Tailswing

No hard and fast way to know. Just have to be aware and know that the more you have tandems slid up, the further the tail will swing out. So try and leave a bit of additional distance along the side you’ll be turning away from. If in doubt, do about a quarter to half of your turn, stop and go see what’s going on and if you’re getting too close.

But 53’s and the tandems all the way back are more prone to making contact with the back of the cab in hard u-turns.

 

I once destroyed 15K in home depot inventory (Trailers) due to being trapped in a tight spot. Made the circle itself with the tractor with a foot to spare but the other end did the damage. There is no point in getting into the particulars leading up to this problem.

There is one type of turning that most people don't consider often. (I should have, however due to the overall situation you have a hard time remembering obscure solutions when youe stressed.)

That is to drop the trailer, come around with the bobtail to where you hook onto it from the side directly to the kingpin. The problem with that is the trailer is such a fragile thing you can totally wreck it all doing that. You would essentially be able to then spin in place eliminating the bobtail's turning radius. It really depends on the overall situation.

Most of the time it's chain link fence that got into my way up in the north east. It is not difficult to put the cabover tractor against it and add power gently. Mash it a little bit and get that extra three feet of pull up to make it work. I don't recommend that today in this world of surveillance everywhere.

Yes there have been times that overhang had done damage and alot of that. we were not fired because the situation that led up to that was the fault of the store management directly.

 

When in doubt get out and look.

 

Jack it around, don’t let it hit the Cab, put some flat spots on those tires, when You see them turning in a reverse direction, your jacking it just right. Seriously get out and look when in doubt. Others will respect this, especially the Owners of property possibly damaged. Best thing to do is swing wider than needed then straighten wheel, then back up jacking it, watching rear of trailer and front then finish u turn.

 

Otherwise learn to back it what ever distance and then you can drive out.

 

The backside docks of Wakefern Foods. Woodbridge, NJ with a mostly full set of docks. I hated those meat docks way at the end.

 

You always have a choice. If you set the brakes and turn off your truck you will do Zero damage. How long would you have had to wait until the entrance is no longer blocked? What was blocking the entrance? Another truck? Did you speak to the driver? A fork lift? Did you speak to the forklift operator? A dropped trailer? Was there a yard jockey moving trailers around? Could you have moved the trailer yourself? A pallet? Was there a forklift operator that could move it for you?

Did you speak to anyone inside about the blocked entrance?

None of us were there, so we don't know what other options were available to you.

One thing I've learned the hard way is not to drive into a place that I can't get myself out of. Sometimes the only way out is to back out blind onto a street. Not fun or safe. Get help if you can. Put out flares or triangles. Get out and look.

 

1. Get out and look.
2. Move the truck a few feet.
3. Repeat

 

i have at least 2 stops in downtown Boston, each night. then i have a stop north of there. as a result, i have my tandems on my 53' all the way forward, to get around telephone and light poles, and squeeze in between traffic islands and cars parked to one side. don't get me started on unannounced pop up construction jobs many times.

it gets hairy, but i have to know where my trailer is at all times.

at one of my stops, especially during the winter, i must make a near jackknife turn to get out of the parking area.. as the exit is always plowed in....as well as the fire hydrant, garbage dumpsters, and several concrete stair cases are either buried in the snow, or just barely visible. and ALWAYS iced over, since no sun melts anything during the daytime.

again, i must know where my trailer is at all times.

if you are not sure, get out and look (GOAL) several times if you have to.

the accident you have, will be your fault.

you should never really do any blind side moves, you set yourself up all wrong.

you should have surveyed the situation BEFORE you even stepped back into your truck.

this time, you got lucky.....next time......have your accident camera ready.