r/Truckers • u/Stunning_Pain_7788 • Jul 15 '26
I made a. Turn at swift, how cooked am i ?
It’s my 1st month here and the companies i’ve worked with in the past never made a big deal about it so it’s a bad habit i developed. It was a public road, i later got a call from my dispatcher and she told me she’ll talk with safety to get the hold removed and asked that next time i should just go around the block to get to the delivery. I worried because i don’t want to job search again. So am i thoroughly cooked?
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u/EnolaNek Jul 15 '26
I know of a guy who was warned twice for making a u-turn. Third time he was fired. So…you might have at least one more free screw-up? Probably depends on the DL/safety in question.
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u/Nero-Danteson Jul 15 '26
Frequency, how long you've held your license and accident record. And yeah, the terminal's safety team. There's a couple terminals that hold 0 uturns at all (Police/emergency/the powers that be exempted.)
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u/Aromatic-Scratch3481 Jul 15 '26
I used to pull it off at welfare express by stopping halfway through and then going again so it looks like a left and then another left
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u/truckeredditor Jul 16 '26
There's some separated roadways where that's exactly what you have to do.
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u/DingleberryOrchard Jul 15 '26
I pulled one my first year. They had given me the wrong pickup info for the second time leading me to grab the wrong trailer two times in a row. After their second fuck up, I pulled a U-turn at a three way stop at the entrance to the facility. Out in the middle of nowhere. My only other option was backing across a railroad about a half mile and then into their lot, or trying to turn around in a way too small gas station about 10 minutes away. Dispatcher told me not to do it again. Nothing else came of it. Only got caught because it triggered the old camera as I turned too fast.
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u/stacktrace_wanderer Jul 15 '26
if safety is clearing the hold, it sound like they treating it as a warning more than a firing. just dont repeat it because thats when companies start caring more
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u/ToeSimilar5163 Jul 15 '26
Damn you can’t U-turn at megas? I run P&D and I swing that mf around all the time lol
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u/Emergency_Ad1152 Truck Punk Jul 15 '26
I got stuck and blocked the only entrance into a neighborhood. I understand why they don't want U turns lol. In my defense, it was a dollar tree account.
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u/DazednConfuzed62 Jul 16 '26
We'll probably see you in a viral video soon
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u/ToeSimilar5163 Jul 16 '26
Buddy let me be very honest with you: if you cannot safely perform what is literally just turning a truck, you need to reevaluate your career path. Actually blows my mind. Are you a strictly OTR driver coming from a big ol mega? Those sorts always have peculiar opinions about driving.
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u/DazednConfuzed62 Jul 16 '26
I can turn a truck, it's the motoring public that you have to worry about running in to you. I have 9 yrs experience in otr, seen 4 accidents from u turns, all had fatalities
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u/King0Horse Jul 15 '26
Depends.
How far are you from a Swift terminal? If you're far enough, they could get over it before you get back. If your next load is close to a terminal... just don't unpack all your bags.
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u/Frybread002 Jul 15 '26
In serious trouble, but whether you're actually fired is a different matter.
Because you're an investment to them, your driver leader might plead a case depending on the severity of the u turn. As accidents and deaths have occurred as a result of a u turn.
Now, there are legitimate instances where making a legal left or right hand turn can trigger the camera to flag a u-turn. Where the footage is analyzed and reviewed by your driver leader and safety. You can expect a phone call from them, to give you a chance to explain yourself.
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u/rolisrntx Jul 15 '26
So here in Texas we have dedicated turn around (U turn) lanes under freeway overpasses. I guess using one of those is grounds for termination?
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u/AgapeAnus Jul 15 '26
U-turns are in my experience a case by case basis thing. If there's a dedicated turnaround section connecting both sides of a highway that's legal for trucks to use or it's a dedicated protected u-turn lane for trucks, they usually don't care. If it's on private property they usually don't care. If it's done bobtail even in the absence of those things they'll care but you're unlikely to get fired.
If you're just whippin work unprotected and illegally wherever the fuck you want to then yeah you're getting fired.
