I Made a Stupid Mistake - I Need Advice

I haven't been able to get back to my computer, actually, until just now. Give me a little bit and I'll see if I can fenagle some cell pics for you to gander at.

 

Ok, breakdown says the truck should be here in less than an hour, so i figure it'll be here in three.

I can't get pictures from my phone on to my computer for some reason, but I uploaded a couple on to my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/mayjamesr

I think possibly the worst part about the whole situation here, besides the stress, is the fact that part of the dirt I settled in was a massive ant bed, now I have to fight off an ant infestation too.

 

When it rains it pours. A little lesson on U-turns gentlemen. Missed my turn one early Sunday 6AM on Hwy 101 in CA. No one was on the road so I flipped a ##### in a 120 foot truck hauling glue-lams. I no more than got that puppy headed Southbound and look who's in my mirrors. That's right CHP. Pull over and told the cop what the deal was and he says....I didn't see anything now get the hell out of here. Yes sir and I grab a handful of gears.

 

It takes a long time to pull a 180 in a full sized rig. I believe it's somewhere in the ballpark of 20 seconds. And even when you complete it you're likely traveling around 4-7 mph. How often is a roadway totally clear of traffic for 20 seconds? How often can you even see 20 seconds down the roadway? I mean we are likely talking about 1000-1500 feet (2000-3000' when considering both directions) depending upon the speed of traffic. How many side streets, drives and parking lots are in a thousand feet of roadway. Trees, signs, billboards and other objects that obstruct the 4 wheelers' view of you or vise versa?

I admit it, I've pulled a couple U-ees in my career. Usually at a traffic light in which opposing traffic was stopped and it was legal. Once I did it in MO at 3 am at night and there wasn't a single set of headlights for over a half mile in either direction. Also did it once in Tampa when I was a rookie and in a spot to try and make an appointment.

What I am saying is that U-turns should be avoided like the plague. There are almost always other options and they should be taken advantage of rather than doing a u-turn because you are impatient.

 

I once saw a guy pull a uturn at the NJ turnpike extension to the PA turnpike, right at the toll booths, middle of the day, light to medium traffic, PA trooper just sat there shaking his head.

 

u turns are also very hard on the trailer rims, tires and brearings as well as the asphalt esp when loaded, as well as a safety concern, they should be avoided, go around the block.

 

I have seen truckers pay for sidewalks for doing 180's not worth the money or time its faster just to go some where and turn around

 

Update:

Truck got out easy, but getting the trailer out took almost two hours because of the angle of the sink on the shoulder and the drag-assery of the tow guy.

Either way, I am out and about. Didn't get any pictures of the tow though.

 

if it takes you 20 seconds to do a u turn then the only problem is driver error