Backing In Off The Street

I have to do that every day. 3 times a day. I have to time a red light just perfect so I can do my approach and start to back before all the traffic comes flying down at me. Its a delivery on Western Ave in Cihcago. Not for the faint of heart Western Ave and Fullerton to be exact

 

I only have one like that, out of all my stores, and we are not allowed to back off the street per company policy, so yea......

Anyway, I had some doing regional & OTR that are extraordinarily F for blocking a busy street.
My best advice is just take the whole the street. If you need to, pop the brakes and get out and actually speak or signal to the most courteous people, please wait one minute sir / ma'am, I so appreciate it. That's what I've done.

 

I used to pick up at a place on Jefferson Hwy in Kenner, LA where I had to back in off the street. I'd have to blare my horn, come across the grass median and under the power lines driving like a crazy man. The traffic would stop just long enough for people to say, "What the hell is that guy doing?"

I'd set up to back and just do it. If they went behind me, they better use their gas pedal. People generally don't want to get run over. They'll quit going around when it gets too close and they see you aren't stopping.

On the other hand, if you're trying to be polite by waiting for all the traffic, you're gonna be there a looong time.

 

We have one in McKeesport, PA that can get interesting at certain hours of the day. Time the light, grab the "R" gear, close your eyes and go for it. It's easy doing it "sight side", blindside can get interesting.

 

Shoot, there isn't any dealership around here that a truck can get on their property. They park on a side street, or in the center dividing lanes, (often left turn lanes,) and just unload right there.

 

I don't know how you delivery drivers stay calm working Chicago, NYC, etc... all day long.

My first month behind the wheel solo I had to deliver a sprinter van to a dealership downtown Chicago.
Of course this #### dealership was open at 9pm on a Friday night. Must be a Chicago thing...
Single lane into the dealership, and here's my rookie mistake, I pulled in nose first and got stuck.
I've since learned backing in off the street is a much better recipe than backing out onto the street. Honestly would've been better to block the right lane for 20 minutes and unload the van in the street.

Anytime I'm nervous about something now though I've got that hellish experience to look back on, I made it out of that clean with only 1 month under my belt, helps me keep a cool head when the pressure comes on.