Trip Planning Tips . .
#31
04-04-2009, 11:47 PM
The Gov of NJ did that after driving over 90mph and crashing without wearing a seatbelt.
#32
04-04-2009, 11:49 PM
I will admit that it might not be possible to exactly retrace your route....say if the shipper is on a one way road, or on a 4 lane highway with no break in the median to turn up the street from the way you came, but there is always a way to get yourself back to the main route in....just gotta look at a map. Sure is nice to have internet access when being live-unloaded, punch up mapquest, and if you pay attention to the least amount of detail, you know if said road is one way, or no break in the median as stated above. If that is the case, i'd pick the nearest highway to get me back to the nearest interstate, to find the nearest truck stop. I would NOT choose to contine down a narrow 2-lane road i've never been on before, and 'hope' i run into something for a big truck. =)
#34
04-05-2009, 02:53 AM
if you dont know exactly where you're going before you roll in your truck, then you've got no business rolling. If i got a question about directions...i had better take the next rest area, or roll into the nearest truck stop.
#35
04-05-2009, 10:28 AM
I just love when i'm crusin' down the interstate, and some driver gets on and asks, "...say, anyone know how to get to that Procter and Gamble plant on 84th?" and i give him stupid directions like "after you take exit (whatever exit i just passed) 112, turn right, go 3 stop lights and take a left, its right there.." or tell him simply, "yeah, its on 84th".
if you dont know exactly where you're going before you roll in your truck, then you've got no business rolling. If i got a question about directions...i had better take the next rest area, or roll into the nearest truck stop. The response I gave was a reply on how to get out of a place which was where this thread was meandering on. If I'm at a shipper or receiver and I have some question on how to get back to where I came from I ask them or another driver at the dock. Several times in Philly I've been off-routed by construction, If you've been in Philly you know how dangerous that is with the low bridges, and have stopped the truck and waited for a cop to come by. They deal with trucks all of the time and will send you to the interstate. Are the automobile drivers upset by going around me while I wait for a cop? Yup! Will my company and the State be upset if I jam my rig under a bridge? OH YEAH!
#36
04-05-2009, 10:35 AM
Without knowing the area, the driver had no way of knowing he could have found a place closer to the low-clearance to turn around. It should be standard procedure for companies to send drivers into the area that know the area, and not send those that obviously have no business going there. It would make deliveries more efficient, and reduce losses. While I do not know that particular area, I have been to places in NY and NJ that should have a warehouse in PA, and transfer the freight to straight trucks for delivery. At one location, the truck route takes a left, and I took a right... Because Werner had the street blocked with all the flashing lights around him after he took down a set of wires from a house or something. Police, fire, and utility trucks all had their lights flashing, with the Werner truck right in the middle of all of it. The street he was on was THE truck route in the area, and the street I took was not. I was guaging the height of every wire that was hanging across the road.
The streets and the layout of the towns are a couple of centuries old, and certainly not designed with modern rigs in mind. While it may not speak well for England, or the driver, any driver that has delivered to some of the out-of-the-way grocery stores that are well off the main routes knows what a mess it can be. If the truck was empty, it may have been much longer to back-track than to go straight to his next pick-up. It may be that no one told him about the low clearance and once you're committed to a direction of travel, it is not easy to find a place to turn around. It only takes one street sign to miss your turn and you're screwed big time. There is a place in Union City, NJ that ships on 53' trailers all the time, and the only way a truck can get in is on a street that has very large signs saying "NO TRUCKS". And, when you see a day-cab with a 48' having to back up a couple of times to make a corner, it's enough to give you nightmares. Yet, the directions the shipper gives you makes it sound like you do this every day. (There was no way to back-track out of there, and the way out was also blocked with construction. Took me over an hour to go 3 blocks and be able to get out of there.) I've said for a long time that they should have trans-shipment yards in New Jersey and off load all freight there and put it onto pups with a day cab. Todays tractors and 53ft trailers have no business in the city. The next time my company gave me a load to the same customer I politely declined. They threatened to fire me and I told them to go ahead. I'd have an easier time finding another job if I turned down a load into NYC than if I backed down a one-way street and over a car and that was on my DAC.
#37
04-05-2009, 12:13 PM
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,658
I just love when i'm crusin' down the interstate, and some driver gets on and asks, "...say, anyone know how to get to that Procter and Gamble plant on 84th?" and i give him stupid directions like "after you take exit (whatever exit i just passed) 112, turn right, go 3 stop lights and take a left, its right there.." or tell him simply, "yeah, its on 84th".
if you dont know exactly where you're going before you roll in your truck, then you've got no business rolling. If i got a question about directions...i had better take the next rest area, or roll into the nearest truck stop. YOU SIR ARE AN *******!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the way many drivers got directions for years. BY ASKING FOR "LOCAL"!!!!!!!. Not every customer is in a company's direction file, places move. Did you also stop to think that some Bills DO NOT have a phone number for a driver to call and get directions? So how is a driver suppose to "know" where to go before they get there? Not all drivers have laptops and GPS systems in thier trucks(and some don't want them). And yes maps will get you close, but not to the exact location. A map cannot tell you which way to turn on 84th street(left or right).
