How to Get Out of a Tight Space
We all have gotten ourselves into sticky situations and it’s really no fun when it involves a truck and trailer, but even the best drivers out there have found themselves needing a few minutes to get things figured out.
Following are some ways to avoid this from happening and some tips on what to do when the inevitable happens to you.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
For a seasoned truck driver, or one fresh out of truck driving school, it goes without saying—you must be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Most of the time, you’ll be able to fend off the dilemma of getting stuck simply by making yourself familiar with the space around you.
Plan Ahead
In Grand Rapids, there is at least one particular on ramp where trucks frequently get stuck due to a very tight space turning right to enter the expressway. Just south of that ramp is a bridge that trucks hit, going as fast as 65mph, on an all too regular basis.
Planning your route with the knowledge of any hitches you might encounter will make your life a whole lot easier as a driver for NTB. Planning your route accordingly and being aware of any obstacles along the way will make your trip go much smoother.
It May Happen Even With the Best Planning
Even with a well planned route, things can happen that force you and your truck into a tight spot. When this happens, here are a few tips to help you keep calm until you have safely maneuvered your rig to open space.
Get out and look. Take a walk around your truck to see where you have the most space to move. Once you have determined where you can wiggle back to mobility, move onto the next step.
Make a plan. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but if you give yourself a step-by-step method, you can soon be out and back on your route.
Take a deep breath. You won’t get out of a difficult situation any faster if your head is exploding from stress. So, take a minute to find your breath and calmly think through your next actions to freedom.
Summary
We would love to see your best practices for maneuvering in less than ideal driving conditions. Comment below to share your thoughts with new drivers for NTB Trucking.
New or seasoned driver? Come drive for us: Click here to apply with NTB..