Close-Quarters Maneuvering With Heavy-Duty Trucks
A heavy-duty truck can be a valuable and versatile tool, but one thing it’s not great at is handling tight areas. These machines are clunky, clumsy, and difficult to turn, so when you inevitably need to navigate a difficult area, you want to be prepared. We here at McCandless Truck Center want to make sure you’re ready for anything a trucking job can throw at you, so we’ve put together a brief guide to close-quarters maneuvering with heavy-duty trucks below. To learn more, or to see the heavy-duty trucks we have for sale, contact our stores throughout Colorado and Wyoming, today!
Know The Space
Understanding the area you’re trying to navigate is a vital component to successfully pulling it off. Make sure you’re paying close attention to where you’re going and the space available to you on all sides of the truck, including above it. Overhangs, awnings, and low bridges can stop your truck cold, causing serious delays—let alone the damage that impact can do to both your truck and the infrastructure it’s hitting. No matter the speed, something is coming out of that situation damaged. The most important part of that is keeping your eyes forward so you know exactly where you’re going.
If you’re able, walking the area you’ll be driving on foot can also help you get a better feel for the terrain and any obstacles you’ll need to avoid. Use your time walking the path to plan out the best route for your truck, keeping in mind turn radius and other mobility limitations.
Avoid Reversing
If at all possible, try not to reverse the truck in a tight space. Not only do you have little-to-no visibility behind you in a heavy-duty truck, but if the area is tight enough, you might find yourself wedged in. You also spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel driving forward, so your instincts when reversing might not be as well honed.
Have A Guide
One of the most valuable tools you can have when trying to navigate a confined area in a heavy-duty truck is an extra pair of eyes. Using a guide to help you better understand how close you are to various obstacles can make the difference between a simple run and a disaster. Whether you’re reversing, turning a tight corner, or navigating a narrow corridor, a guide is a life-saver.
If at any point you lose sight of your guide, stop the truck immediately. Not only have you suddenly lost a vital ally in your attempt to drive through a confined space, but they might very well be in the truck’s path just below your sightline. For their safety, don’t move the truck again until you confirm their location.
We hope these tips help you, your truck, and your cargo get to your destination in one piece! For more information, or to see the heavy-duty trucks we have for sale, contact us at McCandless Truck Center. We proudly serve the people of the great states of Colorado and Wyoming—let us serve you today!