I've had this happen where someone or a few people come over and are waving me in and telling me I've got lots of room and go ahead and backup. I do think this is well intentioned but this makes me concerned because I don't know who they are or what their experience is with trucks. This seems potentially dangerous. Just wondered what others thoughts are.

What made me think of posting this here was someone was trying to direct me into a dock at Sam's Club in Villa Rica, GA. I tried to be nice and was disagreeing with her because I thought my trailer door was to close to another trucks mirror. She said it was fine while pushing the trailer door away from the mirror. It might have been okay but there was some potholes and if the trailer rocked enough it might still be to close. I decided it wasn't worth it and just pulled up to try again and when I did that she left.

Also she did ask if I wanted to let her drive my truck into the dock and I thought that was a really bad idea and said I had to do it because it was my responsibility.

The people waving" come on" don't have to pay for the damage, and backing up opinions are like butts, every body has one

I agree (but keep in mind I'm simply a four-wheeler here, so my opinion isn't worth very much). Plus, as far as letting a stranger drive your truck in a tight situation? I don't think I'd do it -- no one knows how your truck responds better than you. Based on what I've read on the boards here, most seem to advocate the "get out and look" procedure for tight backing.

I'll be interested to see what the drivers say.

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I'm not going to answer your question directly, I'm going to tell you a story and let you decide for yourself:

About ten years ago, I was driving for a fellow who owned a few brand new Peterbuilts. We did a lot of TX to CA and so I ended up at one of those world class docks in Los Angeles.

Since it was one of those world class LA docks, it was what you might call a "tight squeeze."

One of my fellow professionals jumped out of his truck and helped me back in. Which was very nice of him. Unfortunately, he waved me back while my front bumper (big flat chrome job) was up against a concrete wall that I could not see since it was only about two feet tall.

(The tractor was at a 45 degree angle, the edge of the bumper caught on the concrete wall and bent outwards a few inches)

The fellow who owned the truck was very nice and refused my offer to pay for the bumper that I bent when I followed a fellow professional driver's directions.

Oh, I forgot to include the fact he was standing about three feet from my right front fender.

Docks, (gotta be nice to the four wheelers)

I am being VERY sarcastic when I refer to docks in Los Angeles as "world class."

Los Angeles has some of the most difficult docks on the planet to get into or out of. LA real estate is very expensive and LA warehouses do not waste their money on parking lots or their dock areas.

Oh, I think I caught that, tuckerndfw. It was fairly evident when you linked "Los Angeles" and "world class". It has that same oxymoronic connection as "government organization" and "feminine logic".

And I guess I should give you a green dot for being nice to the four-wheeler.

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Ducks,

My sarcasm is quite often missed on message boards since people cannot hear the tone of my voice or see my face.

Sorry about the previous typo (Dock) in your alias. I was having flashbacks of those nightmares in LA trying to get into or out of their docks. Had docks on my mind.

Well I was backing in on the back row of birmingham AL pilot (can get rough there) I was fairly new to driving at the time and was having a little trouble.. The parking lot was pitch black back there and I could not see hardly anything.. I man walked up and started to wave me in, I thought well cool a driver is going to help me out.. Soon as I got it in it the guy came up and asked for money.. He was high as a kite and I could not believe I allowed him to guide me in.. Never again did I 100% trust a somebody again, even if I knew they was a driver.. I have had a few drivers get a little upset at me because I still got out and looked and they could tell I didn't trust them, Oh well I am not hitting anybodies truck period.....

Its nice to have help from another driver but if you are feeling a little funny about what you can't see on the other side, GET OUT AND LOOK

Never accept help from anyone but a professional like this trainer [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.