u-turn or not to turn

at some companies (most probably) ANY U-turn is illegal.

 

depends on the situation. U-turns should be a last resort. If you have another exit use it. If you have a parking lot use it. I have gone almost 20 miles before to find a good spot to turn around. Also get on the cb someone might be able to help you locate a spot to turn around.

 

one note on u-turns, especially w. flatbeds, DONT!! ive had my fair share of times ive had to call 911 or the local office of the state patrol and have then stop all traffic so i could 3point, those bed rails are only 2ft apart and if you are pulling a coil or high center of gravity load, you will most certainly "tweak" your trailer that will severely weaken the cross members between the rails, # ARROW Trucking orientation they taught us a sweet trick ,if you have your convex mirrors setup to where you only have the trailer visible in the 1st 1.5"-2" of your convex, watch your convex!! (the curved one) if you have less than 1.5"-2" of daylight visible on the outside edge (from the trailer deck to the side of the mirror god i wish i could draw a diagram on here) then ur gonna twist, flatbeds gotta go WIDE.. so... when in doubt (like chicago, NYC) look for the turnpike oasis's and get the local maps so you can plan your in-town approach better so you dont have to make those turns.. but if u do need to make a turn, the police 9 times outta 10 will gladly help!!

 

well.. honestly, my worst luck has been w. tandems, but most of those were 1993-2002 models in arrow's "OMG we're still pulling these old things" pile, a new solid tandem i havent had much trouble with, but i havent been lucky enough to pull too many new ones, most companies love the spreads because it allows the driver a little more luxury w. the scales (34,000#a on tandem, 40,000#s on spread.. unless you're in... is it AZ thats 39,000??)
i dunno... maybe a new tandem w. air ride would turn better

 

I would suggest not to make a u-turn unless in a safe spot to do so. I did a u-turn out in new jersey really stupid of me but i was on a staple run missed the store. So i seen a big split enough to make it but not safe to do so, had two lanes an a big merge area split. So i look behind me nothing i looked for oncoming traffic nothing, so i proceed with my stupid u-turn. Next i hear breaks locked up im in the process of my turn, couldn't see untill my tractor came around. Sure enough a lady in a van flew up on me an was about 10 feet from going under my trailer. She start's screaming i got 3 kids in here what are you doing just flipping out, im scared out my mind of how close i came from probally killing here and them kids. I told her i was turning in that building that was on my left and what not even tho i wasn't i said i was so so sorry which i was. ethier way i will never make a u-turn unless in a parking lot , if i miss my exit got to the next one it' not worth killing someone or even yourself. Think Safe, Be Safe, Drive Safe

 

Seeing how this thread is 5 pages long, and i have not had the chance to read every page yet, someone might have already beat me to this thought, but here goes.....

I can tell you i've made some wrong turns. Once I was headed to Haggerstown, MD, and my directions told me to take highway 40 off the interstate. I was a bit on the tired side, and didnt realize i was about miles away from where i should have turned. Anyways, i see 'hwy 40 next right'.....BOOM....i take it. Only to find the next sign says "alt 40". ALT 40??? well okay....drove into a small town...then kept going.....then the road gets narrow, and then i decide 'this isnt right' and pull off to the side as soon as it was safe. I was a mile away from the enterance to George Washington Monument State Park (or something). I look around and i have just enough room. There was hardly any traffic, and it was at night so if there was any, i'd see headlights first. I pause, wait till i feel it is safe....and then i make it as quickly and as slowly as possible. I make it, and get back on the interstate.

If you feel you HAVE to do a U-turn, just take your time and do it SLOWLY. you can still roll your trailer over at 5mph.

Now if you are on a 2 lane road, make a wrong turn, and have 20 cars behind you....slow down 5 - 10mph....and as soon as you see a big enough parking lot....pull in, then pull out. Otherwise instead of making a u-turn....why not make 3 right turns and a left? much safer, yeah?

 

I will tell you at Swift....having an accident during a U-Turn is one of the 'forbidden 5'. Roll overs, lane change, rear ending .....and there was one more......crap. =)

 

oh, and one last point.....get yourself a GPS. Now that my Microsoft Streets and Trips is working, you can take a wrong turn, and it will take a few seconds, but it will reroute you back to your route without any u-turns.

how bout that.....spend $80 and maybe it will help save your job. (or cost it....lol....just dont trust it 100% and watch your bridges)