Fired for U-turn

I know for a fact that Knight has a "Zero Tolerance" policy on U-turns on public roads.... That being said I'm sure the type of Marked U-Turns that are designed with trucks in mind would probably be ok by thier policy, but I'm just guessing.

 

If I need to do a U-turn to avoid a bad situation I'm on it in a heartbeat unless of course if I'm on the interstate.

 

Watching that video I just kept murmuring over and over, "Dude..oh man..Dude.."

 

Just looking at the road you knew there wasn’t enough space for a u turn. I would have backed right out. If cars started coming up I would have called for help from law enforcement. I’d rather get a ticket for a wrong turn than a ticket and damage to the tractor and possibly a “get to the nearest terminal now” message via Qualcomm.

 

For years off and on even before I retired I wondered why some drivers seem to not be able to stay out of trouble. I still have not figured it out either. This USA truck driver I heard was lost after going out of route and was trying to find a shortcut back to where he was supposed to be. I have asked drivers that I have spoken to that were fired for these reasons that question "why?" I am slowly coming to the conclusion that most drivers who get into these fixes were WAY out of route, and fear the tongue lashing that comes with being truthful with the company about it. So they keep digging the holes deeper and deeper.

Let me say this about being "out of route". There are times when it can't be avoided. I once made a delivery in south-central Florida with an early morning delivery scheduled. Nowhere even close to go park afterward. I remembered the port of Manatee had some parking and went there. The next day when I got my next dispatch my fuel solution was messed up because I had gone almost 100 miles more North then the system thought I was. Of course, I could have lied about this and went the now out of the route to buy fuel. I was a professional driver that made a decision based on my experience to go to the port of Manatee to get my 10 in. I will never accept my company 2nd guessing me. My FM did not and adjusted my fuel solution to account for where I was. Now, this does not mean it is acceptable to be way out of route just so you can go visit your girlfriend or baby mama. It does mean if you have gone out of route like that and something goes bad, it is by far better to be honest and let your company help you then it is to go off and damage the truck or other property.

 

i never got lost....

i simply took the wrong exits


i hated when that happened.

and frankly, i was never late, as i was never a truck stop trucker.

 

Kind of reminds me of a nightmare I had in Northfield Minnesota. The whole time remembering this was the same town where the James/Younger gang got nailed! There is a grocery warehouse on the main road between I 35 and the town. Seems like every time I unloaded there I had some kind of a problem.

 

Most big companies have their computers alert them after you pass a certain distance out of route. I know for sure my company once it hits 100 miles I will be getting a call asking where the frack I’m going.

Some places a missed exit mean a long turn around that could take 40-60 minutes because the next exits don’t have a return or leads into truck no go zones. New York City is one of them.

 

Just another reason I don't drive into NYC. It's still no excuse, though. I can count the number of situations where you belong pulling a U turn in a tractor-trailer on one hand

 

I can't remember for sure, I think it was Springfield Missouri that has a diverging diamond interchange on I 44. I stupidly got off on this one once to get turned around and back northbound. I got back on the road, but it was not easy.