Anyone ever hit a fence while backing?

I touched a fence, once, with the front end during a pull-up. From the looks of it, I was the ~1000th driver to do so, but I didn't get no ice cream.

Hey, sometimes it ain't safe to move. I imagine you did the best you could.

Next time a client wants your tandems to the rear, get lined up in the hole, then slide.

 

Well the first thing I would suggest is using 1st gear when you are doing all this and if need be wait for the other truck to pull out so I have room. I'm in a different line of work than you (stepdeck) but I have bumped a few docks in my time. I will also add I have bent some fences. Usually today I just tell then I will try what you want me to do but if it does not work out, you are going to have to come up with a different plan. I'm pretty good but i'm also over 75' long. Some days I really earn my money!

 

I tore one up at a consignee by misjudging my tail swing by about a foot in a super tight u-turn on the yard. Didn't even know I touched it until someone told me. I didn't even believe it myself until the matching marks on my trailer were seen. The fence was stretched a little in one section and one pole was damaged. Turns out the fence belonged to the company next door.

I met with the woman running the office , let her know what happened, and offered to make it right. She wanted to use some local fence guy she trusted. I told her fine, but I'm not paying an inflated price due to circumstances - just send me a fair estimate and I'll get a check out immediately. If I don't think it's fair, I'll get my own quotes and go from there. She agreed and I went on about my business.

About a month later I get a fax from her with an estimate for something like $350 for the repair. I put a check in the mail without further ado. I had also ended up with a small tear in the skin on the side of my trailer and my repair shop did a patch for around $100 to seal it back up.

Then I had to look in the mirror and get a safety lecture. Self: Don't ever do that again. ok, back to work. LOL

 

using first gear, to go backwards?

my first gear, only goes forward.

 

No Way!!

I never hit anything.....

 

i've never hit anything either, other then curb.

but, yeah, you really gotta watch that rearward tractor swing.

 

darn, beat me to it....lol

 

Well, now you know the reason that the receiver suggested that you slide to the rear before backing in. Don't blindly follow their instructions, but don't completely ignore them either.

 

Just keep an ol' Swift mudflap handy...

"Me??? I never hit nuthin'! Must a been a Swiftie!!"