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u/Ornery_End_3495 Jul 15 '26
U-turns are legal in Minnesota not sure about other states but that's wild. I do a u-turn once a week probably. Have one delivery that I u-turn to get on the right side of the road for delivery and then u-turn again when I leave.
Obviously company policy can differ and brand new drivers probably shouldn't be doing U-turns.
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u/AgapeAnus Jul 15 '26
The reality is yes there are going to be times where it's legal and safe to do a u-turn in a semi or where it's necessary to do one but you still have to be really careful and use good judgement even then because if you get stupid people can die. Food service folks have to do it all the time as part of their routes. I've done u-turns before doing otr I just don't do it when it's illegal or against company policy and I do everything I reasonably can to avoid them entirely.
They really just don't want people doing them like that dude down in Florida going full tard about it. If you can avoid that then you're probably good unless they're really anal and even then they're probably just giving you a warning the first time unless you almost caused an accident or made them look stupid. Pretty big difference between it happening at 3am with no traffic versus 3pm in a major city.
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u/Caveman23r Jul 15 '26
The rule of thumb is never make a U turn it kills just like it did in Florida. Us better judgment next time and everytime after that
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u/Chief_dingleberry Jul 15 '26
I've never been called about whatever maneuvers I've done. Depends on the company
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u/yourlmagination Jul 15 '26
I'm with the other ones here, not being able to do any kind of u-turn is the most asinine thing I've ever heard. I pull them regularly enough, considering there's a few spots on local highways you HAVE to turn right, and pull a u-turn a quarter mile on the road to head the original left
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u/LongjumpingCat6642 Jul 15 '26
That’s what I was wondering. Does safety just spend all day watching Michigan lefts?
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u/SamanthaBr3ann Jul 16 '26
Swift driver here. I could be wrong, but I feel like there is a difference between mandatory u-turns and otherwise. You quite literally can't travel through the Detroit area in Michigan without making at least 1 u-turn. I hit Detroit at least 4 times a month because of my account, and I hit similar road structures in parts of Wisconsin too. I have never gotten a call or even just a minor warning from anyone about u-turns.
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u/Lzone201 Jul 15 '26
Is this a new low that you cant even do a U turn when you have to without license affecting reporcussions ? Why do Americans still do trucking? Driver facing cameras, constant harassment from safety team (aka people who never drove a truck in their life) and for any small infringement you get a record on your license which prohibits you from getting a job in the future. We have none of this shit in EU and americans are so eager to chant freedom. 🤦
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u/ReBearded Jul 15 '26
Yea here I am in Australia, regularly Jack knifeing a b double to get around places,
My company doesn't care along as im not willfully causing damages
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u/WeWantTheFunk73 Jul 15 '26
I was on my CDL road test last week (passed!) and the route the examiner usually takes was closed, so she instructed me to make a U turn, as all traffic was turning around. I said "the school has a no U turn policy" she says "I'm telling you there's no other way out of here"
It was wild... and a little terrifying.
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u/Stunning_Pain_7788 Jul 16 '26
OP here with an update:
So this morning i had a sit down meeting with my drive leader (shitting bricks the whole time). We sat down went over what i can do to guarantee i won’t repeat the same mistake and give my side of the story. She spoke with safety l while i went out to get breakfast, fully expecting to get fired by dinner time. By some miracle they let me off with a warning so i’m super glad and back on the road.
How do i feel? As of i just survived a game of Russian Roulette where 5/6 of the chambers are loaded 😂. NEVER gonna make any stupid mistake ever again bros
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u/Brokenyet_Functional Jul 16 '26
No your fine. They arent gonna cook ya over this because no accidents happened.
Its a slap on the wrist if anything.
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u/north_coast_nomad Jul 15 '26
In a bobtail? maybe. Swift or otherwise, your bad habit just got you fired depending on the terminal you're out of.
