Truck Stop Parking Fail

Maybe the driver was listening to Boston's Second Studio Album, "Don't Look Back," released August 2, 1978 when that blunder happened. A few additional songs from that album also apply to this scenario, like... "Don't Be Afraid," and "Used to Bad News." I highly doubt he was "Feelin Satisfied" after that experience, though.

I have a question that's not related to the accident, but kind of related in that it's about T/S parking.

In the video the bobtail that was hit was parked in a full size spot. The lot wasn't full, and may rarely fill up, or there just may not be any bobtail spots, whatever. My question is this, if you have to park bobtail in a full size spot is it best to park as if you have a trailer - by the front of the spot, in the middle of the spot - like the victim here, or deep in the spot - as if your tractor was the rear of a trailer?

I have a question that's not related to the accident, but kind of related in that it's about T/S parking.

In the video the bobtail that was hit was parked in a full size spot. The lot wasn't full, and may rarely fill up, or there just may not be any bobtail spots, whatever. My question is this, if you have to park bobtail in a full size spot is it best to park as if you have a trailer - by the front of the spot, in the middle of the spot - like the victim here, or deep in the spot - as if your tractor was the rear of a trailer?

For me, the front. If you’re at the back, what happens at 2 am, when a dead tired trucker comes in, it’s pitch black- no moon, the lot is 100% full, all he wants is to jump in the sleeper- he sees your spot, backs in- and ….

Anyway- just park at the front. I would park even with the other trucks.

I thought he was setting up to back into the spot to the right of the truck filming.

That video hits two of my biggest rules while driving in any parking lot. Swing wide as you possibly can and always try to turn towards the drivers side.

Swing wide and if you can't make the turn its easier to come out exactly the same as you went in.

Turning left versus right is the same principal as sight versus blind side backing.

.02

Drive in parking lots and on local streets like you're dragging tandems 60' behind you because you are. If you're goal is to get the tandems where you want them, you'll pay attention to those rear view mirrors.

New people: if you haven't gotten into a truck yet, get a broom, hold end of the handle by your hip, and drag the broom behind you and walk around the house. Don't let the broomstick hit anything!

I just did something really stupid yesterday... ; ( no damage to 9thers...but damaged my trailer. I'm really upset cause everytime I start feeling confident I feel.like a failure again :(

I have a question that's not related to the accident, but kind of related in that it's about T/S parking.

In the video the bobtail that was hit was parked in a full size spot. The lot wasn't full, and may rarely fill up, or there just may not be any bobtail spots, whatever. My question is this, if you have to park bobtail in a full size spot is it best to park as if you have a trailer - by the front of the spot, in the middle of the spot - like the victim here, or deep in the spot - as if your tractor was the rear of a trailer?

Anytime, I am bobtail, I like to back 1/3rd of the way in to a designated parking spot for 3 reasons.

#1 is because my company will charge me with a preventable accident, should I get hit parked in an area where I am not sitting between 2 yellow paint marks that indicate designated parking. If it is designated bobtail parking with yellow paint, then I will leave the full size spaces for drivers pulling trailers.

#2 is because if I am 1/3rd of the way in, there is less chance I can get clipped by someone's trailer, especially if I am parked in an "end of the row" parking spot.

#3 is because if I go deeper into the spot bobtail than 1/3rd, some Einstein will show up bobtail in the middle of the night and back in directly in front of me, preventing my exit when I get my clock back. This situation will always require me to preform a "cop knock," and I don't want to start my day cop knocking.

I'm still pretty green but I was thinking the Dutch Method would be best. It's encouraging to me that I can arrive at the same answer independently.