Drivers' Corner - Caring in Action

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Are double door locks on each rear door of the trailer easier to close? A driver had finished loading paper at a paper mill in Lufkin, Texas. He was looking forward to getting home. His wife had given birth to a new baby boy and he was looking forward to seeing both of them. The load was going within five miles of his home and he had eight days accumulated that he could be with his new family.

His rear trailer doors had the double door locks for security for the heavy rolls of paper. The locks are designed with the handles turning away from the locks in the same direction on each door. It normally requires two men to close the locks, however, in his haste, he tried to close both locks at the same time by himself. He slipped on the parking lot and wrenched his back. An ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the local hospital. His injury required six months of rehabilitation.

Sea cargo containers are designed with double handle locks, however, the handles on each door turn toward the center between the two locks. One man can lock both locks at the same time with less force than the conventional trailer method since the locks work in conjunction with each other. Trailer manufacturers would do well to take lessons from the builders of sea containers.

To avoid hurting yourself with the conventional double door locks, here are some tips:

1. Be sure freight is not blocking the door. Freight loaded to the end of the trailer will not let the door close.
2. The locks are not meant to be a leverage tool for pushing freight that is not properly loaded. Freight that is forced inside is subject to falling when opened for inspection or unloading.
3. Once the area is clear, close the left door first and then the right door. Seek assistance securing the locks to avoid injury.

That's the way I see it - Bob Hataway - TransAlive.

Bob Hataway is president of TransAlive USA, an organization of 100,000 volunteers across America dedicated to serving drivers and their families in the transportation industry through their Caring in Action=Safety Program. They cover every zip code in the United States and move quickly to meet the needs of the drivers and their families when they experience an accident, illness, heart attack or even death on the highway. Call 800-USA-HURT for assistance.