I know the title was a bit all-encompassing, but really...can anyone successfully drive a big truck in reverse anymore?

I now have a job that is not trucking related. I was out today in an area of the county that has alot of winding two-lane roads. I turned up such a road and followed a nice Volvo pulling a 53' box...I thought to myself "I hope he doesn't go any further because there's no place to turn around". Well, he stopped, I pulled around and approached him because I just knew he was lost. He was, but not by much...he had just passed where he was supposed to be by about a mile or so. Anyway, he showed my the receiver's address and I told him it was just back there, he made a wrong turn. He thanked my and asked if there way anywhere to turn around, I told him last chance for turn around was a gravel construction entrance about 1/4 mile up, nothing past that. He followed me to it, I told him I would stop cars, he then proceeded to back into a construction entrance about 50' wide. After his third try at backing in, he mumbled a few profanities and I told him I used to drive and could back it up for him. The look on his face was one of total relief! I back it in, pulled it onto the road and he got in, thanked me and took off.

He indicated that he hadn't been driving long. It was a company truck belonging to a large OTR carrier.

 

Was it SWIFT? Saying the truck was a Volvo is a dead give away.

 

I'm calling Bravo Sierra on this story.

 

50 foot wide, HELL a 1st day guy with his trainer should be able to hit that blind folded.

 

No...but if you hit on it I won't say "no"!

 

Call it whatever you want, doesn't matter to me, it happened. It also happened about a half dozen times when I was driving, too. Whatever.

 

One guy according to you can't or didn't want to back the truck up.

And you think that is enough to ask if "Truck drivers know how to back up?"

Even if it happen half a dozen time while you drove, What is that six?

So now we have 7 drivers who can't or won't back up in what time frame are we talking?

I think your question is insulting.

Calling it bravo sierra is kind.

 

Im not sure how to take that story. From what Im gathering, he was to back into the contstruction site. (50' wide entrance).
Why was he to back into the construction site? Was the site not large enough to go into and do a uturn inside the site? also...
From what I gather from the narrative, he was to back into the 50' wide entrance....from off the road. How much swing room did he have to get the trailer and tractor around to successfully back into the entrance?
From what Im visualizing. It was probably on a small 2lane road, probably with soft shoulders. also.....
why would the driver, take your word for it that you are a driver and allow you to do the back for him? This question is probably reitoricale. Presuming the incident happened as you describe.
I know Im questioning your story...but there does seem to be some "Loopholes".

It would also appear that you answered your own question. Everybody has started somewhere, sometime. They have to gain there own experience as they learn the ropes of driving. I presume you never got yourself into a position that had you so utterly frustrated that you wanted to just giveup.

 

I was thinking the same as Drew. although I have no problem backing up, if I had a 50 foot wide space, I would just make a u turn, much easier and safer.

 

To quote Bubba the love sponge. I call shenanigans on the deal