lift gates vs no liftgate

oldtimer · May 30, 2004

Hello all the question today is it really worth it to have a liftgate
with all the trouble you have with loads that are always downtown!
I have been a wg(white glove )unit for over 10years and heard allot of
horror stories about lO years loads being unloaded on a bustie main road .Getting in the way of the traffic and even getting a ticket!The
best loads when you think of it are dock to dock or maybe inside
delivery beause they are fast and if you have to wait tobe unloaded
you get dention time. My team truck has haul of the diifernet loads
there is from expolvifs to nasa to amno to bases to computers to ibm
and by far the computer loads are the best paying .All this with
no lift gate ! REMENBER THE FAST YOU UNLOAD THE FAST YOU GET YOUR
NEXT LOAD!

davekc · May 30, 2004

I think we actually agree on something. Almost scary. Fedex I quess sees a need for them but they don't justify the cost. Had one at Roberts (white glove) and used it only a few times. They add extra weight and usually fall apart once the road salt and chemicals get a hold of them.

Glen Rice · May 30, 2004

Well, can't always agree with everyone. I wouldn't have a truck without a liftgate! That extra cost allows translated into extra revenue with our units. And don't forget resale $$$. That load that we could haul with the use of liftgate kept us moving and productive. As far as rusting units, buy aluminum and place the power pack in a weather tight compartment. It will last and not fail you when need it. Planning is critical when specing your truck for trouble free operation.

x06col · May 31, 2004

As an ex-glover myself, and, just being a carrier, a lift gate in my experience, translated more labor, more expense, more weight without
any corresponding gain. A lot of people see the liftgate hanging off
the truck and think you should use it because it is there. Guess they don't realize it cost to install, looses weight revenue, and causes extra labor. Got pissed when we wanted to charge to use it.
As far as residual value, don't mean much, used van bodies are a dime a dozen. With or without liftgates. We don't have any, anymore.

RichM · May 31, 2004

I have a lift gate and would never be without one.Many times you get loads through a third party and they don!t know if the customers have docks so to be on the safe side they order a lift gate unit. It has made me money but also given me grey hair at times, as sometimes it can get hairy trying to load or unload some piece of equipment that is worth really big bucks and the freight fills up the whole gate.
Downtown loads and sidewalk deliveries while a nusisance can make you somne decent dollars as there is always an inside delivery to go along with the lift gate.
I like to think I know my limitations and will not attempt to handle freight that I consider dangerous,as if you get hurt the next words you will hear is "Call us when you are back in service".
In addition to the weight I always ask for the dimensions of the freight in advance so that I don!t wind up deadheading 200 miles for something that won!t fit.
I keep the gate clean and run it up and down 2-3 times aweek just to keep it operating. This one is now 8 years old and starting to get rusty but then again so am I..

louixo · Jun 1, 2004

I went from electronics to tradeshows in my tractor trailer days. When I was issued my first company tradeshow trailer I opted for a drop deck/liftgate, to maximize revenue. Because I had the liftgate, they sent me to smaller shows that were held in name motels, or inner city sites frequently. On some loads you needed extra labor, as the freight was too big for two people to handle and get it on the gate. The load time was always considerably longer, even though I was paid all the accessorial fees. The liftgate was a constant hassle. It wouldn´t go up. It wouldn´t go down. It didn´t have enough lift to raise the freight. It wouldn´t fold. The straw that put the camel on his knees was at a rush show in Pittsburgh. The gate broke at the dock and locked up on the dock securing hook. They had to bring in a gate mechanic from some distance,and a crane. Not to mention I was still there with a loaded hot trailer 24 hours later, that couldn´t be off loaded because the forklift couldn´t get to it.My revenue increased, and the job got easier when I got rid of the gate shortly after that episode. That was about 14 years ago and to this day I don´t want another.

davekc · Jun 2, 2004

sounds like different strokes. Since we are running consistantly now, I think our revenue would drop. The assessory charges wouldn't be great enough to offset the milage revenue. During a period that was really slow I might have a different opinion.

ATeam · Jun 3, 2004

>sounds like different strokes. Since we are running
>consistantly now, I think our revenue would drop. The
>assessory charges wouldn't be great enough to offset the
>milage revenue. During a period that was really slow I might
>have a different opinion.

Key words are, "Since we are running consistantly now...." I like idea of a lift gate for the days when business is slow. It's then that the lift gate can pay for itself in loads that you would otherwise not have.

I also like the lift gate as a nice to have item. When mother-in-law is moving to the nursing home and she needs grandpa's anvil collection moved to grandson's house, and you're elected because you are the family member with the truck, a lift gate is nice to have.

RichM · Jun 3, 2004

The A team makes a very good point,not only relatives but neighbors think you have nothing to do when you arrive back home. They don!t understand that after 3-4 weeks and 12-15 K miles,why you aren!t bright eyed and ready to help them move a refrigerator etc.

terryandrene · Jun 3, 2004

One of my favorite bumber stickers:

"Yes, it's my truck,
No, I won't help you move"

davekc · Jun 3, 2004

Now there is a bumber sticker I need on my truck!:7

BigBusBob · Jun 4, 2004

Hello, as a driver of a truck (not yet an owner) with a lift gate and a tag axle... I can honestly say that the liftable tag axle is a much better investment. I drive a heavy straight truck-it's 24,600 and change empty with full tanks. I have to drop my tags on any loads over 8,000 lbs. The truck is apportioned for 50K lbs. I've dropped my tag about 7 or 8 times in 3 months, and dropped the lift gate twice in 3 months (for a load). Big difference wouldn't you say? in just 3 months, I've used the tag axle far more than the lift gate-simply put the tag axle lets me make more money. I do operate the lift about every other week to make sure it's lubricated and working. When I become an owner (possibly this summer), I won't be buying a truck with a lift gate, while it's nice to have on rare occasion, it's yet to help me. I mean I got real nervous when I had 3 engineers trying to help me unload a $500,000 rolling cabinet of electronics. I'd say I haul a fair amount of freight in the range of 6,000 to 10,000+ lbs.-enough to warrant the expense (and added weight) of a liftable tag axle.
On a lighter note...
I use the lift gate more as "my back porch" at truckstops than anything else.
The tag axle is nice as well because in provides me with a more stable ride on loads over 8,000 lbs, even on loads over 6,500-7,000 lbs. in windy conditions-I feel more stable and safer with that tag down when running heavy like that.
So far the heaviest load (in 22 foot box) has been 12,300 lbs., that wasn't the biggest load though. The 2 biggest were 113 living room rugs (hand load and hand unload) and the other was 19 pallets of air-conditioner parts double stacked.
Well, that's my 2 cents worth. Later, Bob