How Can I Manage This Turn? (Maps And Photos Included)

Hey all,

I passed pretrip and backing, failed my road test, because I hit the curb on the right by the gas station. It's a right turn from the right lane only onto a 2 lane road.

I was wondering if someone could be kind enough to mark up the photo with the proper maneuver to make the turn. I was going to rent a daycab with 28ft trailer from a CDL school or my buddy offered me to use his truck and trailer. Only thing is its a T680 with a 53ft trailer which may make it harder. What do you think?

This is the location https://goo.gl/maps/XMPuQ6LgyfwWNE2e8

There is a little back story here. I was driving a manual truck, and I used all 3 of my private instruction time learning to shift. Basically the whole road test, I was focused on shifting proper, avoiding rolling back, and not stalling- I was paying secondary attention to the road.

I am going to take my next test in an auto so I can focus purely on the drive. I will prob buy a manual bobtail and be able to shift perfectly after driving it by myself for a weekend, then test again and get the restriction removed. I was kinda bummed, because I contacted my school to reschedule a drive, and they never got back with me. Fortunately, I found another company that teaches on the exact route and rents their truck.

Thanks,

John

Hay, John G. ~

Welcome to Trucking Truth!

First, questions: Had your school where you obtained the manual KW not go over this with you? Is it an accredited 160 hour school? What are your plans next?

I mean, you could go company training, as we recommend, and: Apply For Paid CDL Training

I'm not sure how to 'mark up' your pictures, but in looking at the view of the intersection with the link you provided, it seems that the good ole' tried & true 'buttonhook' would work just fine.

Hope this helps!

~ Anne ~

Without being there its hard to stay for sure. When it boils down to the nitty gritty though, you take however much room it takes to clear the turn safely. If there's room, which it looks like there is, the button hook is preferred. If needed I'd swing into the lane beside me for a button hook/jug handle combination. And lastly if needed I'd combine with a wide turn into oncoming traffic when it is safe to do so on a two way. That looks like you have two one way lanes to turn into so if turning into the far lane didn't provide enough room then move over into the lane to your left fir the jug handle combo prior to turning, watching for other traffic in all directions and only doing so when clear and safe. Even if you have to stop to allow cars to move so you can use the space they are in then wait. ALWAYS clear your trailer on your turns.

Anne,

What do you do if there are cars in the lane required to do the button hook? I think, in real life, you have to do a hybrid of a jug and a buttonhook.

I concur with Mikey B. You want your rig as far to the left of your lane as possible, without encroaching on the lane next to you. You also don’t want to leave enough room on your passenger side to allow an impatient little 4-wheeler space to try and zip by on your right… Watch the traffic on your left, perform the jughandle buttonhook and you should be fine.

What do you do if there are cars in the lane required to do the button hook? I think, in real life, you have to do a hybrid of a jug and a buttonhook.

Unfortunately, you wait. I'm sure we've all had to wait through a light change with cars beeping behind us bc there is no way to make a right turn until the cars across the way clear out. I failed my first road test bc of that exact situation. I went before I had enough room to button hook and hopped the curb.

"Go straight, Turn late"

Taught to pull forward, AND use ANY, and ALL, available space you need, safely. Most people at the intersection, stopped close to their line will back up if they can, when they see you're trying to make the turn and NOT wipe THEM out HAHAHA Once you pass that curb, on right corner, your shoulder should be parallel / even with the curb you're trying to miss ! Almost looks do-able from what I can see in your picture hmmmmm.

Anne,

What do you do if there are cars in the lane required to do the button hook? I think, in real life, you have to do a hybrid of a jug and a buttonhook.

What do you do if there are cars in the lane required to do the button hook? I think, in real life, you have to do a hybrid of a jug and a buttonhook.

Unfortunately, you wait. I'm sure we've all had to wait through a light change with cars beeping behind us bc there is no way to make a right turn until the cars across the way clear out. I failed my first road test bc of that exact situation. I went before I had enough room to button hook and hopped the curb.

"Go straight, Turn late"

Asked, and answered by the pro's I've been waiting on, Chris P. !!

~ Anne ~

Taught to pull forward, AND use ANY, and ALL, available space you need, safely. Most people at the intersection, stopped close to their line will back up if they can, when they see you're trying to make the turn and NOT wipe THEM out HAHAHA Once you pass that curb, on right corner, your shoulder should be parallel / even with the curb you're trying to miss ! Almost looks do-able from what I can see in your picture hmmmmm.

Yessir, it does.

Everyone concurs.

Borrowing a bit'o left ???? Nip the jug? I don't know. SteveO .. he had the 'real estate' to do the button hook in the pic, it seems!

Thanks, y'all pro drivers.

~ Anne ~