My second load and I screwed up….

When in doubt, stop. Find out what you want to do and the best way to do it. Really important for newer drivers. Leave your ego at the truckstop. Dont be afraid to ask for help.

Trucking is so much easier now than when I was a young'in. Pop out google maps and switch it over to satellite and LOOK at what you are about to put yourself into. Cant tell you how much crap that would have saved me from getting into when I first started out.

And no, it wont have any impact of your on-going career. The COMPANY you work for may not like it, but future companies wont even know about it (unless you tell them) because just being towed doesnt show up on anything.

 

Sounds like one of my many Pennsylvania adventures. Sometimes you just have to experience something to know not to do it again. How many times have I asked myself, what are the chances? You just have to learn from it, and also laugh about it. Great story!! At least you didn’t need a couple helicopters to get you turned around. It can always be worse.

 

I run google maps on my phone so if I need to get off the road and back on I can see the on and off ramp before getting iff.

 

@Newdriver813
Lots of excellent info in this thread for folks learning the game...
The best lessons are the ones you get yourself into and out of... Safely.
When I started driving, I made many mistakes too.
My instructors words came back to me every time.
Stop. Get out and look.
4 ways are your friends.
Use them.
Taking a moment to pause and clear your head to think clearly helps more than anything.
Use the tools you have readily available.
Google maps satellite view and street view.
Map book.
Phone.
Guaranteed your dispatch knows exactly where you are all the time.
Calling for an assist can keep you out of a bigger pickle.
I tell all the new drivers the same thing.
I can save you up to the point where you pull the handle. Then it's all you.
Meaning this...I will help you any time, any where, to the best I can.
I'll talk you through the situation safely, and help you get out of the bind you're in.
I've run down no truck roads, and had to turn around in dinky parking lots, I've curbed the snot out of my trailer, I've missed signs by short curly hairs breadth, and done some things that I really shouldn't have.
I made all my decisions based on being as safe as possible, and avoiding turning my tanker over.
It don't need nap time, it needs to work.
Relax, breathe, focus.
You got this, driver.

 

Live and learn. Everyone here has made mistakes like that weather a new driver or and old hand. When things happen and them little beads of sweat start popping out on your forehead. Throw on the 4 ways and just chill out and think things through.

 

Good advice.

The hardest thing to do is to just stop, just chill out and think things through; but things become even worse when you don't.

If you are lucky a cop will show up to tell you of your bad mistake, then make suggestions to help you get out of the situation safely.
I've had it happen. They know the roads and are often very helpful, because it has happened before and will happen again.

 

The general idea - yes. Getting back on the interstate going the opposite direction you intend may not be the most efficient answer to the conundrum, but it is a guaranteed safe solution.

This is highly unlikely to be the outcome on the interstate.

 

I had a load of fabric out of Charlotte 12 drops at fabric stores in strip malls in Chicago and suburbs. Sounds like fun, no? It was as fun as it sounds. Getting ready to leave this one store and asked the manager "how do I get to this next one?"
"oh, its easy, just get on the street right here and its 2 miles that way on your right"
"thanks".

Happy go lucky me follows her directions and I come up on this bridge that says 13' 9". Yeah, it wasnt. I come up on it and Im thinking "thats a #### short 13-9" so I pull up to it and stop. Would have taken an inch or 2 off the top.

So there I am, in Chicago (where the people are so patient and understanding), on a 2 lane road, with cars parked on either side. Im looking the situation over, and there is a space on my right where there are no cars, and across on the left, there is room for 2 cars to park, and Im thinking to myself, if I skinny up the wagon, I might be able to get this...

So while Im making this master plan a Chicago cop comes rolling up. He says "I know what youre thinking and if you can do it without hitting anything I wont even give you a ticket".
"for what?" Im thinking to myself but smart enough to use my inner voice on that one.

You think he would at least block traffic for me?

Heh...

At least I only had a 48. This was in the days before they had 52s even.

 

Worst case scenario, it gets recorded as a non-DOT reportable "incident." I had one on my first load on the first day I went out solo. Hasn't caused me one problem since. Those mostly only matter if you get multiples. As long as you learn from it, it's probably a positive. Better to have a small mistake now that stops you from making a bigger one later.

My advice: Stop accepting calls from your leader, or anyone else from the company, while you're driving. Don't even check messages from them. If they try to call, or they send you a message, pull over when you find a truckstop or rest area.

 

Well I did say 'if you are lucky'.

Chicago is hard AZ to say the least.