This was my first lone assignment out of CDL school with PRIME. I was already a nervous wreck but the cave conditions made it a million times worse. I was supposed to bump a dock right in between 2 trucks that were waiting on the dock already. I didn’t waste anytime. I got out of my truck, held up a $20 bill and waited for the first brother trucker to hop in and back it for me. I never got his name but I’m eternally grateful to him. 😂🙏🏻
@@OTRBandit that's what they all say. I had a receiver actually look at my truck and asked when did they make trucks bigger. This was last year when I retired. Lol
He’s right most people would have cut the recording and came back backed to the dock, like they did it unassisted. I appreciate showing everyone the pitfalls. But also how people collectively put their minds together and come up with a solution. Nice work!!!!!
Thank you very much my friend. I like to keep it real and be honest about everything. Good or bad I like to tell it like it is. I appreciate you watching 🙏🏼
You can't be the first oversize truck they have ever had down there This seems to be a huge problem that your truck is simply to big for tight turns . Perhaps you should think of getting a cabover like we have here in UK . Your truck is perfect for vast journeys.
@@philipcounsell4709we don’t have many cab overs because we don’t really need them that much. Most of the driving that we do is on wide open roads. This tight space mess happens only once in a while. But I definitely wouldn’t mind driving Scania, that’s for sure.
If you would have gone into the other entrance instead of turning left outside at the intersection, you wouldn’t have made it past the 2nd or 3rd turn inside that tunnel I was driving a freightliner cascadia and had to back out of it and get repositioned Those tunnels are sketchy AF
I have been in the underground caves in Kansas City Missouri a couple of times in my 52 yrs of driving. Covered 5.5 million miles in my life of driving and getting ready to do again in the next month or so. I am 75 years old and lord willing I plan on doing for another 5or 6 years. Yall be safe out there 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤
You are definitely correct, sir. These have been here for a long time. They were definitely not designed for these types of trucks and trailers this long.
I was told this facility was built in early WWII as a repository for public records. I loaded 44,000 pounds of tomatoes . The outside temperature was 103, inside 60'ish. The dock was a perfect height, the loading quick, and the loader a real pro.
I just came across your video, listening to you talking while your driving through the caves showing everyone how driving Semi Trucks isn't an easy job...the stress that we go through to supply food, drinks, materials, etc should be a wake up call for America to appreciate truck driver's
Welcome aboard buddy and thank you very much. It really is sad how badly we get treated out here. But we have to be tough and keep going. Unfortunately it’s only getting worse.
I’m a new trucker, 20 years old. And this was some of the coolest shit I’ve ever watched! Thank you for this great video and this experience. I hope one day I’ll be trucking in caves💪🏽
I appreciate it young man. You will definitely end up in one of these over the course of your trucking career. Just take her easy and you should be fine. Only reason I had problems here was because they wanted me in that stupid ass dock and they have those dumpsters over there that were in my way. I wish you all the luck in the world brother and if you need anything, please let me know. 🙏🏼
I have nothing but respect for truckers, it’s already enough what yall go through with crazy drivers, but even worse when yall have to back in and reverse in places like that
Yep, thanks ! Last week a refused to back in a place.Luckily the owner of the place came with a day cab and did it himself in the dock.Plus there was s lot of junk all over near the dock. 😊😊
I retired retired after 21 o/o I had a 05 379 and a 53 foot reefer. I have been been in all those caves. I am really surprised that guy is still there!! The first time I was exactly the same place you were you were, I had the same reaction reaction reaction reaction reaction reaction reaction reaction!! After 21 years that is one of the harder places to get in too. Your right. Real trucking!! Lol Ms T Ellis Keep up the excellent videos Safe travels!!!
People who don’t drive trucks like this will never understand. Only you and others long truck drivers will understand. I’ve been to many of these places, and I have never gotten stuck. I have been to this place before, but I was a different dock and I was totally fine. I wasn’t stuck here to where I couldn’t get out. I could’ve always backed up and left but I was stuck trying to go forward and trying to get into this dock.