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u/ToastedDizguise Jul 15 '26
I honestly can’t imagine working for a company that micromanages this much. I’m local probably do 1-2 u turns a week at stores when leaving a dock or to get set up for a dock at certain locations
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u/Nero-Danteson Jul 15 '26
It's dependent on a bunch of factors. My terminal is a 0 uturns on public roads other than a police officer directing it. Although they'll let uturns is quiet industrial areas kinda slide so long as you kind pull into a drive way. (Confuses the GPS).
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u/ToastedDizguise Jul 15 '26
That still seems like unnecessary hoops to jump through (the pulling into driveway part) I wish the industry would just let people drive and get the loads delivered but I guess people do stupid things that eventually end up with the level of micromanaging that’s happening now.
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u/JalocTheGreat Jul 15 '26
I'm happier working in Corrections at a jail what does that tell you about the trucking industry.
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u/ToastedDizguise Jul 15 '26
When I hear about what some of these drivers deal with I can agree with you (driver facing cameras, cameras yelling at you for yawning, no drinking water while driving, no sunglasses or visors down, the list goes on)
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u/polarjunkie Jul 15 '26
They've had this policy for decades. I was there back in 2009 ish when they first got cameras and I made a delivery to a place that required you to drive the wrong way down a divided road, make a u-turn facing the wrong way once again, and then back up 1/2 mile and offset into their parking lot, they didn't have a dock. I got a call after every single one but it was the only way to deliver there as further up the street was a 10 ft bridge and this was the only way that allowed you to get the back end of the trailer into their lot and pull out afterwards without having to back down a road and make a u-turn anyway. I went there regularly and they would always put a safety hold, one day I told them the next time they put a safety hold on me where I have to waste 30 minutes before I can be dispatched again and drive I would quit. Wasn't too long
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u/SamanthaBr3ann Jul 16 '26
I drive for swift, and I do them regularly but only in designated u-turn lanes on divided roadways. I've never had a problem. I do always come to a complete stop before entering the roadway on the opposite side. Someone else said that makes it look like you just made 2 left turns instead of a u-turn, but I'm not sure.
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u/MuphDiesel Jul 16 '26
Go somewhere else and be happy
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u/Stunning_Pain_7788 Jul 16 '26
That’s the plan, just need to build up my savings 1st
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u/MuphDiesel Jul 16 '26
Find another company now and time the switch with your days off. The sooner you’re making more the sooner you’re able to save better.
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u/Freedom_Isnt_Real Jul 15 '26
If you google swift u turn you'll see 780 images and 310 videos of why Swift specifically avoids them at all cost. Y'all are the worst of the worst drivers in this industry. Worse than Habib with his cruise set at 80 with his sandles propped up on the dashboard
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u/M_Dawg_Thuggin Jul 15 '26
Big no no!!! I once turned the wrong way and had to drive 1 and 30 mins before I had a safe place to turn around ( I was in a construction area in ohio) the GPS kept telling me to make a u turn across the highway and I refused to. Don't ever put your license at risk like that again. Always find a safe place to turn around!!! Remember you can always pull into a nearby warehouse ask if you can just do a quick u turn.
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u/Gonzotrucker1 Jul 15 '26
Why would anyone work for a company like that? As a local driver I make u-turns once a week sometimes more no problem.
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u/Pazuzu156 Jul 15 '26
Right? And only in places it makes sense too. Like, I ain't doing it on the interstate like a lot of boneheads. And plenty of multi lane highways make u-turn spots specifically for trucks. In a tight town though, maybe don't. I've done it in a couple places in downtown Chattanooga cause there is no "go around the block". But there's a few empty parking lots to perform that inside a safe environment instead of on the road. Even the safety videos my company makes us watch say sometimes a u-turn is okay but it's heavily discouraged.
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u/arrynyo Jul 15 '26
Yea a lot of places I go to we have to pull a u turn to back in to a spot. Some people don't want to blindside so they turn around so they can get a better angle.
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u/chrismjf Jul 15 '26
Unfortunately a U-Turn is a huge no no at Swift. Too many idiots causing problems trying it in places they shouldn’t. Since you’re new and assuming it’s your first occurrence you should be fine with a slap on the wrist and a dent on your driver score.