To Spot Or Not To Spot – That is the question.
There was a video posted on the Give Truckers Room facebook page. It lasted over 4 minutes. One truck driver filmed another driver attempting to back into a relatively easy spot. The driver that filmed it stated that this had gone on for about 20 minutes. I commented that I saw the driver doing the filming as the personification of all that is wrong with our business. Others commented that it was the lack of skill demonstrated by the driver trying to back in. The truth is that we all were right to some degree.
Some thought that the driver should have gotten out of the tractor and help spot for the other driver. I would have. It is not that I am a wonderful human being to get out and help the struggling driver. I don't want to get my truck hit. I don't want to see anyone's truck get hit. Because eventually, it might be my turn.
Spotting does not have to be about helping the driver back in. It can be about watching the blind spots. You 
don't even have to talk to the other driver. Face it. There are a lot of drivers who did not become drivers because of their charming extroverted personalities. We don't like to be told how to do our jobs, but it is good to have someone watching our blind spots. You don't even have to get into a conversation. Watch the blind side. It can lead to a “thank you” followed by a pleasant chat.
Some of the comments said that they had drivers yell at them when they attempted to spot them in. This has never happened to me. Perhaps, it is because I usually don't say anything. You should not approach any driver with the attitude that you know what you're doing and they don't. Just wave and let them know that you are watching their blind side. When I back into a spot, it is the blind side that I worry about. Depending on how tight it is, I may get out and look 4 or 5 times. That does not mean that I don't know what I am doing. It means that I don't want to damage any body's equipment. To have another driver get out and watch my blind side is greatly appreciated. I will always thank that driver.
There should be a brotherhood out here. You don't make yourself better by putting someone else down. We were all new once. We all have days when the trailer just does not want to go where we want it to go. We all get tired. Having someone to watch our blind side is good. Watching someone's blind side is good. Don't complain to me about the disappearance of the brotherhood, if you would rather video tape a struggling driver than help them.
The only people that might not like having someone watching a driver's blindside it the person that owns the body shop. Let's build up the brotherhood again. It starts by helping each other.