Would you know if you hit something in a truck?

As soon as the pickup truck put it in reverse if I was the spotter I would have signaled the truck to stop .

"Myspotter said he just backed into my path and waited for me to hit him. No time to alert me."

If the P/U truck had time to back in to his path and "wait for me to hit him" then the spotter had time to tell the truck to stop.

 

My trainer flattened a small mailbox on a post- we never felt it but we sure did hear about it!!! I had a new trainer shortly after that.

 

You'd think that the spotter would share some of the liability in that case as he was supposed to be spotting. When I went to driving school I was told never to wave another vehicle the right of way as I could be held responsible if they got into an accident while driving through the intersection. Don't know if that's true or not.

 

Now that's funny

 

I believe that it's true.
Was witness to a accident. The driver involved in the accident said I waved her through. Officer asked me if I had done so, I didn't. So she got charged with failing to yield right of way.

 

I had a little propane forklift that we loaded sideways on a 9.6' wide lowboy float, at the very back(over 3rd and 4th axle). Pulled out of customers driveway, made a left turn and felt a little bump when the 4th axle(air lift) touched ground. Let the trailer swing around straight and noticed the forkin' lift had shifted a little bit, from that little bump. Some things(most) you'd feel..unless its squishy, like a wabbit.

 

I've had my mirrors hit by other trucks a couple of times in truck stops. I'm pretty sure they never felt a thing as I was jostled awake and only saw tail lights heading for the exit. I know I certainly felt it, though.

I've always been very cautious when pulling out of a space, but am even more aware after getting my mirrors knocked around. I avoid parking next to trucks with tandems slid all the way forward.

 

I had a huge buck ran in to my tandems about 7 months ago. I just felt a little tug. Pulled over to inspect it, nothing was damage, but the tires sure were red. That was my first out three Deers I hit last year.

 

Sounds like the deer hit you.

 

Ultimately you are responsible for anything you hit, spotter or not. Dont trust your spotter explicitly, they probably do not know how to properly direct a truck.
These are lessons learned early in your career. Because we were both in reverse the damage was split 50/50, I thought that to mean I look after my damage and he looks after his own. It doesn't, you are responsible for 50% of all damages, including the third parties.