Get Out And Look when you need to.

[Jimbo]

Get Out And Look!!!
Follow this rule when it applies, and it will keep you out of big trouble down the road.

When I see new people driving a truck, backing into a hole can show them to be newbies. Let me tell you this, and take it to heart. Every single one of us "Big Shots" were a newbie once. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. Being stupid enough to back into a hole, and not see everything you need to, and crunching the truck next to you, is.

I have been driving for over 15 years, and I still get out and walk back to the end of my trailer quite often, to see what is going on back there. I don't care if it's not needed 1,000 times; the one time it **is** needed will make all those other times worth it. If you are a newbie, and crunch a truck early in your driving career, you might not have a long one.

The biggest mistake I see newbies do, is not get out to look at truckstops, because they feel like everyone is watching, and they don't want to look like a dummy. Rest assured you will look like a bigger dummy with your trailer ripping into the truck next to you.

Now....all those drivers who were watching you....what happens to them when you crunch the truck next to you?

NOTHING!!

They get to go on their merry way, while you stay to talk to the driver of the truck you hit, and possibly the police. Then you get to go into the truckstop and break the news to your dispatcher. Not exactly the way I want to spend my time. All this because you didn't want to look "dumb".

Let me tell you a little secret. When you look like a new guy, that doesn't make you look dumb. It makes you look new. The drivers who look dumb are the ones who act like they were never "the new guy". I have been driving for over 15 years, and still get out and look. Dose that make me look new? I really don't care how I look. All I care about is getting into the hole with no damage. Period!

If you are a newbie, backing into a hole you can't see well enough, get out and look at what's going on. Get out ten times if you need to. You will get better with time, if you give yourself the chance.

[Big_Dave]

It only takes 1 time to ruin a career. If you're new at a company or just a newbie all around, if you back into someone's truck or run over a pole, tree, whatever......there's a good chance the company you work for will terminate you the minute you get to the yard.

Yes, they will route you straight to the yard from where you happen to be at.

GET OUT AND LOOK!!

[Hillbilly]

They put a sticker on the mirror of the company trucks, where I am leased, and it says G.O.A.L. And that stands for Get Out And Look.
This is far from my 1st rodeo, too(30+ yrs). But, I get out & look, if I am the least bit in doubt on my clearance. Like Jimbo, I could care less, what those truck stop cowboys think. But, the effort is worth it each quarter, when I get $3-400.00 safety bonus!

[Jimbo]

I didn't get over 1.5 million accident -free miles by being stupid. The thing that burns my butt is the idiots who will bitch about the new guy backing in, but the thought of getting their lard-butt out of the truck and helping them, never crosses their mind.

[HSLD]

And know that'll you'll get harassed on the radio for the number of times you get out or have to pull up to get it on the door.

Worry about your deal. Take pride in doing what you do and the fact that you don't tear equipment up.

And just tell these knuckleheads that harass you that they could have gotten out and helped if if they were so concerned with what you're doing. That'll normally shut 'em up.

HSLD

good point hsld

[Bikerboy]

Getting out to look saved me once that i remember. I was doing a see side back off a small street into a small yard. There were cars parked all over the street so i had almost no room to move the tractor around. And plus there was a big pole near the driveway to the yard. So i was backing in and everyhing looked good. The all of a souden i remeber about that pole! And i knew i must be gettting close to it. So i stopped, got out and looked and and i was less than 6 inches from hitting the right side of the trailer with the pole! Good thing i looked. It was impossible that night to get into the yard any further, cuz of cars parked in the way. So i had to leave truck parked on street and tailgate off the skid.