# What is meant by "Do not push" on the back of dump trucks?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811 "2018-05-25T17:28:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811/1 "2018-05-25T17:28:34Z")

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Hello Everyone,  
I was following a dump truck this morning and in big letters on the back it said DO NOT PUSH. Of course I’ve seen this all my life but have never quite understood what they mean. Do they mean don’t tailgate? Dont push with another vehicle if it’s unable to start? What does it mean?

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**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811/2 "2018-05-25T17:57:33Z")

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[See](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=660513) [previous](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258056) [discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=8085) on [this topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=224062).

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**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811/3 "2018-05-25T20:32:17Z")

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> [@YamatoTwinkie](#):
>
> [See](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=660513) [previous](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258056) [discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=8085) on [this topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=224062).

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-meant-by-do-not-push-on-the-back-of-dump-trucks/814811/4 "2018-05-25T23:09:58Z")

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A week or so back I saw a dump truck that had _Caution, do not feed the driver!_ stenciled in a lovely script across its back. What happens if you feed the driver?  
NB: I really did see this. I have pictures.