I was in a situation like that in Cleveland trying to pick up a load of railroad track with a 45 foot flatbed. This company had recently bought the building and had moved the equipment of the previous company outside. There were narrow dirt tracks to maneuver to back into the building, but the equipment was on each side of the dirt tracks blocking every move. When I saw there would not be a chance of getting in thebuilding they brought the forklift to move the trailer into position for me to back in. In the process they damaged the air line on the trailer which they repaired. Never a dull moment in trucking. Been retired since 2016 and now I drive 600 miles a year, sometimes less. Enjoying the channel. Stay safe and prosperous. Nice Peterbilt. Speaking of bad roads in Ok. When I drove Route 287 through there I thought I would need dental implants because it about shook my teeth out.
That’s funny right there about the implants. These roads are so bad that my truck is in the shop right now getting a second alignment in less than two months. I was lucky that they didn’t damage anything on my trailer here. They have done this many times before and they knew what they were doing.
I love you truckers. I drive a 40 ft class A, and I’d drive anywhere with most of you guys. Cars drive me nuts on the road these days. Most of them mistakenly believe I can stop on a damn dime. Keep driving Sir!
And we love you too as well, thank you very much 🙏🏼 these people in cars don’t realize how much danger they are putting themselves in every time they cut a big heavy vehicle off.
I know that place. I didn't have a delivery there, but I did go out on Close Quarters training which included navigating in those tunnels. I'm glad you showed that there is a solution to getting you in if you get stuck.
Cool video and nice driving thats crazy! I cant believe that little forklift actually lifted your trailer. I haven't gone into one of these caves yet but it looks cool. Definitely looks like some tight turns lol. The guy trying to tell you how to drive your truck was a little annoying 😂i know he meant well though lol Thanks for taking us on another ride along!
It’s definitely a cool place and pretty cool experience to visit one of these. If you ever go to one of these, just take it easy, go as fast as you feel comfortable. That guy was yelling because the truck is very loud and it’s very hard to hear when you are close to the truck like that but I was starting to get kind of mad because he kept cutting me off when I was trying to say something. But everything worked out at the end, and I was really happy about that.
I hauled a container load into that same underground storage. And the guy on the phone said so fast to slide the tandems on the trailer forward that I didn’t hear him correctly and I went in way to long in the turn. And the first thing I know I’m stuck well the hustler came and started acting all tuff and I just came up to his level and said I can just drop this pos right here or you can help me out so he did. Well I made it that day and when my dispatch found out I could make it he sent me back the next day. But this time I knew to slid my tandems forward and it was a piece of cake that day.
Love your truck. Great video. I had W9L and i also had a 379 Pete, lloved them both. I know the fun in trying to get into some of those places. YEEHAW. Stay safe out there.✌️🇺🇲
Thanks! for a great video and sharing the difficulty you had in the caves. I've been in those warehouse caves many time. They're all up and down Missouri. Now, you're running that big 'ol beautiful long-nose, long-wheelbase Pete. (Every Trucker's Wet-Dream, HA!!) Those caves were never built for 53' trailers and that rig you're running. But that's why that loader knew how to get you into that dock. Probably does it at least once a week. Stay safe, keep the rubber side down..........Truck On !!!
Appreciate it buddy 🙏🏼 he said that people get stuck there pretty regularly so that made me feel little bit better knowing that I’m not the only one who got stuck.
I appreciate that 🙏🏼 good luck with your school buddy and remember, don’t be afraid to ask for help out there when you start driving. If you don’t know something, ask for help. It’s very dangerous to just assume and do something if you’re not 100% sure. Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.
I went in there with my 03 stretched Pete 53 ft refer put trailer in dock with my truck at 90 degrees from my trailer dropped it parked beside it so other drivers could get through. It was damn tight but doable. My truck was way longer. Extended hood 28’ longer and you could lay down on deck plate. Once was enough.
I’ve been to different docks in these caves and I’ve never had a problem. But it’s just impossible to turn around that pillar and put it in that dock with long nose trucks. Plastic truck, yeah it’s doable.
