There's a few areas I could have posted this, but I chose to do it here because our mistakes can serve to teach others as much as ourselves. If others are willing to listen, of course!

I've done many dumb things in 2 years. From simple things like trying to slide the tandems with my trailer brakes off to ignoring the directions I was given in favor of a "shortcut" However, one event really stands out as a "what in the world was I thinking?" moment.

I was in Hempstead NY, which is on Long Island, making a delivery to a small warehouse in a residential neighborhood. The loading dock was a nightmare, but then this is Long Island. I had to back in off the street, and of course it was a tight fit. Well, I got my trailer lined up perfectly, but my tractor was still at a 90 degree angle. I couldn't straighten up, because there was a car parked on the street right in my way.

I set the brakes, got out and walked all the way around the truck. I saw no way of getting into the dock with that car there. A guy from the warehouse had come out and so I asked him, "do you know whose car that is? I need them to move it."

He walks around to the other side of the truck and says "just keep backing up and when you're around the car, pull up here and straighten up." While saying this he gestures to the lawn across the street from the warehouse. This certainly didn't seem right so I asked him "are you sure?"

He nods "yeah, just pull up here" and gestures to the lawn again. Well, I look at the lawn and it's definitely nothing special, more weeds and dirt than anything, so I shrugged, said "all right" and proceeded to drive over the lawn.

Did I mention I got up at three in the morning to beat the rush coming into the city? Me tired is never good.

Well, nothing happened immediately, but I got a message over the Qualcomm a few days later to call claims. Totally confused, I called, and they told me they had gotten an email from the homeowner complaining. I told them "yeah I drove over the lawn, the guy at the warehouse told me to!"

Needless to say, this wasn't much of an excuse. My company considers anything that generates a claim to be an accident. So I now have an "accident" on my record because I drove over a lawn in Hempstead NY.

Lesson: go with your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is.

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Cowboy up!

Well... pictures speak louder then words...

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I am a Camaro Girl because IROC!

You have unlimited chances to go too slow, but only one to go too fast.

When I was running expedite, I went up an off ramp and realized I was in the wrong lane at the top. The reason I was in the wrong lane was because I saw a sign at the top of the ramp that read "all trucks left only". When I got to the end of the ramp there was a big sign that read "all trucks over 22' must turn right". Well, I'm driving a 26' flatbed stake truck with a container on it. I can't make the turn, so I decided it was in my best interest to back up a few feet and swing the turn. Something told me not to, but I turned on the flashers and started to back up. About ten feet later, I was almost windshield deep into a nice Chevy pick-up. I should have listened to my first instinct, but I second guessed and it bit me in the ###. Moral of the story, go to somewhere safe and turn around, or at least, get out and look.

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Stupidity will get you killed.

Were was that photo taken of the werner truck? It looks like a turn near were I went to school.

I learned my lesson about making sure I understand the directions over the qualcomm very clearly after a trip to Sparrow's Point, MD in 1999. The directions were for coming in from the top side of Baltimore, but I was coming in from the bottom side over the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Took my exit ramp, and went to the right as my directions told me. Ended up on a very narrow street that had a 90 degree bend in it to the left. At the corners of this street were two driveways that sort of formed a 4 way intersection if you know what I mean. This was my first week solo, and my backing was not my strong suit. I actually used one of the driveways and managed to get out of there with out messing anything up. There was no other way to get out of this little mess! To this day, I am still amazed I actually pulled that one off. After that one, I made darn sure I completely understood all of my directions!

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

Well here is one of mine.. I was going to Pittsburg Texas to pick up a load of fly ash, so when I got to the shipping office, pulled on to the scale got my empty weight, then left the scale. After leaving the office to go down to the Fly ash Silos there is a road you would usually take, it runs for about a mile.. Because of the road being blocked by a train, I had to leave the scales the same way I came in. Took a right, back on to the main road FM 1374. Drove for a 1/4 mile then had to take a second right which brings you on a differnet road that leads to the Silos. Well it was dark (4am) no light signs nothing.. I saw the road, but it looked wider than it was. Needless to say I took it waaaay to short and ending up bouncing the truck over one of the sewer piper that run under the road and stick out on each end.. The truck bounced so hard if I wasn't in the seat belt I could have hit my head on the roof.. Everything the truck went every where and the truck died.. Luckily I was able to start the truck, and continue on to get loaded.

When I left, the truck alignment was out of whack, but the truck itself was ok.. Went back to the yard after getting rid of my load, and had to have the truck serviced.. All that I did was bent a U-joint on the suspension which cause the alignment to go off centered.. Well they said it would be off my personal file in 6 months and do not report it on my DAC..

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There are only three women in this world that mean anything to me and they are Karen, Krystal, Amanda..

Dumbest thing I've ever done in a truck?














Sat in the driver's seat!



The rest will have to wait for a beer and a campfire, but I will tell you that there is a street in Twin Falls, ID that has the same name as one in the neighbouring town. One is in a commercial area and the other is a nice, quiet little cul-de-sac.

However, that's not the dumbest thing ... by far.

I missed my turn to get on the interstate on ramp(headed northbound), so I made a U-turn at the next intersection which was a 3 way for the southbound entrance to the interstate. I swung wide enough to miss the median with the trailer, but ran through some grass with the tractor. Needless to say, I slowly ground to a hault. I was stuck with my trailer partially blocking the southbound entrance to the interstate. To add insult to injury, another driver scrapped against my trailer while negotiating the turn to get on the interstate. It resulted in a $75 donation to Illinois and the loss of my job.

Lot lizard. She wasnt very smart at all.

That's the first time I've seen anyone admit to buying one of them!!! Usually drivers don't admit it.

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Cowboy up!