One route to the Bloomington sale barn has a sharp, unmarked turn about a mile from the barn. I recall seeing a new aluminum trailer behind a fancy new truck backed up to one of the unloading docks as they tried to get a big bull with a broken leg off the trailer. Looked like no one had used the trailer gate and he went sliding on the slick bare metal floor. Sad situation.

I use a 16 ft bumper pull Corn Pro with a rope attached to the mid gate so I can load 2 or 3, swing the slam gate closed from the outside with the rope, latch it from the outside, then run 2 or 3 more in from the chute/alley, sliding the rear door closed from outside the ramp. Never get in a trailer with even tame cattle, especially with a smaller trailer.

Even with just one or two going to the processor I always put them in front with the gate latched. Can't imagine having cattle loose in the trailer going back and forth over the axles. Gate also keeps them from falling down when floor gets a bit slick, even with lime on floor.