Stoopid U-turn Of The Day

Dave, thanks, I guess. Jay knows that if there is a safety violation he may get a call from safety so he thought taking the initiative to explain the what and why would help. Okay, maybe I'll suggest DM for something like that in the future.

As you have probably noticed, there are a lot more truck drivers on the road than members here at TT. Forums are not for everybody and it doesn't take a forum to make a man. My son also avoids Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I run my own business and have times where my work load are very extreme and other times not so much so I try to help out with questions if I can since I'm familiar with forums. We don't baby our son, you have no idea how I father him My dad was pretty tough on me but certainly was a loving dad (he had a rough life behind horses and tractors way before cabs) but I try to be a bit softer but still get push-back from my wife that I'm too tough on him. Helping is not babying.

Id have to say, that I must disagree with your assessment for helping vs babying. Somehow, hundred of thousands, if not millions of grown adults are able to enjoy a career in the transportation industry without their parents input at all. In my case, I told my mom about it conversation, weeks after I started school and was employed. My fellow student in my class with me is a 25 year old Marine. His dad isnt getting information for him, doing his homework for him so to speak.

You have a problem letting go of your son. Its readily apparent. If your son can not or will not grasp social media and forms, and you allow that to continue and do the work for him, you are doing him a huge disservice. Most of our industry is on electronic communication. Most carriers transactions, ongoing training and company communication are handled through a web based portal that has forms on it. In this day and age, he is crippled by not embracing technology and you are only deepening that issue.

You also seem to be clearly in denial about your relationship with your son. Id highly recommend looking into a support group for codependent behavior. I dont say this to be mean or spiteful, its just that your actions demonstrate a severe codependent and dysfunctional family dynamic that is inhibiting personal growth in the extreme with your son. Of course this issue is bigger than one simple website that helps many new people find truth about the trucking industry and entry into it.

Lastly, I dont know what his company policy is in regards to U turns. I only know what my present company company policy is, because they told me what it is. I asked. I didnt ask my dad to find out what it is (he passed away, but i would never even have imagined asking him when he was here). So I wouldnt recommend applying my company policy to his. Just like this issue, His results should be in His hands. He doesnt need your "help".

A u-turn should be absolute last case scenario. I would never recommend a rookie driver attempt one. Yes I have done a few. But that had already been driving for a year probably and was pulling a 48 foot trailer. And there wasn’t any reason to contact safety either.

I've also done a few and its amazing how much space and time it takes to complete the maneuver. All the very bad things that can happen far outweigh the couple benefits to doing one. If I didn't do anything like get a ticket, cause an accident (or end up on YT Bonehead Truckers!) I definitely would NOT volunteer information. Its similiar to the reason why we tell people on their applications if it asks about tickets in the last 3 years DON'T bring up something from 4 years ago. I understand why he called himself in, however if you're calling yourself in about everything you'll make it appear to be a far worse driver than you actually are.

A u-turn should be absolute last case scenario. I would never recommend a rookie driver attempt one. Yes I have done a few. But that had already been driving for a year probably and was pulling a 48 foot trailer. And there wasn’t any reason to contact safety either.

I've also done a few and its amazing how much space and time it takes to complete the maneuver. All the very bad things that can happen far outweigh the couple benefits to doing one. If I didn't do anything like get a ticket, cause an accident (or end up on YT Bonehead Truckers!) I definitely would NOT volunteer information. Its similiar to the reason why we tell people on their applications if it asks about tickets in the last 3 years DON'T bring up something from 4 years ago. I understand why he called himself in, however if you're calling yourself in about everything you'll make it appear to be a far worse driver than you actually are.

Great point, I'll pass along that advice.

I'll just say sometimes even with the best intentions you might find yourself in a position where they only way out isn't inline with the company hand book.

I'll plead the 5th on the specifics, however sometime you may or may not have to use the bath room so you may or may not pull into a truck stop. Where you theoretically might try to make a turn into a drive through spot only to realize that your rear trailer isnt going to clear the hotshot drivers mirror in the spot next to you. Now you are allegedly half way in the spot with your rear trailer in the aisle unable to pull forward without taking out a mirror and unable to back up. Luckily for you another driver will notice your alleged predicament and offer to help spot so you can slowly back up and reposition so you can clear that mirror. Which would be in clear violation of company policy about backing up a set.

This is all hypothetically speaking of course.