Got into accident while on Werner dollar tree account.

Some things never change and that's everything at Werner.They tried talking me into doing the dollar general account.It must be routine to ask all drivers to do one of their accounts.But to tell a driver otr is full,that's one heck of a lie.

 

I doubt the money is spilling out of the cabs. If you consider the inventory that is delivered combined with the morale of the people who feel that they are rather shopping in more upscale places then perhaps there are way better places to be around.

Tiny Tim said something important. Backing. At some point you will know what your tractor and trailer will do however much or little you add or subtract from that steering wheel If you have to do it every three feet, then so be it. You won't believe that Ive put a rock on the ground next to my fuel tank knowing I need to move two feet exactly and stop before I wreck something so that rock was a tool. (I had a chalk marker with me most of the time to use instead of rocks.)

Some of those side docks are the worst because it's a odd angle combined with cost saving measures of no painting etc around it.

 

You should just be able to contact driver placement... I know this post is now a month old, so you may have already contacted someone and got it worked out. But OTR being full? I'm surprised they never said every division they have is full. Which they seem to tell me for some when I'm looking at others. I'm doing the dollar tree account at Werner as well. You'll be lucky to have some stores that have a dock but most you'll either have to do 90 degree backs, blind siding (mostly blind siding to tell you the truth)

Pay however, I'm sure everyone is paid the same. But I'm just guessing. I'm just not seeing that BIG yearly salary they're claiming. Because, you know. Dollar Tree account makes more than all of their divisions.

 

Even if you are backing with a helper, don't just blindly believe them--years ago when I was like 19 I was backing my newspaper van into a dock to load up (done it 100 times or so), and had a helper guiding me in. Was comfortable backing and was probably a bit ####y. The helper had both hands straight up which means you're good, keep backing.. then all of the sudden he goes "whooh" and I brake right as I crunched my rear light into a yellow guard pole. He didn't use the stop signal.

It was totally my fault, and in my safety meeting I didn't say anything about the helper. I ignored my instincts and only watched the helper. I got burned for that.

If you got a helper use them as a tool, but don't do what I did.

 

Some oil companies require you to read and sign a document that gives basic hand signals. Most fracking sites and oil rigs as well as customer yards don't allow you to back without at least one spotter, one in front of you and one in back of you.

Good spotters are a blessing. Clear hand signals and they know what you need to do to get the truck in the spot. You pay attention to the spotter in front of you.

Both arms up with palms toward you means back up straight. If palms are away from you go forward straight.

One arm up and one arm straight out sideways means turn the trailer toward the straight out arm if you are backing. If you are going forward you turn hard in the direction of the arm held straight out.

Both hands above the head with palms together means straighten up, or "get under it". This is done with the palms rubbing together.

Both arms crossed above the head with clenched fists means stop. Both arms held out sideways with palms up and approaching each other above the head gives a visual of how close you are coming to an object and will soon need to stop.

I wish more people were trained in these easy to understand hand signals. It's sad to see a "trainer" frantically waving his hand in a circle. That doesn't mean anything, or it can mean such a wide variety of things it's essentially meaningless.

Now if I have someone spot me I make sure he knows what hand signals I use.