I never had this job myself, but I heard about it from a teenager who was hired as a "Momback" by a dump truck operator for a special job. The driver was to carefully dump a 5-ton load in a special spot just laid out for the project. He instructed the young man to carefully guide him back to the spot, a little at a time, until the dump truck was in the precise position for the dump. The teenager then called up to the driver: "Momback........Momback........Momback........OK, dump it!" Hal
C'mon back? I live in a small village/town and was at a town meeting. They had just gotten an expensive new multi-function plow truck and the meeting was for approval. Someone had put flyers all over how the town was wasting soooooooo much money. (which I was checking out the meeting) Anyway, they did not have a driver for the winter. And something I must have said tipped them off to a skill I have. One of the men at the table said, "Mrs Miller? Do you know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle?" I said, "Yes but I also have severe road rage. You don't want me behind the wheel of a snow plow." (I'd show them momback! ; ) I figure the clutch in my cars is an anti-theft device. ; )
Good thinking, Mary. Of our 5 grown children, only one son can drive a standard transmission. Where did I go wrong??
I am a control freak and a standard transmission gives more control than automatic, I think (or believe ; ) When needed there is more pick up on on ramps and downshifting is good for slippery hills in winter. Now, if I could just figure out how to get going after stopping on a hill.
I have combacked many trucks to an exact location. If I remember correctly, the last Halliburton truck I com-backed, while I was directing this driver backwards, the entire valley behind me went up in flames
After work at a job I once had, the route home took me to a hill where traffic was backed up due to a heavy snowfall. It was stop and go creeping up the hill with the standard transmission the car had. It was slip the clutch , go 10 feet, then do it again.
A few years ago I hit a deer with my 1990 Volvo sedan...4 on the floor. I miss that car. I always preferred manual transmission, but your choices sure are limited. I'm shocked at how few truck offer them.
No, @Mary Miller, it was a gas leak on a drilling rig and a welder was attempting a repair a leak underneath the drilling rig floor. a humid day and gas had settled in a revine where the rig was located.