What's the dumbest thing you've done in a truck?

Well... pictures speak louder then words...

 

When I was running expedite, I went up an off ramp and realized I was in the wrong lane at the top. The reason I was in the wrong lane was because I saw a sign at the top of the ramp that read "all trucks left only". When I got to the end of the ramp there was a big sign that read "all trucks over 22' must turn right". Well, I'm driving a 26' flatbed stake truck with a container on it. I can't make the turn, so I decided it was in my best interest to back up a few feet and swing the turn. Something told me not to, but I turned on the flashers and started to back up. About ten feet later, I was almost windshield deep into a nice Chevy pick-up. I should have listened to my first instinct, but I second guessed and it bit me in the ###. Moral of the story, go to somewhere safe and turn around, or at least, get out and look.

 

Were was that photo taken of the werner truck? It looks like a turn near were I went to school.

 

I learned my lesson about making sure I understand the directions over the qualcomm very clearly after a trip to Sparrow's Point, MD in 1999. The directions were for coming in from the top side of Baltimore, but I was coming in from the bottom side over the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Took my exit ramp, and went to the right as my directions told me. Ended up on a very narrow street that had a 90 degree bend in it to the left. At the corners of this street were two driveways that sort of formed a 4 way intersection if you know what I mean. This was my first week solo, and my backing was not my strong suit. I actually used one of the driveways and managed to get out of there with out messing anything up. There was no other way to get out of this little mess! To this day, I am still amazed I actually pulled that one off. After that one, I made darn sure I completely understood all of my directions!

 

Well here is one of mine.. I was going to Pittsburg Texas to pick up a load of fly ash, so when I got to the shipping office, pulled on to the scale got my empty weight, then left the scale. After leaving the office to go down to the Fly ash Silos there is a road you would usually take, it runs for about a mile.. Because of the road being blocked by a train, I had to leave the scales the same way I came in. Took a right, back on to the main road FM 1374. Drove for a 1/4 mile then had to take a second right which brings you on a differnet road that leads to the Silos. Well it was dark (4am) no light signs nothing.. I saw the road, but it looked wider than it was. Needless to say I took it waaaay to short and ending up bouncing the truck over one of the sewer piper that run under the road and stick out on each end.. The truck bounced so hard if I wasn't in the seat belt I could have hit my head on the roof.. Everything the truck went every where and the truck died.. Luckily I was able to start the truck, and continue on to get loaded.

When I left, the truck alignment was out of whack, but the truck itself was ok.. Went back to the yard after getting rid of my load, and had to have the truck serviced.. All that I did was bent a U-joint on the suspension which cause the alignment to go off centered.. Well they said it would be off my personal file in 6 months and do not report it on my DAC..

 

Dumbest thing I've ever done in a truck?














Sat in the driver's seat!



The rest will have to wait for a beer and a campfire, but I will tell you that there is a street in Twin Falls, ID that has the same name as one in the neighbouring town. One is in a commercial area and the other is a nice, quiet little cul-de-sac.

However, that's not the dumbest thing ... by far.

 

I missed my turn to get on the interstate on ramp(headed northbound), so I made a U-turn at the next intersection which was a 3 way for the southbound entrance to the interstate. I swung wide enough to miss the median with the trailer, but ran through some grass with the tractor. Needless to say, I slowly ground to a hault. I was stuck with my trailer partially blocking the southbound entrance to the interstate. To add insult to injury, another driver scrapped against my trailer while negotiating the turn to get on the interstate. It resulted in a $75 donation to Illinois and the loss of my job.

 

Lot lizard. She wasnt very smart at all.