Worried about driving through cities

Sometimes, small towns are worse than big cities. Keep an eye out for broken curbs, skinned poles, pot holes between the pole and the end of the curb. They clue you in on where your tandems are likely to end up in the turn.

Just take it slow in areas you are unfamiliar with, when you feel uncertain. No one is going to get upset that the 70 foot truck and trailer is taking a minute to get around a tough corner. Get a CB. If you are in a tight spot, someone will almost always volunteer help on the CB.

If you get stuck, do not just hit and go. Stop, get out, look at stuff, and try push traffic back if needed. Joe public sees a big trailer and truck and don't think, "why cant that guy make that turn!" They think, "wow, that's awesome. I hope he makes it."

 

The next time you take a road trip through the twin cities, try this:

1. Read all road signs and take notice of any truck restrictions and hazmat routes.
2. Follow the truck routes.
3. No hard braking allowed. If you have to brake hard, you fail.

 

I’ll take big cities over narrow country roads with no room to spare anyday. Think of it that way

 

If you try looking at the whole trip it can seem overwhelming .
Like you said how can I do this .
Instead look at the next mile up the road , and realize it's no big deal , that's the job one mile at a time .
Nothing to be worried about , that's what I tell people when they say how do you drive a truck all over the country , one mile at a time , piece of cake

 

I was the same way, alot younger, but the same way none the less. Unless you are delivering to a big city there is really no reason to go thru the heart of the city. Most cities have a bypass, even NYC or Chicago. You get used to it, but it can be nerve racking.

 

If you aren't nervous and anxious enough already. Remember... as of 2014, there were over 70 million americans, on legal, prescribed, mind altering drugs. And they drive....

 

Wait til you get that load going in back water towns around Pittsburg...#### is tight!

 

I learned how to drive in downtown Minneapolis. At first it sucked then I got used to it. Backing into a tiny alley off a 3 lane one way is never fun at 9am. At the end of the day the bigger vehicle has the right of way. I’m not gonna drive around being a douche but if you’re blocking me on purpose I’m coming on over.

Sounds crazy but you just can’t care. You gotta take up the whole road to back into an alley do it. Who cares if they get mad?

Someone won’t back up so you can Finnish a turn? Just cross your arms and look at them and wait as long as you have to. You’re getting paid, they’re just making themselves late to work.

 

In our line of work, we put trucks in spots trucks were never meant to go. I’ve had police escorts on a legal load to get downtown before. We do work for the Metro Nashville and every time they want me to go into a bad spot (either tight or unsafe), I make them send police escorts. Of course they can be idiots too.