I had an epiphany about backing up a tractor-trailer on a city street

expedite_it · Mar 29, 2025

Hammer166 said: ↑

So would I back up? Maybe if I got tired of the idiot in the drive wasting my time, I'd consider it. But not unless I was 100 % sure it was clear back there. If you're straight enough to the trailer to have a blind spot back there, no way I'm trusting only a mirror scan unless I've got a good shadow to show any hidden vehicles or I am 100% certain I've accounted for any traffic that was close by.
Click to expand...

Even if it is a sunny day and there are shadows because the sun is not directly overhead, I don't think clearing yourself to back up using shadows is a good idea because a motorcycle might not leave a shadow that would be identifiable as a motorcycle when you are sitting 70+ feet away in the truck.

OldeSkool · Mar 29, 2025

expedite_it said: ↑

Even if it is a sunny day and there are shadows because the sun is not directly overhead, I don't think clearing yourself to back up using shadows is a good idea because a motorcycle might not leave a shadow that would be identifiable as a motorcycle when you are sitting 70+ feet away in the truck.
Click to expand...

That’s exactly right. From 70 feet away a motorcycle shadow can look just like a T Rex shadow, then you’re purposely trying to back over it.

Hammer166 · Mar 29, 2025

Crude Truckin' said: ↑

Shotgun Willy’s
Click to expand...

Thank you!

That place always looked like the bouncer probably needed that shotgun!

Cherokee65 · Apr 1, 2025

expedite_it said: ↑

Yesterday I backed my tractor-trailer up on a city street in Ocala, FL, and I think I had an epiphany about trucking.

I was trying to get into the Pilot truckstop at I-75 exit 341 in Ocala, FL. When I drove up in the turn lane to make a left hand turn into the Pilot truckstop, another semi-truck with a 53' dry van trailer drove up the driveway of the truckstop. This other semi-truck was green-colored. Henceforth, I will call this other semi-truck the green semi-truck. The green semi-truck had a 53' dry van trailer. The green semi-truck was trying to make a right-hand turn onto the street. The problem was that there was not enough room for me to make my left-hand turn into the truckstop without smashing my trailer into the green semi-truck, and the green semi-truck did not have enough room to make his right-hand turn with my semi-truck in the turn lane because that street only had two driving lanes and no shoulder. Either I or the driver of the green semi-truck would have to back up before one of us could make our turns. I looked in both of my side mirrors, and I did not see any vehicles behind me in either side mirror. So I backed up about 30 feet. Then the green semi-truck made his right-hand turn and exited the truckstop. Then I pulled drove forward again in the turn lane so I would be ready to make my left-hand turn once it was clear. There was a lot of oncoming traffic at first, and I could not make my left-hand turn at first. Here is the epiphany: Then I looked in the side mirror on the passenger side of my truck, and I did NOT see any vehicle whatsoever behind me in the turn lane, but I thought I saw just a SLIVER of some movement. At the time, I did not know what this sliver of movement I saw was, but looking back at this, I might have seen a shadow. So I again checked the passenger side mirror, and I checked the driver side mirror as well, and I did not see a car in either side mirror. I thought that there was no vehicle directly behind me in the turn lane. Then I saw a car make a left hand turn into the Pilot truckstop. I am about 99% sure that there was a car behind me in the turn lane when I checked both of my side mirrors, but I could not see the car in either mirror. So if that car happened to be behind me when I backed up for the green semi-truck, I would have smashed into the car behind me!

I drive a Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck with a sleeper berth, and I pull 53' dry van trailers. Before this happened yesterday, I thought that if I was pulling a 53' dry van trailer, and if there was a car directly behind me in my lane, I would always be able to see the car in at least one of the side mirrors. Now I no longer think that this is the case. Now I think that if a car is directly behind me, and if the front of the car is only about two feet from my bumper, I might not be able to see the car directly behind me. I also think that I am extremely fortunate that I have never backed into a car before when backing up on a city street.

Am I correct that if I am pulling a 53' dry van trailer, and if a car pulls up about 2 feet directly behind the bumper of my trailer, I might NOT be able to see the car in EITHER of my side mirrors?

Another thing that occurred to me is if a motorcycle pulled up directly behind me in my lane, I definitely would not be able to see it if I backed up.

________________________________________________________________

Edited to add: I know that the entrance at the Pilot truckstop at I-75 exit 341 is supposed to be an ENTRANCE only, and semi-trucks are supposed to exit the Pilot truckstop at a different place. But the green truck just ignored the signs that say that the ENTRANCE is not the exit. This thread is about the visibility of seeing cars parked directly behind a semi-truck that is pulling a 53' trailer.
Click to expand...

I have this happen a lot. I drive the same and pull the same. Even on the highway sometimes I look for the shadow, see it but not the car or pickup right behind my trailer.

expedite_it · Apr 1, 2025

Cherokee65 said: ↑

I have this happen a lot. I drive the same and pull the same. Even on the highway sometimes I look for the shadow, see it but not the car or pickup right behind my trailer.
Click to expand...

It is refreshing to see someone respond to my post without any sarcasm for a change.

Star Rider · Apr 1, 2025

He hasn't gotten to know you yet....

Cherokee65 · Apr 2, 2025

expedite_it said: ↑

It is refreshing to see someone respond to my post without any sarcasm for a change.
Click to expand...

I’m not into sarcasm unless someone is a real jerk to me, then it’s on! I just treat others the way I’d like to be treated.

Kyle G. · Apr 2, 2025

Cherokee65 said: ↑

I’m not into sarcasm unless someone is a real jerk to me, then it’s on! I just treat others the way I’d like to be treated.
Click to expand...

You must be new here LOL

https://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/search/159582683/

That's 124 threads (and counting) of nonsensical trolling by the OP

Vampire · Apr 2, 2025

expedite_it said: ↑

Even if it is a sunny day and there are shadows because the sun is not directly overhead, I don't think clearing yourself to back up using shadows is a good idea because a motorcycle might not leave a shadow that would be identifiable as a motorcycle when you are sitting 70+ feet away in the truck.
Click to expand...

Have you ever heard of GOAL?

Sons Hero · Apr 2, 2025

Cherokee65 said: ↑

I’m not into sarcasm unless someone is a real jerk to me, then it’s on! I just treat others the way I’d like to be treated.
Click to expand...

try offering him some legitimate advice he doesn’t want to hear, and he’ll fly into your face. It’s happened to most of the rest of us

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

I had an epiphany about backing up a tractor-trailer on a city street

expedite_it Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

OldeSkool Road Train Member

Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

Cherokee65 Medium Load Member

expedite_it Road Train Member

Star Rider Road Train Member

Cherokee65 Medium Load Member

Kyle G. Road Train Member

Vampire Heavy Load Member

Sons Hero Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

I had an epiphany about backing up a tractor-trailer on a city street

expedite_it Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

OldeSkool Road Train Member

Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

Cherokee65 Medium Load Member

expedite_it Road Train Member

Star Rider Road Train Member

Cherokee65 Medium Load Member

Kyle G. Road Train Member

Vampire Heavy Load Member

Sons Hero Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!