When backing into a TIGHT dock...

Has anyone been to the papermill in Big Island VA? I think thats the tightest and weirdest wiggle uphill dock.

 

My worst was in Chicago. with a mentor! it went into a building and down! I was so scared you couldn't see into the building and My MENTOR says ! just back straight! I hit it 1st time but i was sweating bullets and he was in the bunk laughing his butt off. and it was his truck!

 

This won't help make small docks bigger, but when I have a tight fit in the dark, I put a pencil beam flashlight on each of the rear corners of my trailer, pointing down. Shows exactly where the tail is with a bright spot on the pavement.
And if it's really foggy or misty, the beam shows up as well.
When I was an O/O, I had docking lights set on the rear of my trailers that came on with the back up circuit. Sure miss them some nights.

 

Great job, the tightest one I ever had to do was in Salines CA 15 yrs ago I'll never forget it , I had to enlist the help of two other drivers to hold my trailer doors closer to the sides so I could clear the mirriors on the trucks parked on either side of me, At night with only a couple of inches to spare. I always remember the first two rules of truckin Rule #1 NEVER hit ANYTHING Rule #2 Remember Rule #1. It works!!!

 

He owned the truck? Or it was his assigned tractor through the company that employs the both of you? Big difference, and an O/O would be off his butt, and out the door helping you back in. God forbid...

 

Gears, you did a GREAT job!! CONGRATS to you and all other drivers here who can do incredible backings like those.... It's definetely a confidence builder
This week I had a similar experience in Rochester, NY. The dock wasn't tight but the place was awful! The docks were in the back of an old building, they were all in an angle, no lines, practically no room in front and cars parked everywhere... The parking lot was very tight, not for big trucks.

Well, first I missed the entrance to the building and had to back up truck on a two way traffic busy street... Once inside parking lot had to drive all the way to the end of place and make a loop between parked vehicles to turn truck around....

An older man came talk to me to say how amazed his wife would be if she saw me driving the big truck.... he kept following me closely the whole time and giving me thumbs up.... I guess he was just watching if I hit any vehicle...

AMAZINGLY I was able to back that big truck in one attempt and it was PERFECT! I was amazed at myself! Specially because I am not a good backer.

One of the guys at the dock asked me how long I had been driving the big truck....

A lady dropped her jaw in disbelief when she saw me and the truck and said, "Do you drive THAT truck??! How did you bring that in here???" (I guess she said that because I am a 98 lbs lady. Don't think she says the same to male drivers)

The boss came out of his office to meet me and chat and other guys came to parking lot to check on their vehicles.... LOL

That really made my day!!!

But I hope I never go back there....

Unfortunatelly, in the midst of all that forgot to take pics....

 

was that wegmans in rochester--it is a bit of a hole for sure

 

There were several companies in the same building. It was on University Ave. Rochester.

 

I remember one time I was pulling triples and I lost all my forward gears so I backed that wiggle wagon 300 miles back to the shop.

Well, atleast thats what I tell the other guys at the truck stop.

 

Love you guy's sense of humor here....