It has generally been done for as long as I can remember... I started driving in 1993, and when I went to driving school they taught us to do it. I believe it was even required on the CDL test (though I had a third-party tester, and he didnt even test backing). Its a courtesy thing, a safety thing. In a shipping dock, I would tap the air horn a couple of times. In a terminal or truck stop, a couple of beeps of the city horn. That way anyone around me knew I was backing.
Oh noes please do not put the backup alarms on the trucks!! I will be killed late at night in a truckstop by other drivers! One just pulled up beside me and that alarm was loud as hell!!! I like the helmet idea that was mentioned on a earlier post. I would rather look stupid wearing a backup alarm helmet than waking up all the tired drivers late at night. Those alarms are way too loud!!!!
Backup alarms belong on construction equipment and maybe some day cabs, but not on otr trucks. Im getting tired of getting woke up at a TS by some guys back up alarm.
So am I. I have a hard time falling asleep as it is, and last night, finally did, and what woke me up later, truck backing up next to me with that alarm, and he kept pulling up, backing, pulling up and backing. With my hearing, I can hear one backing up 50 yards away, now imagine right next to me. I am still remembering that Yahoo that used his Air Horn in Laredo to back up his bob tail, right next to me, at the yard. That is taking it too far.
i was in houston tx. a couple of days ago picking up at goodman manf. and i could tell that we pick up there alot because above the shipping and recieving door was a sign that said "drivers please minimize the use of your horn please think of others.
i do it at a terminal and thats it. the reason for the new rule is a mentor pinned one of his students between the trailer and dock
