Unable To Make The Back?

I just noticed this thread: Unsafe backing and Leaving truck and load at Terminal - only got me thinking about a question, the thread in general is kinda irrelevant other then for the question.

I've encountered some difficult backing situations either due to my lack of skills or just in general. But I got to thinking, what would you do if you simply don't have the skills to preforme the backing safely without hitting anything?

I know it's our job to find a way, but that was just a thought.

I’ve wondered this too, and I don’t get into anywhere near the hairy situations you van drivers do. What helps me is knowing that if someone else got into the spot, it means there is a way to do it, just got to find it. This concern also keeps me practicing my skills regularly.

Fair question...

Better preparation is mandatory. Like I suggested in the other thread, use Google Maps satellite view to get first an overhead view, zoom-in to get a closer look and if need be get a street view. It’s a great tool, leverage it.

If it appears tight try to work out an approach ahead of time knowing that you’ll likely need some help once you arrive. Humbly, calmly and politely ask for assistance before hitting anything.

Above all else check the ego and G.O.A.L. as often as necessary.

Don’t shy away from close-quarter setup and backing situations. Handling this sort of thing is what makes you a better truck driver.

The nastiest backing situation I had a couple months ago.. had a forklift load to deliver to Miami. My brokered back haul was for this scrap metal place off 147th or 148th St in OpaLocka. Weewww. Had to slide my tandems all the way forward and blindside back up on to this tiny scale meant for small straight trucks, and that's where they loaded me. It was the stuff nightmares are made of. My spotter was a non English speaking non CDL holding employee to boot. Problably one of the nastiest places I've been in a while. To make matters worse, my fuel stop was the "pilot" in Miami Gardens.. aka a BP gas station/metro PC's cell phone store/progressive insurance store in the middle of a teeny shopping center. I asked my dispatcher if he hated me or I had unknowingly done something to make him angry lol. I told him to only send drivers to those locations, if he didn't like them. He pulled them up on Google satellite and as a former driver himself, saw how bad it was and promptly removed those locations from our computer system. Win win.

I was backed into a dock in an office park ment for box trucks, not full Semis, curbs galore were hit getting in, im backed in and another truck shows up for opposite dock in front of me, and would not fit straight on, he then proceeded to back and hit the dock perfectly ending up like this😬😬😬never even though of doing this...

I was backed into a dock in an office park ment for box trucks, not full Semis, curbs galore were hit getting in, im backed in and another truck shows up for opposite dock in front of me, and would not fit straight on, he then proceeded to back and hit the dock perfectly ending up like this😬😬😬never even though of doing this...

I'll bet he got done and out of there before you too. That's what experience will do for ya!

If the rig can fit, there is always a way even if very difficult. usually, the solution is to take as many get-out-and-looks as necessary, even if it is 457,393 times

I just noticed this thread: Unsafe backing and Leaving truck and load at Terminal - only got me thinking about a question, the thread in general is kinda irrelevant other then for the question.

I've encountered some difficult backing situations either due to my lack of skills or just in general. But I got to thinking, what would you do if you simply don't have the skills to preforme the backing safely without hitting anything?

I know it's our job to find a way, but that was just a thought.