Airport ramp belt loader safety: what habits prevent damage during tight turns?

A belt loader is not the biggest piece of ramp equipment, but it can still cause a lot of damage when people get casual with it. Tight turns, bad marshalling, wet ramp, a rushed turn time, and suddenly the machine is closer to the aircraft than anyone wanted. I learned to slow down before positioning, not when the belt is already near the door. Check the area, watch the wing and engine clearance,…