Anyone ever get caught doing a u-turn on a public street?

I do u-turns if I am empty. If there’s no tire marks left on the road shouldn’t hurt anything.

 

I had a recent road test for a new company and the guy giving the test had us do a u turn on a 4 lane 60mph road.

I'm thinking this company doesn't have an issue with drivers doing U turns.

 

Any company will fire you for a sufficiently bone-headed u-turn.

Some companies will fire you if you do a u-turn on any public road location which is not a 'protected u-turn' intersection, or required by a law enforcement or emergency services individual. Stevens Transport, for example, gives zero forks how careful you think you are - violate their u-turn policy and you are fired.

U-turns are incredibly risky to your truck and other vehicles if you are not in very controlled circumstances. It takes an enormous amount of time to perform a u-turn, and non-truckers may not recognize your intent and get in your way.

If you get into a situation where a u-turn on a public road is the only way out, then you need to call a police officer. In most cases they will help you guide out and block traffic, and NOT ticket you unless you were doing something amazingly stupid like getting on a parkway in NYC.

Cops would FAR rather help you get out of a bad spot than peel a dead person out of a 4-wheeler that you crushed.

 

If there is enough room between the center two lanes that you can get the truck completely out of traffic coming from both directions, that's one type of 'protected' u-turn, even if there is no light or acceleration lane.

 

Me Too


Back when I hauled milk I could whip one like nobody’s business with my Western Star 4900 with a 60 inch bunk and 45 foot tank.

Truck turned like the titanic but You could 120 degree turn that trailer no problem.

I was way better at whipping tight u-turns than backing up.

Ask anyone who witnessed my dumb ### at the dairies.

Safety was all over our buts for speeding and hard brakes empty on the farm but never mentioned my daily u-turns.

Just be dang sure no cars are coming or one tried to squeeze between you on the left

 

It does not matter if you pull u-turns all day long, if the company does not allow it - you don't do it.
And they don't allow it because it is way to dangerous most of the time, especially with a 53 footer.

Don't dis the company for enforcing a safety rule, dis the driver for disregarding safety in the first place.

 

????Say What???

 

Never caught, no..
Actually I can list the number of time's I've done a U turn in a semi on one hand. I usually can find a turn around in a couple miles.

Now twice I did a turn around in the same spot on a two lane state road after missing my turn. Next place to turn around was 20 miles up the road, it was 2 am, and at least a mile sight in both directions.

 

Back to the original question.

Only if you are caught and/or reported.
And the question is moot with most OTR carriers. Most have a strict no u-turn rule.