Well, if you're think that you still want to be a trucker, there are a couple really important things I wanted to tell you before you hit the great open road in search of adventure. First off, unless you're backing into a dock or a parking spot, you should always make sure that you arrive before your trailer does. it has been my obsevation that backing is one of the biggest problem that newer less experienced drivers have. This is not to say that a lot of people who have been out here for quite a while aren't worth a shit at it either. Although you, as a driver, generally don't run into life or injury threatening situations while backing, (unless you're backing into a dock off the street) I think there are more dents and bent up equipment as well facility damage caused by mistakes in executing this maneuver. By way of empirical evidence, in the last three months I've acquired a new left side for my sleeper and new steps for the fuel tank on the left side of my truck. I was in the sleeper when it was hit. I was sitting in a dock and blowing my air horns when the steps were taken out.
Bear in mind, that most companies pulling dry vans or reefers and some pulling flat beds use 53' trailers. What with the varying requirements of the various states regarding pin settings, you'll usually have 5 to 10 feet of trailer ass end hanging out past where your trailer tandems are set. That means if you're elbowing into a tight spot, you've got a helluva lot of swing on that ass end. A good practice taught in most training programs and etched on the west coast mirrors of many tractors is "GOAL". Another words, if you're not absolutely certain where the back end of your trailer, particularly on the right side, is, GET OUT AND LOOK"! Don't ever be too embarrassed to do this. The guy docked or parked next to the spot you're trying to get into will be as happy as you are that you did. Of course, backing a trailer with spread axles is a whole different matter; but, it's still a good idea to get out and look if you're not sure.
Now this is a true story. It happened to me a number of years ago late at night while I was parked in the TA at Ontario, Ca. I was lying in the bunk reading Shakespeare sonnets (what can I tell you? I'm an oddball. I like the bard.) and also watching The Reverend Gene Scott bringing fire and brimstone down on his congregation. Trying to do those two things at the same time will make you sillier than listening seriously to your CB going down the road. Anyhow, suddenly there's this great grinding noise of metal to metal while my truck rocks violently. I parted the sleeper curtains only to see a great white trailer scraping the left front corner of my angle parked tractor. I immediately stirred looking for a pad and pen as well as my company's accident kit packet. As I picked up my pants to put them on, I found that this goddam guy wasn't going to stop. I naturally found this a bit unsettling. I knew that I had to do something; and, do it quickly. With my pants in my right hand and the pad, pen and accident packet in my let. I got down on the ground and gave barefooted chase. As I booked along as best I could, I could hear voices yelling, "Hey man! Look at that fat guy in his underwear run." Needless to say, there was a helluva lot of laughter accompanying these sidebars.
So, there he was moving along between two rows of parked trucks; and, there I was in my BVD's in hot pursuit. Well, at the end of the row he had to turn right. I saw this. I cut between two parked trucks. To his surprise, there I was standing there in his headlights blocking his way. Standing there, about three feet in front of his huge bumper and grill and headlights, It came to me that if this clown let out his clutch, I'd be little more than a greasy memory on the pavement of that truckstop. Fortunately for me, he did not.
Apparently, there had been considerable chatter on the CB about my chase. It seemed as though there was enough of this chatter to alert the rent-a-cops on security duty that something was amiss out there on the lot. Forhtwith, they arrived on the scene. With their arrival, everything exept me calmed down. I was still huffing and puffing and in a semi-rage. The head rent-a-cop, a handsome large lady of African-American ethnicity immediately advised me to to take it easy lest I should succumb to a heart attack. She also very deliberately pointed out that she was not going to tell me to cool off because I was likely already cool enough what with being clad only in my underwear. She did, however, advise me that it would probably be a good idea to put my pants on before the cops came. I, upon brief reflection, decided that was, indeed, a good idea.
By and by, the San Bernadino Sheriffs arrived and took the report. Of course, the other driver maintained that he was just going to find a place to park; and, then he was coming right back to get things. For my part, I thought he was going to park in Disneyland; and, he'd not be seen again. Thus the report was made. Thus his company paid for the damage.
Of course, the following day I had to buy a headlight. I duct taped it in place and pryed the bumper away from my left steering tire with a wrecking bar.
So, beware! There are those out there who will bend your truck and run off never to be heard from again.
We'll chat more later