I was in a little diner in illinois one night. A truck came around back to go around the corner of the building. His trailer tore the corner of the roof off the building. He keppt going .
Drivers always park in the parking area to the right and call before you go inside and check in. They will tell you when to go in and how to get to where you need to be. So other drivers don’t get held up by you blocking the road to check in or wait on a door. Some areas are only big enough for one truck at a time especially the turns. Just stay slow and take your time. Blindsiding and U turns are impossible to do in the Independence Caves. The good thing is once you get inside you can make a complete circle around the out side where you can then go back out turn around and go back in the right way. Some of the docks are very tight and most places do have more than 1 dock. I go into Burd and Fletcher a lot and each dock is different and they have a couple that are a real pain. You did good and that was very stressful. Some docks are a bitch with any sleeper truck. Beautiful Truck
I appreciate that buddy. I was really stressed out here because I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I’ve been to all of these places in KC area and I’ve never had any problems until this day. I’ve also been to this one before but I didn’t have any problems because I had different dock than this one.
My cousin use to work in those caves in Kansas City and she saw a couple of semi's get stuck like you did, but that was back in the '80s. I enjoyed watching your video. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I appreciate you brother 🙏🏼 thank you so much. Drivers get stuck all the time in these . It’s just that people don’t record it because they may be embarrassed. Me on the other hand, I am not embarrassed I got stuck. Because I know that I’m not the only one.
It suprises me there is no short distance moving compact vehicles in the caves for handling does tight turns with long trailers ! it would not have to be fast or have long range just 5tht weel on electric vehicle that would fit" under the trailer footprint : longvise, like a "trailer mover" for normal car trailers.
@@perstaffanlundgren They have them. We call them yard dogs (some say yard truck) and yes they are very handy... if companies want to invest in them.. they can cost as much as some trucks. They are single rear axle cabovers basically and they can actually lift the front of the trailer off the ground (the 5th wheel goes up and down) so they don't have to crank legs up to move trailers (except when in a cave where you only have inches of clearance on top obviously.)
My first trip in those caves was with a 379 Pete with a 300 in wheel base and a 53 ft. Thankfully, I never had to go that deep in there. It is definitely scary the first time in there. Great video
I wouldn’t even attempt it with that wheel base brother. I was all the way at the end of this thing from what it looks like. But I will not be going back here again.
I’m not a Trucker growing up as a kid I always admired Semis , I appreciate you guys and respect that you’re driving such a big mighty machine. It should be more appreciated and respected by people I always yield and work with you guys because I know how much weight is going down the road and you guys have to be in control of it from all the idiots that pull in front of you, thanks for showing the video. Enjoyed it ,love the big Rigs they’re beautiful and there’s something about the sound of the engine pouring! that I love ! lol, I’m subscribed buddy be safe out there love the blue Peterbilt. I liked the look of some of the Cab overs back in the days, they were cool looking Rigs.👍 Keep on Trucking! 😊
Thank you very much my friend 🙏🏼 I speak for all the drivers out here but I say that we appreciate and respect people like yourself. Show us respect, and we definitely have to show respect back to you.
That was one of the hairiest situations but Bandit you held it together and mission accomplished. I am from East Coast and have been to Independance, MI on business with a opthmalogist clinic. I also once spent 6 weeks working in Colombia, MI working on a clinical trial at a Pathologist Center flying out on the week ends from St Louis back home. That Route 70 has to be one of the heaviest density of tractor trailer rigs in the country. I can appreciate your driving skills as before going back to university I drove trailers with a helper Teamster for a Anhueser Busch subsidiary in Boston through the city delivering beer for 6 years. Those tractor trailers were super easy to spin around in the street as your Peterbilt cab alone was more than half the length of my entire rig.
Thank you very much buddy🙏🏼 and yeah, Columbia Missouri, that’s where I live. Pretty nice small college town. But it is getting bigger and bigger every year. And you are absolutely right interstate 70 is one of the busiest highways in the country.
My carrier has a customer that has us deliver a full trailer of Chrysler parts down there. The customer has to let us take their 48’ trailer because the boss man says we will not take our 53 in there. Similar dock setup.
