Delivery Drivers

[deezler]

My interpretation of this photo is you have a narrow driveway with a thin layer of gravel on a wet muddy edge. I don't see this as the delivery driver's fault.

Sorry to the OP but I'm going to have to agree. Look at how sunken and destroyed your driveway is when we was still well within the gravel part. Looks like you have some seepage coming out of the grassy area and your driveway base is simply not strong enough. Also you have a curve in the drive, people are going to cut it sometimes (especially in a big truck where you cant see/feel the front track very precisely). you need to widen and strengthen your drive if you don't want this to keep happening - no point in being angry at the drivers for missing the perfect line.

 

[majorwager]

Folks who maintain a driveway wide enough for a DRW step van, including filled potholes and proper snow removal, and cut overhanging tree branches to 12 ft in clearance, and have an adequate turn around space and visible driveway side markers, will not experience delivery issues. Others, well you invite your own issues.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

My interpretation of this photo is you have a narrow driveway with a thin layer of gravel on a wet muddy edge. I don't see this as the delivery driver's fault.

We have never had a problem with the drivers coming to our place. They usually drop stuff at the gate but when I know they are coming with something big I will leave it open so they can bring it to the garage or front door.

As you can see by the photo the mud track coming back out the drive is plenty wide. The right side of the truck was at least a foot from the edge so you can tell how wide it is. The picture makes it look narrow.

We had below freezing temps with wind chills some times below zero for two weeks. So the ground was frozen at least 4 to 6 inches. Three days before the delivery it finally got above freezing and things started to thaw. By that time you can't walk anywhere without sinking several inches in. He drove off the edge of the drive it's as simple as that. He even said he shouldn't have tried to back in and should have just drove in and turned around by the garage where there is a 40 by 60 square place to do so.

It wouldnt make a difference if I made it 40 feet wide they would still drive on the edge. There is another curve closer to the road that probably 16 feet wide and they keep cutting it short.

And there is plenty of gravel. Previous owner not 4 years ago said he had about 80 tons tailgated from the front of the garage to the road and last spring I had a bit over 90 tons spread from the garage to the road. Depth of 3 to 4 inches. And yes there is water from the house eves and yard that runs gently from the house to the road. It may not look like much rock but grass clipping and the little dirt that washes in the rock on the edge makes I look thin.

I previously had a conversation with this driver last summer about slowing down that it wasn't an interstate he was on and it might only take him 10 seconds longer total if he drove a little slower because going around the curve by the road all he was doing was pushing the rock to one side. Of course I've had to tell lots it's not an interstate their driving in and I own it, maintain it and it's at my expense. No tax dollars here for up keep.

There are no trees, no bushes or anything that will damage anyone's car or truck. As you can see by the picture I don't even have shrubs by the house.

After I retired I was in the process of selling a couple pieces of properties I owned and bought a almost new truck and a 38 ft enclosed triaxle gn and had a little transport gig for almost 4 years just to make money while waiting to the property to sell. I only had one small tree smear on the side I buffed out before I sold it and two small dents from a hail storm I got caught in. Never drove in anyone's yard or messed up anyone's property. I hauled a piano once to a couple in Kansas and he wanted me to back up in his yard up to the front door and I refused so I agreed only if he got some plywood for me to drive on. When I left no ruts only grass laid flat from the plywood. Always had respect and consideration for everyone's property and when I left I wanted it to look like I was never there. When I enter their property I drove like I had some sense and not balls to the wall like I was on a interstate. And if there wasn't room to turn around on pavement or gravel to get back out the way I figured it was I was able to drive it in I darn sure should be able to back it back out. I got many of references from having respected their freight and home dwellings. I wasnt some cowboy with a big truck and trailer that could only drive forward.

 

[deezler]

Not to intentionally argue with you, but maybe playing some devil's advocate will add perspective.

You say you added tons of rock, sure, all gravel driveway owners have to do this from time to time. But it doesn't matter how much you add if it just sinks into the soil below. A proper gravel driveway needs to be at higher elevation than the surrounding area, with a solid base underneath. If your soil is mucky, that may also mean a layer of geotextile fabric underneath. From your picture it's obvious that the rock is mixing with soil/mud and sinking down - even on the edges it should hold up to a delivery van.

The point is that you want to be mad at the drivers who clip your edges and drive faster than you wish. But if you just had a stronger driveway, none of this would be an issue.

