I just got yelled at by a fellow driver LOL

Agree on the spread axles & yes mine has a working dump valve. But I also know there are people out there that have difficulty backing, some newbies, some old timers & some it doesn't matter what they are dragging they still can't back.

 

Yeah Kansas, me too, it's a beech doing that off side back with my day cab with the big back window and that empty flatbed.

 

I have been seeing more and more 10'1" spreds with the front axle being a lift.....and that's what i would order if I was buying a new one.

 

Yeah thats a nice set-up. The last company I drove for quit hooking up the dump valves because drivers would forget to air the bags back up and run down the road like that and tear stuff up. The end-dump I pull is set up so the front axle automatically lifts up when I dump then automatically lowers when I get loaded. Its a nice set up.

 

There are times I view helping an azzhat back in a hole beside me as self protection from a lot of paperwork and time off LOL !!

 

Parking in crowded lots can be pretty intimidating for the new guys. Suddenly you're hitting other trucks instead of cones or empty trailers if you screw up. Mostly it's knowing how to properly set up a back that makes it either look easy or look like a disaster

 

So what is protocol for oversize at the truck stop? I'm hauling boats and I'm oversize most of the time. I hav'nt had to use truck stops yet because I'm in a Kodiak with 50' gooseneck at the moment. No sleeper so been using hotels with truck parking. Company is setteng me up with a tractor for east/west coast runs soon. A "seasoned" driver said take 2 spots. It keeps other drivers from trying to squeeze in and risk damage, and the T/S only loses 2 spots instead of 3. What is the accepted rule of thumb here. Thanks

 

Im a local driver, I spend more time in reverse in one day then you spend in a month.

And dont even mention day cabs. I run sleepers all the time too. Tandem axle Volvo sleepers, sometimes stretched out Pete daycabs, sometimes single axle International daycabs that have the turning radius of an aircraft carrier.

 

If you are over width, I wouldnt blame you for taking 2 spots. Some slackjaw would try to squeeze in even if you encroached on a spot by 3 feet and end up hitting something...And nothing that goes on an oversize load is cheap!

I pull doubles and triples pretty often and hate when I cant find a spot at the truck stop to pull through. I can straight back doubles but get them at an angle and forget about it, not even trying it.