How do these people slip thru the cracks ?

You backed into a deer?

 

No forward.
But never backed into anything.

 

The craziest thing I ever did was take backing directions from an inmate. He was on work release still in his jail apparel and he was giving me complex directions to back me out of this muddy complicated lot with tons of junk in it. And you know he did a good job!

 

I really don't give a crap what anyone's skill and experience level is/isn't as long as they don't hit me.

 

Not many are failed on the road test it isn't like a road test where you get points, it is something like "here are the keys, here is a list of things I watch for and let's go have some fun when you are ready" thing.

Most never mess up, a few make a few mistakes while on the road then there are others who no matter what, they just can't drive a truck.

The only two things I will hold against a driver is not watching whats going on around us then making sudden lane changes and running red lights.

The guy I mentioned - 15 years - was doing drop and hooks for most of his time, he never wanted to do anything else and he didn't have the skills to back up either the 53 or 40 foot trailers I had. By the way, i still hired him and he is doing flat bed work. After the road test, I told him he is welcomed to practice as much as he wanted to help him out, I even told him he could practice and go work for someone else, which after he spent a week practicing, he took my offer.

Extra pull ups are fine, I don't expect anyone (including myself in everything I drive) to get it into the slot the first time but I do expect a driver not to take out the trailer or truck sitting in the next spot.

 

Greed and stupidity

 

“But the GPS said turn right!”
Or, “I don’t need no old fashion road map!! I got my Garmin!”

 

Give me 30 minutes with a rookie driver, a big parking lot with lines and I can have him backing like a pro.
If you cannot back up straight line for 200 feetwith mirrors,you will never learn.

 

I haven't used a paper map in 8-10 years.
These pictures of swift trucks on muddy dirt roads and on the beaches and boardwalks are just common sense or lack of that is. Nothing to do with maps. I have run NY city, Jersey, CT, MA, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago and a lot more. Nothing beats google maps, nothing. Its not a plug and play, it does take some time though.

 

The GPS replaces the paper maps, not driver's judgement.