything in.

[gandydancer]

Originally Posted by stevetheupsguy

I never even knew those yellow step things were called load stands. I never, ever, used one as I didn't know they existed for that purpose. I'm old school too, unload, lift flaps, unload and move on to the next pup. I actually thought load stands were to make it easy to step outside to the ground.

Don't seem to use Z's as much any more around here, and except for loading the nose of one whose roller extension is gone, it's hard to see why you would need a stand in a trailer with flaps. But you also said you used the portable rollers, and if you knew what was meant (the roller segments which hook together or, after a little bit of wear, have to be overlapped) you would have to have loaded/unloaded flatbeds w/o using an extender. For my part I think it's easiest and safest to (carefully) tear a hole in the middle of a wall and establish an erosion channel rather than try to reverse-load, but that's sure not the Method.

[stevetheupsguy]

Originally Posted by gandydancer

Don't seem to use Z's as much any more around here, and except for loading the nose of one whose roller extension is gone, it's hard to see why you would need a stand in a trailer with flaps. But you also said you used the portable rollers, and if you knew what was meant (the roller segments which hook together or, after a little bit of wear, have to be overlapped) you would have to have loaded/unloaded flatbeds w/o using an extender. For my part I think it's easiest and safest to (carefully) tear a hole in the middle of a wall and establish an erosion channel rather than try to reverse-load, but that's sure not the Method.

Yeah, been a driver for quite awhile now and get called in every so often for preload. I've unloaded the trailers with the rollers you're talking about. Wish that when they phased the old pups out, they would have phased in new equipment.

[UPSNewbie]

I actually miss my unload job. (Injured right now. They have me consolidating forever bags.) But I certainly don't miss the "manual extendo." They loved to put me on those particular bays.

[Apollo]

Originally Posted by gandydancer

Don't seem to use Z's as much any more around here, and except for loading the nose of one whose roller extension is gone, it's hard to see why you would need a stand in a trailer with flaps. But you also said you used the portable rollers, and if you knew what was meant (the roller segments which hook together or, after a little bit of wear, have to be overlapped) you would have to have loaded/unloaded flatbeds w/o using an extender. For my part I think it's easiest and safest to (carefully) tear a hole in the middle of a wall and establish an erosion channel rather than try to reverse-load, but that's sure not the Method.

The hole in the wall method is how i was taught to unload! Now i'm getting "red cards" (don't know what the bloody hell those are) for not using anload stand. I think it's bull anyways, I'm 6'5" for crying outloud, i have to duck in drop frame trailers. In my experience, it takes longer (especially on certain doors whose hydraulic system is fading), takes up space, they're broken most of the time, I can reach the top of the walls in most trailers without one, and if a wall starts falling,(I'm looking at you CA Loaders! ), You're as good as injured. So why use them? I've had 4 sups (in a year) and this newest guy is the first to give me any crap about it, and he didn't for the first 3 months he was my supervisor. In my personal opinion, LOAD stands are for just that, loading.