Tight Spots: When to Know Not to Go

Some customers give you that sinking feeling the moment the paperwork prints. The special instructions read like a short story of everything that’s gone wrong there before. Whether it’s a parking lot packed with personal vehicles, a muddy snake pit, or a bottling dock in Newark that ought to hand out trophies like a truck rodeo, there are just some places you don’t want to go.

The Golden Rule: GOAL (Get Out and Look)

It’s just as simple as it sounds. Trust your gut. If something feels off, stop. Set the brakes, hop out, and take a walkabout. It’ll take a few extra minutes, but that is cheaper than bodywork.

Walk the Site First

If the place is a minefield of potential hazards and invisible steel pallets, walk through and put your cones out. Not enough cones? Use your safety triangles. It is better than having to make that call to say you broke something.

Slow and Steady

Speed kills in tight spaces, not just organics, but also your turning radius, trailer control, and time for corrections. Keep it slow, steady, and deliberate. That way, if you find yourself easing into trouble, you’ll have time to adjust instead of facing immediate consequences.

Sometimes You Have to Play Chess

• Think several moves ahead
• Make sure your mirrors and glass are clean. Visibility is key.
• Think through the approach and exit.
• Even our trailers have a little tail swing.

Know When to Say No

If you really can’t do it, make the call before you end up making the one about breaking something. There is nothing to prove.

Some of these sites can be a real truck rodeo. Try to be the rider and not the bull. Use GOAL, slow and steady, think ahead, and respect your space and your ability. We all have those spots that we don’t want to go to, but someone has to do it. Stay sharp, stay safe, stay clear.