That’s a smart boss. These can get pretty tight and I’ve been to many of these over the years but I’ve never gotten stuck until this day. I tried it 3 times and it would not fit around that pillar.
Good evening OTR BANDIT, thanks for the video the underground cave was awesome to see thanks for the ride and buddy don't always judge a book by it's cover until you read it.Well until the next one be careful and glad to see you on the highway 🛣️ supporting your family and I can't wait until you get merch for sale.
100% agree!! I thought that guy was jackass but he turned out to be very nice guy. I was wrong and I said it in the video. The guy yelling in the video telling me to back up was a jackass in my eyes.
@@OTRBandit Yeah, that wheelbase was killing you. Houston, TX Kroger DC frozen storage was a blindside back nightmare for lwb trucks, it was a mad house. They don't help us drivers when they make these docks.
I'm still in truck driving school (just got to the Behind The Wheel section), and after messing up on almost every aspect of backing there is, it's really reassuring that sometimes even the pros can get hung up. 😅 Hopefully with more time and practice, I can get there. Thanks for the video! I will definetly be sure to watch more.
Whenever you are backing up, it’s very important to go very slow and make small turns with steering wheel. I think you will do great just pay attention to what your instructors are saying and you should be fine. Go on RU-vid and look at some parking videos.. even after you get your license you will still learn something new out here every day buddy. I wish you luck with your CDL test and let me know if you need anything else.
Always get out and look whether ppl get mad cuz ur taking ur time on backing that's the most difficult thing to do 75 feet long and sometimes longer and never get scared to ask for help even the most seasoned driver can get in a situation stay safe out there drivers
I drove for thirty years. Started when I was 21 years old. Never been there before. I sure miss it but I retired to take care of my wife. Be safe out there driver.
You are right about that. I haven’t been to Chicago since I’ve bought this truck. Used to come up that way weekly. But I can’t do it with this thing anymore. Not worth the hassle.
He was trying to help but he was a dickhead about it and I don’t appreciate dickhead. He did not help me very much. He got me stuck even worse than I was already stuck. The first time the second guy that came his boss. He was the one who actually helped me the guy named Robert.
Love the video man! I’m from Fort Worth tx and yes traffic has gotten so bad no matter the time 😂 I hauled local rock during Covid, I sure miss those empty highways lol
Yesterday was my first time in independence Mo and mind you I am still a rookie only 10 months on the job . When I check in the lady told me take a left and stop at the security guard area . He told me follow 71 all the way down but never explained or I was to nervous to that I forgot his other instructions. Finally when I got to 71 a worker explained to me head back like you are going to exit the cave but right before you will come a cross that looks like a T after that turn left . On man I was trucking a lot it was tight and finally a guy had to spot my left side trailer tires to see if I could make it and I did by inches . But backing was no joke getting off and double checking final I got in the dock . Respect to people who deliver and pickup from those places haha
I’m glad to hear that you made it in and out OK my friend. Some of those places in Kansas City area can be really bad. If you ever go to Springfield MO or Cartage, Missouri, do not be nervous at all. There’s room for days inside of those caves. Good luck to you buddy and stay safe out there.
Thank you very much 🙏🏼 I get claustrophobic as well every time I go down there. And I think after this fiasco, I am going to stay away from places like this.
the take your load and shove it comment made my day! i used to be a forklift op and trust me we understand how you truckers are and we (or maybe just me) like to help out to get the job done. keep'er truckin' brother!
Something you might want to consider next time you are going south of Muskogee don’t get off at Big Cabin. Stay on the turnpike to Tulsa then catch Creek turnpike to Muskogee turnpike then get off on hwy 69 at Muskogee. Yes it will cost a few extra bucks but time wise it’s about the same but much much nicer roads. My old boss does it all the time.
@@OTRBandit I believe that was a heavy overhaul backshop in the steam days for the Kansas and Texas Railroad, better known as "The Katey RR " If you get back down near Dallas, General Electric has their Locomotive building shop for building engines. Quite impressive place. Come out of the orientation room, cabs being Welded together, go down around a corner and have 16 Locomotives 🚂 in various stages of assembly. Cool place 😎.
