tractor trailer drivers . how should i go about getting set up on a residential street?

Question

say one that is busy so that i dont have to back into a drive way blind side. what should i do to pull this off . stupid me cant seem to figure it out . please help

Answer 1

First...you didn't tell me how long your trailer was :(

But the basics are the same. Let me first cover what you can't do. All based on a 53 foot trailer.

You can't back unless there is room to complete your swing (cab swung under trailer both straight)....period. If the street is 36 feet wide, you will have to jump curbs on both sides to force the room.

You will have to do MANY small pull ups and back ups if it is a narrow street. DO NOT get in a hurry !! Sometimes a simple pull forward of 4 inches will make all the differance.

Slide trailer tandams up (forward) as short as possible, 5th wheel also, if you have a sliding 5th wheel (be careful as the pivot point will change and the cab will hit trailer sooner.)

#1 Set-up... Starting from the same side of street as driveway, align you trk/trlr combo as close to the curb as is safe...before you get to the driveway.

#2 Once your window is even with the drive, start to cut hard to the right, how hard you need to do this will be determined by the amount of space you have availible to you. Your goal here, is a 45 degree angle or higher when you stop next.

#3 At some point, you'll want to bring the cab back around to your left (back under trailer so you can see) not too soon though. Again, we are looking for a 45 degree or higher angle from driveway. Be careful not to overdo it, and swing the rear of trailer so far past drive, you wind up in a blind side to start.

#4 Continue forward until the rear axle of the trailer tandams is just past the furthest edge of the drive, further if you need to jump curb. Be careful here, as you want to keep those trailer wheels as close to that curb or driveway as possible. This insures you have every availible inch possible in front of you to work with.

#5 STOP...cut wheels all the way right, reverse, watch blind side, watch trailer to insure it has started into drive....STOP get out look at blind side and make sure you can swing trk back in line with trailer in the room you have.

#6 Start trailer into drive.....STOP....get out and check blind side again (chances are, you're cab is not in line at this point)

#7 Once everything is straight, complete backing.

Additional Tips....Leave the tandams UNLOCKED so that you may slide them as needed...sometimes you must slide all the way forward to get into a tight spot, but then slide all the way back, to prevent tail swing from damaging other property.

Don't rush....Don't Rush... the @$$hole blowing his horn should have left earlier, or called a peramedic to start with. Laws that concern "blocking the street" apply to parked vehicles ONLY. You have EVERY right to safely back your vehicle in WHATEVER amount of time it takes. There are no laws against taking too much time to safely control your vehicle when parking.

Answer 2

You need guts and help. Get at least 2 people for traffic control and another for guiding you as you back up. The two on traffic control should have reflective vests and stop signs the guide should have a walkie talkie. If this is a big truck, it may be illegal on a residential street.

Answer 3

DUh..drive around the block and come in the other way....