Pickup Instructions
Sunset Sleepers customers are more than welcome to come to our yard in Officer or Tottenham in Melbourne's Western Suburbs to pick up their purchased goods.
Vehicles allowed for pickup
If you’ve placed an order with us and would like to pick it up from our yard, then you are more than welcome to; however, we will require you to have any of the following vehicles before you arrive for your pickup and adhere to our Safe Loading Guidelines.
- Open and flat-top trailers
- Mini trucks
- Alloy tray utes
- Flat tray trucks
- Tip trucks (side loading is preferred)
- Semi Trucks or similar
Vehicles NOT allowed for pickup
For our staffs safety, we cannot load any of the following vehicles below with our forklifts. You will be required to load the goods yourself (regardless of the size and quantity) if you arrive for pickup with any of the following vehicles:
- Cars or station wagons
- Roof racks
- Rear-loading trucks or vans
- Full body utes
- Enclosed trailers
- Or any other vehicle that can not be loaded with a forklift
Sunset Sleepers Safe Loading Procedures
1. Check the load capacity
Trailers generally have a compliance plate outlining the safe weight limit (see below). The loading capacity is located on the trailer V.I.N plate.
If your vehicle and/or trailer cannot safely carry your entire order, please arrange multiple pickups or coordinate delivery with Sunset Sleepers sales staff in our office.
When a V.I.N plate is not available, we will consider the following at the forklift operator’s discretion for standard allowance capacities:
- Tandem Trailer (1,500kg): Maximum 2 packs only
- Single Axel (500kg): Maximum 1 pack only
2. Ensure load dimensions can fit
Ensure the load can fit within the dimensions of the vehicle and/or trailer without overhang (see below):
3. Secure your load safely
Ensure you have the appropriate equipment to secure or strap down your load safely before you take off.
Sunset sleepers will not load any vehicle if the driver cannot confirm they have the appropriate equipment to secure the load safely.
Load restraints must be in suitable condition and capable of handling the total load capacity.
Straps may be available for purchase at Sunset Sleepers’ office. Each stack (or part) must have 2 tie downs positioned above timber bearers that the sleepers sit on.
4. Check the total weight
Confirm the total weight of your delivery before pickup. A 2m concrete sleeper weighs approximately 80kg. For more information about the weights of our concrete sleepers, please see our Concrete Sleeper Weights guide.
Also, remember to Factor in other materials stored in the vehicle/trailer, in addition to the weight of sleepers, to determine the total adequate capacity to carry the load.
5. Position the load centrally
Sleepers must be positioned centrally over the axles of the vehicle/trailer and secured/tied down appropriately.
If the load does not fit within the trailer’s dimensions, both ends of the trailer gates must be lowered so there is equal overhang at the front and back of the trailer.
6. Ensure you have the right equipment
All vehicles, trailers, and tie-down equipment must be suitably maintained and fit for purpose. This is the responsibility of each driver. Sunset Sleepers will visually inspect the tie-down equipment and trailer compliance plates before loading sleepers.
Also, please note that we only move the goods by forklift, and we do not manhandle any of the goods. Customers must hand load any sleepers if necessary.
If any of the above steps cannot be fulfilled satisfactorily, the customer must report to the office. Sunset sleepers will only load the goods if the requirements can be met.
