Backing on Public Roadways

[JISTA GAL]

Question for those of you who have a few years under your belt ... What are your thoughts on situations that require using a public roadway to successfully back into a dock? I know some Companies that have strict policies prohibiting drivers from backing on Public Roadways -- how practical is that? Thank you in advance for any advice you are willing to share

 

[Hillbilly Canuck]

I have to back on roadways pretty regularly to get on some job sites. You do what you gotta do. Some people are so brow beaten by "company policy" that common sense goes out the window.

 

[Sinister]

Try to get some help from your receiver if possible.

Try to avoid busy times.

I used to have to blindside into a dark recessed dock on 3rd ave in the Bronx and couldn’t sleep on the street so I went in with the rest of the traffic.

You did NOT want to hold people up very long so I was forced to get good at blindsiding pretty quick. I actually had a bunch of stops in NYC like that.

So before you begin any maneuvers look at your area and get a mental picture of how you’re going to do what needs to be done.

 

[ironpony]

...and make sure some brain dead four wheeler hasn't pulled up to your DOT bumper out of your sight in your mirrors, before you start backing. It may not help, but putting your 4-ways on when backing might convince a court that you did everything you could to alert other motorists that you're making a move.

 

[r3gulator3]

I’d echo mostly what the others have said always try to get someone from the customer to block traffic or at least to tell you to stop if something is coming. 4ways and lights on for visibility even in the day time.

Lots of places I deliver in Chicago I have to have them stop traffic so I can swing out into the fat on coming traffic lane to get turned into the business to unload. Then have them stop it so I can back out.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Like others have said...you do what you gotta do.

Schneider put us all through a "left hand turn" training course apparently because of that Tesla. They had all their "never ever ever evers" and I raised my hand and said "well except when....*insert scenario* and they were all "well yeah except then."

So...yeah.

 

[Shreck]

Like others have said...you do what you gotta do.

Schneider put us all through a "left hand turn" training course apparently because of that Tesla. They had all their "never ever ever evers" and I raised my hand and said "well except when....*insert scenario* and they were all "well yeah except then."

So...yeah.

You never ever ever ever except in the real world.

 

[JISTA GAL]

Excellent feedback !!! Thank you so much !!!

 

[GAnthony]

Question for those of you who have a few years under your belt ... What are your thoughts on situations that require using a public roadway to successfully back into a dock? I know some Companies that have strict policies prohibiting drivers from backing on Public Roadways -- how practical is that? Thank you in advance for any advice you are willing to share

i have to do just that up here in New England.

small loading docks abutting the streets, down one way streets, across from other parking lots, that you cannot use to back up to the customer....

done nearly every day up here, and NYC/NJ......

 

[Rigjockey]

We do a lot of backing in off the street. If that is the only way to hit the dock then that is the only way to hit the dock.

To reiterate what others have said, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

 

[MichaelJT]

I'm a driver trainer for a company that pulls long combination doubles. We have both A trains and B trains (you can back a B train. Takes some practice, and throwing out everything you know about backing singles) because a couple places we go require you to either back in or back out. Our head of safety would tell new hires that our trucks NEVER back up. Then when I was training that person and we HAD to back up they were confused and asked me, WTF?
I had to tell his boss to tell him to stop telling the new drivers that we never back up.
So those absolute statements always have exceptions. And yes, sometimes you have to throw company policy out the window and do what you gotta do.

 

[Knucklebones]

Went to a shipper in LA where you had to back out into a 4 stop busy intersection, turn around, and back down a dead end street. Yeah, told dispatch to take me off that one.

Backing into a dock off the street... only a problem if some granny panties decides she has to make it to her salon before bluing hour is over, and doesn't let you have the street.

 

[geppetto425]

Never be afraid to call the local police to help stop traffic for you. They’re more than willing to help!

 

[ironpony]

Never be afraid to call the local police to help stop traffic for you. They’re more than willing to help!

Unless they have their hands full cleaning up after Swifty...

 

[Uncle Birchy]

Try to get some help from your receiver if possible.

Try to avoid busy times.

I used to have to blindside into a dark recessed dock on 3rd ave in the Bronx and couldn’t sleep on the street so I went in with the rest of the traffic.

You did NOT want to hold people up very long so I was forced to get good at blindsiding pretty quick. I actually had a bunch of stops in NYC like that.

So before you begin any maneuvers look at your area and get a mental picture of how you’re going to do what needs to be done.

If another driver is there see ya struggling get out and spot ya..

On the same terms though ya see somebody struggling get out and help them..

Worst was this produce place in Chicago..

Hadda blindside off a busy street and up the alley with a street light yet and them assholes aint gonna wait 4 ya either..

My 2nd or 3rd time down there if it was clear I just became a jerk myself and shut down the whole street until I could clear that lightpost and straight line her up the alley into the dock..

Afterwards hadda come out the same way and pop my tamdems all the way up so I didnt take down the lightpost and put more than afew tracks in the grass despite

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

If another driver is there see ya struggling get out and spot ya..

On the same terms though ya see somebody struggling get out and help them..

Worst was this produce place in Chicago..

Hadda blindside off a busy street and up the alley with a street light yet and them assholes aint gonna wait 4 ya either..

My 2nd or 3rd time down there if it was clear I just became a jerk myself and shut down the whole street until I could clear that lightpost and straight line her up the alley into the dock..

Afterwards hadda come out the same way and pop my tamdems all the way up so I didnt take down the lightpost and put more than afew tracks in the grass despite

I hate backing ACROSS a road without a spotter. It’s doable but there’s no way to know if traffic is coming

Send it!

 

[Hillbilly Canuck]

I hate backing ACROSS a road without a spotter. It’s doable but there’s no way to know if traffic is coming

Send it!

Sendv it send it real slow. You remember when tweedle dumbass sent me to that triaxle job with the pup load of stone? That was a fun time. Downtown intersection 3 bends and a quarter circle to make.....good times.

 

[ironpony]

There's a place in Atlanta I delivered to like that... back in off a very busy street. Y'all know about Atlanta drivers too. They employed two spotters full time to stop traffic so trucks could back into their docks

 

[r3gulator3]

There's a place in Atlanta I delivered to like that... back in off a very busy street. Y'all know about Atlanta drivers too. They employed two spotters full time to stop traffic so trucks could back into their docks

Been to places like that in Chicago. No fun but the spotters are nice.

 

[Rigjockey]

I was fortunate today, Some guy was nice enough to spot me while I was blindsiding into the dock. I thanked him

I blind side this dock about 10 times a day everyday, but it was nice of him to offer the help.

I thank ya!