I was forced to buy this truck by IRS. I made to much money and had to spend some on something. If I had cascadia, I wouldn’t have gotten stuck here. That’s a nice truck. You can go anywhere with it, I can’t with this one.
I only drove 18 wheeler for one year back in '93. Drove a orange cabover and it would have made it in the caves, but it sure wasn't comfortable like your rig. Saw the whole USA in that one year and decided that wasn't the job for me. Kind of enjoyed it some of the time and was miserable some of the time. Glad I had the chance to try it for sure. Never new a place like the caves existed. That would have been something for me to experience and it looks like it is just a everyday stop for lots of people. Held on to my cdl for many years after the work it took to get it. Then one year I just decided to drop it and the people at the Tx Dot asked me a couple of times if I really wanted to give it up. Thanks for sharing I subscribed and will leave the driving to you guys. The worst thing for me was grocery warehouses they made me hate the job!
Thank you very much for watching and subscribing my friend. I really appreciate that. Let me tell you something, you sir are a lot smarter than most of us. When I started driving, I told myself I am only gonna be doing this for one or two years and then I’m gonna quit but unfortunately I was not as smart as you and here I am still doing this crap 18 years later. I do love Trucking and I do enjoy driving, but honestly I wish I never stepped foot in this thing.
Speakin of cabovers, I sure do miss seeing those things on the roads here in the USA. I remember I saw them everywhere back in the 90s & down. These days I mostly see conventional cabs. At first I didn't know why the cabovers phased out & then I've learned it was because the length law has changed. In other words, the length limit was increased which eliminated the need for cabovers to pull trailers that exceeded an overall length of 65ft.
@@KevinRichards-my5ojthat’s exactly why we don’t see them anymore. They changed the law and now you have jackasses like me and other guys with even longer trucks out here. I really wouldn’t mind driving a nice cabover. I think they are pretty cool looking. One thing I don’t like about them is that you have to lift up the whole cab to get to the engine.
@OTRBandit I still see cabovers out on the roads, just very seldom. I don't see 2 or more close to each other like I use to back in the day. Down in Jamaica, there's several of those International 9670 & 9700/9800 cabover models. Believe it or not, Kenworth still builds cabovers which surprised me. But they sell them down in New Zealand & other countries overseas.
@@KevinRichards-my5oj you are absolutely right my friend I believe they sell them in New Zealand and Australia as well. I don’t know why they don’t sell them here in the United States honestly. I think people would buy those over here because it seems like everybody likes them.
Your truck sounded so cool inside the cave, I love the turbo wine. I would have loved to have been with you in the cab with the window rolled down to her the motor. AWESOME!!!
Thanks for watching and coming along brother. I wish I never stepped foot in this thing man. But it’s too late for me now. Been doing it for too long to stop now. I’m happy to hear that you got out and are spending time at home like normal people should do.
Excellent driving skills Sir! My first time visiting your channel. I used to do Tanker in greater LA area (Calif.), Oakland, etc. It was quite a different learning curve to get used to making 90° turns and taking them extra wide as opposed to cargo box trailers. Really like your rig...would probably be too much for me. Takes a really patient, skilled driver to operate your longnose truck. Like to hear your Peterbilt purr! Looking forward to more videos.
Thank you for stopping by and watching 🙏🏼 I’ve never done a tanker but I would love to do that. I’ve always had my tanker endorsement but I never had opportunity to drive one. Maybe someday.
Interesting seeing the full process. I’ve often wondered what kind of nightmare it would be working those confined spaces with longer modern rigs. Just found your channel.
It sure can be nightmare at some of these. I’ve been to other underground facilities before but I’ve never had any problems there. Thank you very much for watching 🙏🏼 I really appreciate that.
Thank you for watching buddy I really appreciate that. I’ve been to a bunch of caves in Kansas City over the years but I’ve never had problems until this day. I think I’m gonna stay away from this one from now on.