My driveway is a 1'+ tall crown built up out of compacted sand, then topped with big 2-3" rock, and finally small stuff on top. I should have used way more rock but I was broke, however the sand I could mine for free, and build the crown with my tractor. Big trucks clip the inside of my drive turns all the time, and barely leave any noticeable ruts. Certainly don't dig down into any mud. Just takes more effort up front on building the road. Now in your situation, it's certainly not desirable to rip it all out and start over, but, it could solve these problems.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

Funny how it's my fault the driver drove off the edge of the drive because the drive isn't built to interstate spec's. The lay of the ground and where the drive is located is what it is. The driver admitted he screwed up and wasn't paying attention close enough. He knew there was plenty of room in the drive that it shouldn't have happened and as you can tell by the picture of the mud trail going back out there wouldn't have been a problem. The run off from the house and front of the house drains across the drive so a crown would only make things worse unless I did major ground work and colverts to be able to crown the drive. I along with lots others now for almost three years have drove on this drive with no problem. There is a good base and it holds up well in all types of weather. The grade of the ground for drainage is small so the rock doesn't wash off the drive so no problems with ditching or erosion. When in this area it rains then freezes for that long and that deep and then thaws all the ground around here is soft and I mean soft as well as other places I'm sure of.

I have had triaxle dump trucks, trucks with trailers which I have three myself drive in here all the time and in all kinds of weather and manage to stay on the drive with out creating ruts. The drive is solid and wide enough to acommadate about anything except a tractor trailer and the one turn by the road isn't wide enough for a tractor and 53 ft trailer.

Total driveway I take care of is between 1500 and 1800 feet and at the shop to the barn approx 300 feet it's at least 40 feet wide. Plenty of room all on a good base and no problems with soft spots. I am retired and on a fixed income. I make a small amount from eggs and a couple beef I raise as additional income. That total drive is my expense. All the property tax I pay none comes back to me for up keep of it. I'm almost 63 and have better things to do than fix things on my property because someone wasn't paying attention or the ones that fly in here throwing rock everywhere thinking they can drive 60 because it's smooth and long.

I pay for the rock to be on the drive not to be pushed or thrown off in the grass because the hot rods flying in here and don't like having to fix ruts from someone that isn't paying attention or can't back up using mirrors. You want a big truck well learn to drive it forwards and backwards. Anytime you leave the city, county, or state road that is maintained by tax dollars your probably on someone drive. Have a little respect and consideration for the folks that have to dig the money out of their pocket to maintain it. That's the point of this thread. Now if you think I need more gravel, make it wide enough for two semi's to pas one another, put fabric down, blacktop, concrete ditching colverts or what ever feel free to send a check, cash, PayPal. I'll even take that Bitcoin stuff.

 

[NorTracNY]

If someone is delivering an item for me, I try to make some concessions for them. I also have a gravel driveway. I do not see where the OP has said how wide the driveway is at that point. I know that when I built, the code was 15'. I certainly do not expect a person driving a truck all day to have to stay +/-1 foot as the drive up my driveway. That's like driving when you have a snowstorm and you're having to focus on keeping your wheels in the narrow tracks of the last few vehicles that have gone by. It's exhausting. I have seen narrow paved driveways in my area with curves going up to the house. Sure enough, I've also seen tow trucks multiple times at this one house. I'd be embarrassed if I had that place. I certainly wouldn't ridicule the driver. Sorry if that's not the response you were looking for, but not everyone is as good of a driver as you.

 

[Ford850]

I talked about maintaining my drive earlier, and how the main (regular) drivers thank us occasionally for doing so. My drive is only 10' wide, and it winds and rolls the whole 1000' to my house. The regular drivers have no problem with it's width. My propane delivery guy backs in the full length and he stays on it with no issue. I've had several tractor trailer rigs drive up for deliveries without an issue. But, some drivers (family or odd deliveries) drive like the OP is showing. They cut every corner or curve and go off the drive and into the lawn, like they can't follow a road. Maybe it's from driving highways so much, or never driving small back roads, but I have to wonder how they stay in their lane on a curvy road.
Several years ago we came home to find huge ruts along the drive. We weren't expecting any deliveries and from the looks of the tracks in the mud I guessed it was a cement truck or concrete block delivery truck. They were off the drive on one side by 2 feet, and made a 1' deep rut for quite a ways. They stopped when they were 3/4 way up to the house, no doubt realizing they were at the wrong address, and drove back out slinging mud all over the place. I never found out who it was, and it took a lot of work to clean up their mess.

 

[/pine]

Here's my rant on the topic...:
Around here on private roads the UPS etc. drivers drive a little faster than what is preferred by the residents as it is privately maintained and expenses are shared...but the worst delivery drivers are the dopes they hire to deliver gas/propane...they can't seem to drive worth a ****...
...Always crushing ditch shoulders, cutting corners etc...often requiring being addressed to prevent storm water escaping a ditch and causing a washout...

on top of that a couple of residents have contracts to get a cheaper rate per gallon so the trucks are in here once a month regardless of how much gas they use...often little to none in the off season and road is wet and soft from freeze/thaw conditions...

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Not when your pulling a 53.

LOL or a set of doubles. I found that walking a mile or two was easier than trying to unhook and back each unit out, especially since the second trailer had a turntable rather than a dolly. If you aren't sure, you feet and a few minutes can make sure.

 

[bunyip]

Our driveway is about 400' and 12' wide with room to turn most things at the end, daughter can't turn a small Hyundai around but a big sand truck with a pig or dog can reverse all the way and turn 90° into the arena to dump a load of sand.