A man was driving semi trucks for a living and went to
have his driving test. The law had only just recently changed requiring
drivers to take their test in a vehicle like what they would be driving.
There are many tractor-trailer combinations in the
trucking industry including single trailers, and doubles, called pups in the
industry. The gentleman in question drove a truck pulling pup trailers.
Therefore he was required to take his test with pup trailers.
There is a fundamental to remember when pulling more than
more trailer behind a truck. Always make sure that when you park you can
pull forward to leave. Your chances of successfully backing doubles further
than just a few feet are practically impossible.
There were stories on the docks telling of the old man
that had been driving pups for years. He could back them a full city block
if he had them perfectly straight when he started backing. Some trick if it
were true.
The gentleman had already taken the written portion of
the examination and had only his driver’s test to go. The examiner climbed
into the cab of the tractor and immediately took out his pen and paper,
instructing the man to pull to the end of the street and turn left onto the
highway. All went well with the test until they came back to the license
center.
"Just pull it up there and park it, you can back out
as the final part of the test," the examiner said.
The man looked at where the examiner pointed with a
surprised look on his face and questioned, "You want me to park this
truck there?"
The examiner was busy concluding his paperwork hardly
paying any attention, "yes, just pull it up there," he said
noncommittally not even bothering to look.
"Are you sure you want me to do that," the
trucker questioned?
"Yes," the examiner growled with an inflated
air of importance.
Reluctantly the trucker pulled his rig forward.
"All right, now back it out," the examiner
said.
"I can’t do it," the driver said, "you
do it."
The examiner couldn’t do it either. It took a crane to
disentangle the mess. The boss actually made his appearance on the scene not
believing the driver when told about the incident.
"Any idiot knows you can’t back up two
trailers," he said.