I Messed Up

Joe, sorry to hear of your mishap. Minor and something that you likely will prevent in the future. I am in very tight Walmart docks constantly; concrete hip walls, yellow polls, stand pipes, light poles, and other hazards and obstructions defining the tight perimeter of the dock area. In addition to the other pieces of advice, a few additional things that could help you, GOAL (more than once if need be). Especially important if unfamiliar with the dock area and if snow and ice has accumulated. Use the spot mirrors to maintain distance from poles and hip walls that are below the area ahead of your side view mirrors as you back. Try to minimize the amount of significant "over-steer" adjustments and corrections.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Safe travels.

This photo is a great example for all of the above:

Man that's TIGHT!

Thanks guys 😀

I mean damage wise, I bent the side skirt. But it's not my truck. I certainly learned though.

Mr. T states:

Man that's TIGHT!

No doubt, nothing you couldn't handle Theron...I remember our Walmart discussion from a few months back. When the day comes you like "backing" as much as you like "forwarding", you'll be ready for a 5X per day dose of this pure enjoyment!

There are a few actually "tighter and tougher" than this store (located in Glenolden PA). Most of the older stores built before 102" wide trailers were the norm (late 70's-early 80's), look like this. Lots of yellow-pole deer, hip walls, fences, light standards, narrow width and very limited set-up space. Because the dock width was designed to accommodate a 96" wide trailer, there is little room for error in having the trailer spotted directly in the middle of the door opening.

I was thinking about this post and wondering if you are sure YOU did it. It could be possible someone hit you in a truck stop since you didn't notice in pretrip.

I did soemthing really bad that messed up a trailer. It's kinda funny now to tell the story .. but. Still upsetting. They didn't even take me off the load.... they had someone else drive the bad trailer to prime.

Great tip Old School. I am going to remember this one when I start.

Here's a tip for you and for all newbies - when backing up into a dock or a parking lot, always roll your windows down, turn off any radios that could be distracting you. This way you will always hear the dreadful scraping noise if you start to make contact with something. I witnessed once at a truck stop a guy backing his truck and slowly continuing to crush the front end of another truck that was blowing his air horn at the guy to try and warn him. The driver was a young guy with his windows rolled up and loud music going. I could hear his music and see him bobbing his head to the beat as he kept on moving in reverse despite the fact that he had already made contact with the truck that was blowing their air horn - It was almost surreal to witness.

To be honest I don't think I did, but I am a rookie and tend to doubt myself

I was thinking about this post and wondering if you are sure YOU did it. It could be possible someone hit you in a truck stop since you didn't notice in pretrip.

I did soemthing really bad that messed up a trailer. It's kinda funny now to tell the story .. but. Still upsetting. They didn't even take me off the load.... they had someone else drive the bad trailer to prime.

How long have you been trucking g town? Seems like you know your stuff man

Mr. T states:

Man that's TIGHT!

No doubt, nothing you couldn't handle Theron...I remember our Walmart discussion from a few months back. When the day comes you like "backing" as much as you like "forwarding", you'll be ready for a 5X per day dose of this pure enjoyment!

There are a few actually "tighter and tougher" than this store (located in Glenolden PA). Most of the older stores built before 102" wide trailers were the norm (late 70's-early 80's), look like this. Lots of yellow-pole deer, hip walls, fences, light standards, narrow width and very limited set-up space. Because the dock width was designed to accommodate a 96" wide trailer, there is little room for error in having the trailer spotted directly in the middle of the door opening.

Seems like you all know your stuff. But a little update on my incident: I delivered 2 loss off since this happened. On my way to Michigan for Thursday. No problems so far! I actually nailed a pretty tight spot (for me) at an aldi distribution center lol. One thing that makes it a bit more challenging is when you're delivering at 3:30 am and just woke up with no sunlight to help get a reference point. I got out and looked more than once, but hey better safe than sorry I guess.

with no sunlight to help get a reference point.

Put you flashlight on the ground to be a reference point.

* Stand it on end, shining on the corner of the trailer next to your slot.

* Put it in a white Walmart bag & lay it on the ground at said corner. (It glows in the dark!)