Refusing a back.

Delivered a cell phone tower to Long Island. It went into a residential neighborhood on a piece of fenced in property owned by the water company. The gate was 10 ft wide, and the roadway was about 20. I was running a road tractor and a 53ft spread axle Stepdeck. They wanted me to back in through the gate. I told them that there was no physical way. They didn't believe me for some reason. My company called me, and they suggested that I try to back in to show them that it couldn't be done without moving the house across the street.

So they called the water company and asked if it would be okay to temporarily remove the chain link fence. Problem solved.

 

At one company I used to work for (they got sold out), every Christmas eve time (day before x-mass eve), I'd have to go to this place in CT, off Rte 12 I believe. Small city (or town). I had to do a turn around in an open lot.

Ok, then I had to back down and over a VERY NARROW one lane bridge, that sits atop a stream. This bridge was barley wide enough for the rig.

Ok, at the end of the bridge, I would have to do a sight side backing into the loading dock.

Problem here thought there was no more room for my 53 foot trailer to make the cut. Nearly every other trucker going there, would take out a corner of the building.

I nearly did as well, but I tend to do the old, GOAL thing, that not too many others do these days.

There were no t ricks to getting across that tiny, narrow bridge, that I could think of to set my self up. I did HAVE TO climb the tiny sidewalk on the bridge with my steers, and narrowly missing the pedestrian hand railing.

I'd make it in. But it took time. I'd be cursing my boss for sending me there with a 53 footer, as they would only fill up my trailer to oh say about a 35 foot trailer!!!!

(We had 48's, that I could have taken!!!)

Well once in the dock, I'd be told to go inside and help out. man that burned me up as well.

But this was no ordinary "helping out".

You see like I said it was the day before x-mass eve, and they would be having their year end party, as they would be closed for x-mass eve and re-open after x-mass day.

They needed "help" in eating some of the great sandwiches they had....Lobster, Crab, Tuna fish, and all sorts of other pre x-mass eve foods.

So the place sucked to back into, as falling off the bridge was an all too real event.

But the reward was satisfying that time of the year.

 

He did most of his work in the 30's. Back then when most trucks were straight trucks, and tractor trailers were maybe 40' long, that driveway was functional.

 

LOL! You stroking your biceps when you said that? I'm a city driver and I have a few stops where a Sleeper and a 53' simply can NOT go! It's not about skill, it's a mathematical impossibility. I typically pull a 48' with a daycab and I can JUST make it, all the freight companies with terminals in this area know these stops and almost exclusively use pup's in this area but every once in a while you'll get a 53' or a sleeper with one and it always ends the same. They either get unloaded at the end of the alley or they have to reschedule. Many of these buildings are converted and had docks added after the fact and were most geared towards smaller straight trucks not semi's. Here on the East Coast our cities were NOT built truck friendly, even the ones they build now have a very different idea of how much room a truck needs.

 

just seems to be a rule that when there's a pan involved something is going to get torn up somewhere lol hilarious to get 2 brick mailbox stories

those things sure were fun to drive though

 

first ill say i skipped over most of this thread but here is my response to the first question

i have never had to refuse any place that normally unload trucks, i have had had to ask for things/other vehicles ects to be moved to give me room to get in where they needed me.

job sites on the other hand. i have had to refuse to put things where they want them before. but never refused to deliver all together. yeah im not going to drive my loaded truck into that top soil with standing water on top of it. you will have to figure out another place for me to unload. even if that means unloading me on the street and using equipment to move the load to where they want it. don't be scared of a challenge but take your time assess the situation. help them problem solve rather than getting a attitude. if you handle yourself properly they will be happy in the end that they got there product with no property or equipment or load damage. always keep cool, keep a good head on your shoulders and be professional.

 

Been to a couple places (nj) where my old mans W9 and a 53 just were not gonna squeeze through and we heard the "trucks do it all the time" from the ship/cons. Yea, well not every truck is fleet specced at 230" wb and has set back axle.
If it can't happen then you'll most likely deliver to an ltl co and let them make the delivery. Use good judgement, dont tear up your truck if its physically and mathematically impossible trying to be a hero all because "others did it. "

 

Would you jump off a bridge because your friends did it? Those words still ring in my ears from both parents. They are still relevant today. Nobody knows their qulifications and limitations better than the individual who will be testing them. Just use good judgement. That person telling you to do something you are not comfortable with has Never driven a mile in your shoes.

 

Refusing to back into a dock? Really??? I must have officially reached the end of the Internet. I've now seen it all. Do you think the load is going to hop off the trailer and walk itself over???