Traffic Flags?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by tumblin dice, Jul 8, 2014.

  1. tumblin dice

    tumblin dice Light Load Member

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    Apr 18, 2014
    Jacksonville, FL
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    I saw a truck unloading at a retail outlet the other day. He was parked alongside the building offloading at the back door. The building faces a busy 4 lane road divided by a hard median. It was obvious that he had backed in on his blind side on that busy street. I didn't have the opportunity to ask him exactly how he managed it with all that traffic. Maybe he had assistance from a policeman to stop traffic. I can't imagine a civilian attempting to stop traffic without some flags. Seems like that would be a good item to have on board for just such situations.
     
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  3. 8thnote

    8thnote Road Train Member

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    Chattanooga, TN
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    Just yesterday I had to back in off of a busy street in Myrtle Beach. Use your 72 ft long rig to block traffic and just go for it. They'll get out of your way when you start coming back.
     
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  4. tumblin dice

    tumblin dice Light Load Member

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    Apr 18, 2014
    Jacksonville, FL
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    Oh man I'd be nervous as a ##### in church......you know some idiot would be trying to scoot around you or worse yet another idiot texting and driving right under your trailer!
     
  5. nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    I have to do it every once in a while. Plan your move ahead of time and get your truck blocking the road diagonally. You just got a go for it. Once you have the road blocked get into there quick. It's always fun LOL
     
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  6. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    Apr 1, 2011
    Broomfield, CO
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    Forget the traffic flags.. great way to get yourself in trouble.
    In most states, you have to be a certified flagger in order to do this, not to mention you need permission to set up a flag point in that specific area at that specific time on that specific day. Save yourself and your company a lot of liability, and just call the police if it's so bad you absolutely must have it done.
     
  7. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

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    I live out in the county & down below my house is an intersection. I suppose this truck driver had came out the wrong highway them saw the wide place just to the left of the intersection. He swung wide & turned in but his truck & trailer was way to long. He wound up setting there & could not go forward nor backwards with the back end of his trailer nearly blocking both lanes of this two lane highway. With my driving days behind me it amazing at the number of drivers that will try to turn around at places that are impossible. He had to call a wrecker to get him self going again. I sure the company appreciated that. Surely an OO would be more experienced & not that stupid. In my driving days I never got caught in a place I could not get out of, I had rather drive several miles than risk such a move.
     
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  8. Ebola Guy

    Ebola Guy Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 11, 2009
    Manitowoc, WI
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    I've done my share of off-street backing on the busy steets of Chicago. I used to get asked about how I did it and if I was worried about the cars. I said, once you begin backing, the cars will come around you and you can't stop them, so go slow. Eventually you'll block enough of the road, they'll stop. It's not really that hard, so long as you get yourself set up right and if you can, try and let the traffic pass before doing corrective pull-ups.

    If anything, I hated backing up over a busy sidewalk with pedestrians.
     
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  9. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    4 ways, lay on the horn start backing. Easy peasy.
     
  10. Mr Ed

    Mr Ed Road Train Member

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    Retired in Taunton Ma
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    I use flags that have crushed cars and ran over pedestrians with red circles with the line through it.never had a problem.
     
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  11. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    Wrong thread mr.ed. supertrucker moments.
     
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