GOAL (Get Out And Look) doesn’t always work

An instructor was training new drivers one day while I watched. He was demonstrating how to back up the tractor trailer safety by getting out and looking behind the trailer and then returning back to the cab. On his way back I told him that it wouldn’t work. Told him that if he tries he will definitely run over stuff. He told me I was wrong and kept walking to the back. While he did I placed some 2x4’s behind the trailer wheels which he ran over.

Told him a story about how I had gotten out to look before backing up back in the early 1980’s. While I was walking back to the cab a car came up behind the trailer. Luckily the sun made a shadow of the car and I went back to ask the driver to get out of the way.

To solve this problem I came up with a solution that not only works on tractor trailers, but on straight trucks as well. Before backing up, turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and pull forward a little while looking towards the back of the trailer. This way you can see if there is anything behind you before backing up. This trick has worked flawlessly for over thirty years.

 

So turning your steering wheel all the way to the left and pulling forward a little will let you see everything behind the trailer?
There is still a blind side where some jerk might just put something back there for you to hit..

 

So deliberately sabotaging someone once is your excuse to be lazy?
Sorry, but no matter what you do there is no substitution for goaling. Even in a day xab there are blund spots.

 

"GOAL (Get Out And Look) doesn’t always work".

It hasn't failed me.....yet! But..... apparently the OP wasn't in the neighborhood.

 

GOAL is one of those stupid platitudes used to relieve desk jockeys of the consequences of hiring bad drivers that cannot back. Nothing more.

 

Except x ray vision

 

Always keep in mind..

If you have to get out and look to see what is behind you, then someone can move into that blind spot after you’ve gotten out and looked.

 

When I was in training a few years ago my trainer wouldn’t let me GOAL. I hit a staircase and now it’s in my record. I really wish I had GOALed. Taking a second to get out would’ve saved me a lot of trouble in the future.

 

GOAL isn't intended to prevent accidents involving moving obstacles. It is intended to prevent accidents involving stationary obstacles.

 

We need an emergency campaign to put more warning stickers on side mirrors. Every problem is due to insufficient warnings.; -)