My First Bad Rookie Story

Get your popcorn guys, this one's a doozy.

So I was supposed to deliver at this Walmart DC in Brundidge, Alabama, tonight:

Sorry, I don't know why the image is showing up so big like that.

I was planning on parking at the Hardee's like the preplan said to do, but I got there a little later than I originally planned on and it was completely full (go figure!). There happened to be a policeman in the gas station next door, so I asked him if there was anywhere to park. He said there was a gravel spot north on highway 231 I could park on, but said to be really careful turning around at night cause it's pitch black. I found the spot and shut down next to a couple other semi's, but I'm thinking to myself, "Is this guy seriously thinking I'm gonna make a U-turn on a highway?" ...Not that I haven't ever done it, but I know I can get fired for that. Here's a shot of where I shut down:

Again, sorry for the size of the image. You probably see where this is going now. The pink blob is where I shut down. I didn't know what was up ahead, so I got on Google maps satellite view and tried to find a spot to turn around down the road. If you want to check for yourself, just look up "Walmart DC Brundidge AL" and you'll find where I'm talking about. I couldn't really tell where would be the best place, but I figured I'd just start driving that direction and I'd find somewhere to turn in. It looked like there were a few businesses or at least side roads up ahead. No big deal. When I got up around 2:30 in the morning, the cop was right: pitch black. I really debated doing the U-turn but again figured I'd just find somewhere to turn around. But I went ahead and rerouted the qualcomm gps from my location, and it said to turn down that road with the big yellow arrow--3356. It looked ok when I got to it so I turned in. DIRT ROAD. I got out and looked...no signs saying private property, no trucks, whatever. I had taken a dirt road with my trainer before so I thought maybe it wouldn't be bad--it was pretty wide too. Last thing I wanted to do was back up onto that highway.

So I started down the dirt road. My plan was that if it looked like I was gonna get stuck, I'd back up til I got to the highway and call the police to stop traffic for me. In hindsight, I should have just called the police right where I was. I made it about a quarter mile before the low branches started. "Ok, so they scrape up the top of the trailer a little bit...not a big deal as long as they don't get lower." They got lower. And lower. I was almost to the end of the road when I got to a bridge (roughly where the red mark is, maybe even a bit further) with a 23T weight limit. I was loaded to 72K. Not happening.

I was so far down the road, it was so dark, and I was in the middle of a dense little forest. This was a true nightmare. And I rightfully felt like an absolute idiot. I called the police and explained the situation. One came up behind me and the other in front of me. The older cop was piiiiisssed. He actually told me I should have backed onto the highway. Really?? The younger one, who had come up behind me, was like, "Definitely haven't had this happen before." They spotted me while I backed all the way down that road back to the highway (I believe it was about a mile or so), stopped traffic for me, and then followed me to the Walmart DC. As soon as I pulled in, they left.

So there you have it. The only good thing about this: I didn't get a ticket, and I didn't hit anything. Well I scraped up the top of my truck a little bit, but that's it. And I learned that it's way better to just call the police in the first place than get yourself stuck and then call them.

Oh yeah, and when I did get to the Walmart (late for my appointment now), that back was the easiest one I've ever done.

You didn't hit anything or get cited? That's not a bad story :) I've had the gps tell me to turn down roads with "no truck" signs or roads that I obviously didn't want to go down often enough that I don't have much faith in it any more. Anyway, good job that you didn't just back up onto the highway (which I might have been tempted to do, even though it's something that I could get fired for as well).

You didn't hit anything or get cited? That's not a bad story :) I've had the gps tell me to turn down roads with "no truck" signs or roads that I obviously didn't want to go down often enough that I don't have much faith in it any more. Anyway, good job that you didn't just back up onto the highway (which I might have been tempted to do, even though it's something that I could get fired for as well).

What it really comes down to is that I didn't want to call the police, which I ended up having to do anyway..

Oh and another driver came up to me at the DC saying he was one of the people who had to stop for me--when he parks where I parked, he just takes the U-turn.

I've done that. I figure if you're pulled off on to a side area, that it's not really a u turn, it's just a really sharp left turn. But I don't know if my company would agree.

Don't you just love doing this stuff at night? 😃

I haven't been to this WDC, all I know is what you say and a look at Google maps/ satellite view.

Part 1:
Some the highway is undivided at your overnight pullout, there was plenty of room for a big u-ey. At 0 dark 30 traffic should be non-existent. There was nothing in the way, it seems, for you to bash as your trailer swung around.

Part 2:
In spite of what the GPS lady says, I wouldn't head down unknown narrow roads in the dark. Keep driving. I went 20 miles on a (better) highway to turn around rather than risk any kind of getting stuck.

Part 3:
A closer look at the satellite view shows a couple-three places just past (dang!) where you turned onto your fateful dirt road, with room to turn around in.

This is called "Getting the Hang of Driving This Beast".

I haven't heard about any Swift "policy" or "rule" about U-turns. Didn't ask, either. However, making a U-turn and causing damage will certainly be on you.

I have made several U-turns. (There! I said it!) Always in a place where my trailer had an absolutely clear place to swing around. Where no other traffic would be inconvenienced by my antics. Where I could turn with minimal mini-backs.

Once, late at night, I got out and walked around my turn area, just to make sure it was clear and I could get turned around in less than 30 seconds.

Don't feel bad. I pulled a u turn on a highway over here in Kansas and almost got stuck... I don't know what I was thinking, pulled a swift move for sure, but no one was watching...

Thanks Errol and Devan. The reason I didn't feel comfortable pulling the U-turn is that where I was parked is just over the crest of a hill, so I can't see what's coming southbound for more than a quarter mile. And the traffic never stops on that highway for some reason, even though it's a small one. I could've done the U-turn but I just didn't want my camera to come on or a cop to see me.

I haven't read any Swift policy about u-turns, but in messages from my DM to her fleet, she has mentioned drivers getting caught with the dash cam doing u-turns. She mentioned it right along with not wearing seatbelts and texting, so I think it's considered bad. And my first mentor said you'll get fired if you get caught doing one (although he may have been exaggerating).

Most of the large carriers have a no U-turn policy. But regardless of policies or the lack thereof, most of the time a U-turn in a big rig is risky at best.

Paul stays cautious!

I didn't feel comfortable pulling the U-turn is that where I was parked is just over the crest of a hill.

Excellent reason for No U-turn right there! That and the traffic. It's like Russian Roulette, isn't it?