My second load and I screwed up….

“Little did I know this exit has the on ramp on the same side as the off ramp and you would need to make a unturn”

This is a failure of not looking/planning far enough ahead. In the future, you’ll know to look way ahead for a merge sign, merge ramp, up the off-ramp to identify an adjacent roadway coming back at you, look at your GPS screen for the ramp layout, etc.

Never turn onto an unknown road, without knowing where it goes. As you’ve discovered, there’s no turning a semi-truck back around.

The way I would’ve handled this is to grab the ramp’s shoulder and let following vehicles move on. Then, ease on up the shoulder to the stop sign and simply done a flip (keyhole turn) right back down the on-ramp.

 

It works the opposite way at my company.

When I am running late I send a mac-22, telling them that I am running late.
That macro is noticed by several people, including my DM and CSR.
It is then up to them (well, usually CSR) to contact the receiver as to my new ETA.

 

I assume this was for IFTA stickers?

 

Very good advice!

One of the things many new drivers fail to do is pay attention to those things that will help in the “what if” situation. It’s not always easy but try and make mental notes of industrial areas, truck stops even when not planning on using that particular one, ramps you see trucks on and ramps you don’t and last but not least ramps that offer easy turn around.
In a situation like this remembering that an exit or two back fit the bill would have saved you from this issue.
Most of us have been in situations where it was best to back track to friendly ground to avoid the unknown!

 

At least you pulled off the highway rather than stopping on the shoulder, so half your decisions were right ! Watch your gps more attentively to see the shape of the maneuvers your coming up to rather than taking a chance and you'll be fine.

 

Winner

Your weasel dispatcher or whomever couldn't take a minute from his desk to make a phone call. Especially for a new driver, so as not to give you the extra burden.

I'm certain the weasel mega you drive for will tell you it's a "team."

Be glad you only need a year there before you can go to a real company OP.

 

All bets are off if the company has driver-facing cameras and doesn't let you touch your phone/gps while driving.

 

When I left the oilfield and went OTR my manager gave me a very simple advice:" Don't exit the HWY! Keep going until it's safe to pull over (rest area, truck stop, scale house) ". He knew I was still too green behind the ears. Good man.

 

“Family”

 

Shi t happens. Learn from this, do better tomorrow.