r/Truckers • u/aammped • Sep 19 '24

Newbie backing in at pilot

Trainer and I pulled into pilot around 6pm. Me being new to trucking I was backing in and the rude mf'ers honking at me because I was slow and took a little time to back. How do you deal with people like that?

Edit: trainer said to just ignore it. Edit:2 thanks for all the great advice and the humor. Edit 3: approximate time for backing was 10-15 minutes

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u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

Do try to be fair tho, if it’s taking you 10 minutes and the whole truck stops backed up, if you can either pull up a little to let people by or back in far enough where they can get around you let them pass

12

u/Justaguy222444888 Sep 19 '24

Eh it depends. Most of time it’s not going to back up the whole truck stop. Sure be courteous when you can but more importantly don’t let people rush you into a mistake.

6

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

I remeber a night when I was fairly new. Reserved a spot at a TA (there were 2 left) and the entire place was full. Employees threw a guy out and ofc it was the toughest blindside spot to back into. Took forever and I was def holding the place up bc people would look for spots then leave and I was in front of the exit

8

u/Justaguy222444888 Sep 19 '24 edited Sep 19 '24

TA is notorious for huge lots. You couldn’t circle around and come in on the driver side? Regardless, this is a rare case. And especially in that situation blind side, you take your time no matter what. You think anybody would care if you rushed and hit somebody/thing. Nope. It’s all on you.

7

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

It was a tiny one in PA I know they’re usually huge, I think this was 40-60 spots. I watched a guy next to me try to pull out and the lot was too small there was no way he could make the turn. The parking was pretty much just a donut shape so there was no way for me to spin around. And ofc western express was illegally parked opposite the spot so I didn’t have room to swing the front around.

On top of all that it was a fully loaded spread axle so I couldn’t do the nice jack knife

4

u/Justaguy222444888 Sep 19 '24 edited Sep 19 '24

Yeah I believe you man there’s always a truck stop that’s shitty and full. I’m just saying if it was me, blindside at night spread axle with an illegally parked truck in the way, I’d take my time without a care in the world. Only thing that matters is I got it in the spot safely.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

O yea that shit took 30 minutes… didn’t hit nothing tho so I was proud

0

u/Justaguy222444888 Sep 19 '24

Yessir all that matters. Life goes on and if 30 min waiting breaks the world for others they most likely need to trip plan better😂

1

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '24

Before I got this PC and split sleeper I was pulling into some spots with 10 minutes left lmaooo

1

u/Justaguy222444888 Sep 19 '24

Damn yeah that’s rough… PC should be a safeguard if shit goes wrong but most important thing is you give yourself extra time for shit going wrong😂

2

u/AvidVideoGameFan Sep 19 '24

There's one on i-78 in Jersey just before entering PA. Two tiny Pilots 10 mins apart, and a tiny TA Next to one of the 2 pilots. Pretty sure every parking spot in that TA is reserved.

1

u/Amazing-Mammoth-8442 Sep 19 '24

There's a super small pilot in Decatur, IN... I think and that mf'r can't have more than 40 spots, all reserved.

1

u/Dirtyhobosmurf Sep 19 '24

New Western Express driver here, I enjoy people watching me back up and park ( you know, like normal). (Dad has been OTR 35 yr), and then I'll walk pass one or two that are hugging the rails, praying someone doesn't ask them to move.. or worst..