#38
04-05-2009, 02:24 PM
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Speedway Indiana
Posts: 1,751
I just love when i'm crusin' down the interstate, and some driver gets on and asks, "...say, anyone know how to get to that Procter and Gamble plant on 84th?" and i give him stupid directions like "after you take exit (whatever exit i just passed) 112, turn right, go 3 stop lights and take a left, its right there.." or tell him simply, "yeah, its on 84th".
if you dont know exactly where you're going before you roll in your truck, then you've got no business rolling. If i got a question about directions...i had better take the next rest area, or roll into the nearest truck stop. Can't believe that you would actually do that to a fellow driver. When all of the fun and charades are aside (as on the board here) I take our profession very seriously as do most of us here. That type of mischief is what leads to accidents/injury and.....yes even death. As a local running at night, one thing that I will 100% do is take the time to get an OTR to his destination. Sheeeeeit.....if they happen to be a lost CRST, I have even turned around and led them to the Indy 86th Street terminal as I know that they might well be a newbie driver. Regroup Kev! Ya kind of stunned me with that. Double R! Back to you brother. I was on I-70 last Friday and passed this future millionaire. I thought that you might want to look in to this as a possible lease/purchase option!:lol: 
__________________
Fuel for free. Pre/Post trip for free. Sit at shipper/receiver for free. "Work 80-100, log 70, get paid for 40." Welcome to OTR coolie carrier truck driving!
#39
04-05-2009, 02:37 PM
:thumbsdown:
YOU SIR ARE AN *******!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the way many drivers got directions for years. BY ASKING FOR "LOCAL"!!!!!!!. Not every customer is in a company's direction file, places move. Did you also stop to think that some Bills DO NOT have a phone number for a driver to call and get directions? So how is a driver suppose to "know" where to go before they get there? Not all drivers have laptops and GPS systems in thier trucks(and some don't want them). And yes maps will get you close, but not to the exact location. A map cannot tell you which way to turn on 84th street(left or right). You can always call 411 on your cell, or is that considered 'technology' and hardheaded 'vet' drivers who dream of the way things 'use to be' with no heaters and a/c in the truck, dont want to use a cell. Ill go a step farther.....if you are a veteran driver, and you use a cell....i dont want to hear the BS coming out of your mouth about how some drivers have laptops and GPSs in their truck, because you, the vet, obviously are also using technology to your advantage. And to bust the b@lls of another driver because they happen to have GPS and a laptop, AND USE THOSE TOOLS CORRECTLY, and to their advantage, makes you a hyprocrite. Dont know exactly where you're going when the truck rolls? then SHAME ON YOU !!! not shame on me. full of hate? hardly. I see some guy having problems in a truck stop with a strap down or something, ill be the first to walk over and ask if they'd like an extra set of hands, especially if i'm not doing anything.
So how is a driver suppose to "know" where to go before they get there?
Last edited by Kevin0915; 04-05-2009 at 02:45 PM.
#40
04-05-2009, 02:47 PM
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,658
Actually, i've only given 'wrong' directions twice. If i notice its a fellow company driver, i'll help them out. But for the life of me, if you dont have a phone number on the BOLs, GET IT. you're the driver, it is your responsibility to have it if you need it, yeah? "but what if the phone number isnt a working phone?" .... same thing....GET IT. Want to ask directions? fine....call up the shipper or final drop, and ask them for directions.
You can always call 411 on your cell, or is that considered 'technology' and hardheaded 'vet' drivers who dream of the way things 'use to be' with no heaters and a/c in the truck, dont want to use a cell. Ill go a step farther.....if you are a veteran driver, and you use a cell....i dont want to hear the BS coming out of your mouth about how some drivers have laptops and GPSs in their truck, because you, the vet, obviously are also using technology to your advantage. And to bust the b@lls of another driver because they happen to have GPS and a laptop, AND USE THOSE TOOLS CORRECTLY, and to their advantage, makes you a hyprocrite. Dont know exactly where you're going when the truck rolls? then SHAME ON YOU !!! not shame on me. HERSEY DISTRUBTION CENTER PALMYRA,PA I await your answer! And yes, I do know WHERE I'm going when the truck rolls. The point was alot of drivers that have years experience(that's ALOT more then you have) still use the CB to get "local". Local driver give better directions then some direction line at a customer. I know, I am a local driver and some of the directions that company's give around here a joke for trucks. So QUIT thinking that you are "god's gift to trucking"! Also, not all drivers carry a laptop and have access to the internet on the road. Last edited by Double R; 04-05-2009 at 02:49 PM. |
|
