Can You Spot The Impostor?

Heavy C wrote:

I've seen guys show up with the flashy long nose Pete's that couldn't find the door to save their life. But a few doors down a Western driver in an older beat up Freightshaker put it in, in one smooth motion. Didn't matter the truck. Didn't matter the company. Didn't matter the drivers age. I could never tell who was a "real trucker" and who wasn't. If there is such a thing.

OMG that is so true. I hope you read this Jeremy...can’t judge a book by its cover.

You can look the part and fool us all until yah attempt to push the wagon into the hole. I’ve seen many a long nose Peter Car driver make a Muddy Mississippi Mess of things trying to spot a load at the DC.

I think the real imposter around here is old school. Claims to be a flatbedder but that pic he posted in a couple other threads sure dont look like it!

Just kidding....

The inherent difficulty of my job doing local work makes it very difficult to get comfortable. Anytime I start feeling that way, this job has a way of snapping me back into reality. Which is nice. Helps me not get complacent.

This is the very thing that 6% grades and tight curves on mountain roads seem to do for me. I cant stand 'em, but oh boy do they keep me on my toes!

Holy cow! That would be awesome. Nothing like hands on actually doing it, but the wisdom of experience is always the next best thing. Maybe I can even grab some practice mimicking the movements without actually being at a dock. God knows I can use the practice.

Thanks G-Town!

I’ve got some video...I’ll try to upload later today or tomorrow.

I’ve got some video...I’ll try to upload later today or tomorrow.

Thanks much, G-Town! I look forward to checking that out. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will benefit from it. Very much appreciated!

I'm a rookie driver who still struggles with backing. Thankfully, I'm a linehaul driver who only has to do it once or twice a day. If I want to get some backing practice in, I can always volunteer to switch trailers for an hour before my scheduled run.

It isn't just the ability to back into a tight spot like a pro that makes one a "real" truck driver. It's also the skills that aren't always so easy to spot, like always using the Smith System, doing a proper pre-trip, showing common courtesy to other drivers around you, etc.

The backing will get better with time. For now, I take pride in being a safe and efficient driver who respects my company's equipment, the customer's freight, and my fellow drivers.

Great post Kevin!

I completely agree with what you're saying.

I'm a rookie driver who still struggles with backing. Thankfully, I'm a linehaul driver who only has to do it once or twice a day. If I want to get some backing practice in, I can always volunteer to switch trailers for an hour before my scheduled run

I run Linehaul as well and will complete my first year in September, I still struggle with backing in our tight yards, but I have improved a lot even with my limited opportunities to back. I know mostly understand what the trailer is going to do before it does it and can correct it before it goes too kittywampus.

Just have to GOAL a lot of necessary, remember it's faster to GOAL than to go through the accident process.

I’ve got some video...I’ll try to upload later today or tomorrow.

Thanks much, G-Town! I look forward to checking that out. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will benefit from it. Very much appreciated!

Better late than never...hopefully we’ll have some fun with this.

These two videos were shot last Saturday, essentially 4th of July Weekend. Please realize that the camera was mounted on a pedestal facing the road. At no time did I compromise safety or hold the device while the truck was in motion.

The first video was taken entering the side road entrance headed to the store and navigating through a small, less than impressive Jersey Circle. Can’t wait to hear the “yawn” from Rainy when she sees this JV circle.

Click the link, unite sound if you want to hear my “Hollywood” narration skills (LOL)

Flemington Side Road Access & Jersey Circle

Second video shows accessing the dock through the Parking lot and then setting up by using the upside down question mark approach so that the tandems end up right inline with the dock. Not perfect video, but at least some fun...there is a second set I’ll post that is more descriptive and hopefully more helpful taken at the second Saturday stop...

Flemington Store Entry and Setup

G-Town I had to watch that first video. You said Jersey Circle and I was like WTH is that. Then I realized it's a Rotary, Traffic Circle, Roundabout. At least that's what we call them in New England. I swear they are turning every intersection up here I to one of those. They really aren't hard to navigate. Most of them anyway.

I really need to get a new dash cam. I'd love for you to see a couple of the stores we gotta back into. Bar Harbor is probably one of the worst ones. We can't send anything larger than a 48' trailer because larger wouldn't fit.