Man you were lucky fork lift drivers didn’t damage your trailer I don’t think that would have been possible if you were loaded I live in Colorado and have never seen those caves not sure I could handle being that far under ground be safe buddy keep the videos coming
I was all the way at the end of this thing. They definitely wouldn’t be able to help if I was loaded. And thank God nothing was damaged. It could have been pretty bad.
Glad to have you here. Thank you very much. 🙏🏼 and I will definitely not be going back to that place again, and I said the same thing about them that day. They can take that cave and shove it as far as I’m concerned .
Love the Over the Hood view of your Pete. I've ran the Caves before I i was with the current Conpany that I'm running with now. If i was running the Caves in Kansas City Missouri, I would definitely Record it and post it on my RU-vid Channel. Thank you for your service
@@OTRBandit You too Bandit, I'm watching the rest of your Videos right now in your Channel and getting Caught up on what you've posted. BTW - I love your Pets
This is the first video of yours I have seen. I really liked your video but not your swearing language. I will not be subscribing to your channel. Good bye
Well, I’m sorry that you can’t handle some bad words. But I’m not going to change the way I talk because some stranger on RU-vid doesn’t like it. I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not.
MaTE, you sound 14. When you learn how grown men talk to each other you'll realize his tone was a bit much than for just giving an innocent suggestion.
I used to drive day cabs in KC and deliver to a lot of the caves... more than once I told a long nose pete or sleeper etc to drop the trailer and I backed it in for them... I've seen guys trying to back in while I was being loaded/unloaded and told them... just wait I'll unhook as soon as they let me and help you out. Too many guys now a days won't even offer to help another driver out. You wouldn't believe the number of mirrors these caves take out lol. They really do need a full time yard dog driver to help these OTR guys out. Some of the caves they have the load just dropped off outside in a special lot for that exact reason.
I drive a 2019 Peterbilt 579 and it’s interesting bumping some of the docks in those caves. I can imagine maneuvering a long nose with a 53 footer. Patience is the key and get out of the cab and eyeball the situation if necessary.
It’s definitely a challenge in any truck, especially long nose truck. Pathetic and looking around to make sure you don’t damage anything is the key here.
Stressful, indeed. I felt your stress. You handled it well. Decades ago, I got stuck under the Denver Fed Processing Center. Low low ceilings unmarked and also have changing heights. NOT a fun situation.
Not how I thought it would go. I thought I would drive in , back up to a dock and leave like I always have from the other locations. But that didn’t go as planned. I’ve been to bunch of these places but I’ve never been stuck before. I think I’ll stay away from this place from now on.
Was in that situation at a customer a couple months back. He did the same thing with my trailer except it had just been unloaded. 280" wheel base 389 with a 53' flatbed. Trailer was gonna catch one of there pallet racks right behind the front axle of the trailer. Glad they were able to side shift your trailer for you to get around the piller.
I was very happy they did that for me. That other idiot was just there barking at me, telling me what to do but his boss is actually the one who helped me. Thank God for Robert. I could have always backed out and left without them doing that but I really wanted to get that load because it was paying good.
I love when guys show their mistakes! This is real trucking right here, especially when you have a hood! Guys just have to learn to bypass their turn and then do a back n jack when it's tight and to use up literally all of their space to be on the safe side! Bypass back n jacks are very important in places like this. That's a technique that I use on city streets when I'm in residential areas, etc! That's just what I call it. I'm not even sure if there is an actual term for it, so I call it a bypass back n jack or an overshoot back n jack! Even then, sometimes the turn is just too damn tight, and it doesn't always work! This is the beauty of driving a long hood! It can be very stressful but very fun at the same time!
Thank you very much bro. I have to admit that I didn’t do what you just said. I don’t know proper name for it but it’s known exactly what you are talking about. I’m not embarrassed to say that I don’t know how to do that. But I’ve seen guys do it on RU-vid. I will definitely have to go somewhere and practice. And you’re right about driving long hood. It definitely can be stressful but it’s allot more fun than it is stressful.