Please give me advice on straight line backing.

**pattyj** · 09.08.2012

You sound just like me whn I first started driving.I attended 2 schools because I just could'nt master backing.It takes patience and pratice.With straight line backing or any backing you're backing the trailer so phocus on the trailer .Always look in all your mirrors to make sure you're not going to hit anything.With anykind of bCKING its very little movement of the steering wheel.If you see your trailer drifting to the right then move the steering wheel to the left slightly.If you move the steering wheel like you do a car then your trailer is going to drift way off course .Don't be in a hurry backing.Always remember you're backing the trailer not the trk and DO NOT OVERSTEER.i CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH..You'll get it,it just takes time.

Originally Posted by expedite_it

I attended C.R. England's Trucking School in Indiana in August 2012, and I failed out of the school due to an ability failure. I only got about six hours of training behind the wheel in my entire time at C.R. England. I'm not ready to give up yet. I'm attending another truck driving school in Alabama right now.

I need help with straight line backing. Most or all of my instructors have over 20 years of experience as commercial truck drivers. I watched all of my instructors perform straight line backing in a tractor-trailer truck with a 53 feet long dry van trailer, and all of my instructors are highly proficient doing straight line backing, yet they all seem to give me different advice. At C.R. England they define straight as the relationship of the tractor to the trailer (straight has nothing to do with the alignment of the semi-truck to the cones/lane at CR England). At C.R. England my instructors told me to determine and adjust my tractor-trailer to be straight by using the convex mirrors and only look at the trailer wheels (not the trailer itself). At C.R. England my instructors told me to determine if my trailer is drifting to one side by looking at the trailer tires in the flat mirror.

At the truck driving school I attend in Alabama, my instructors tell me to determine if my trailer is drifting by looking at my trailer in the flat mirrors. I believe my instructor told me to look at the trailer itself, not the trailer wheels.

Then there is another truck driving instructor who told me to look for drift by looking at my trailer wheels in the convex mirror. To clarify, this instructor is not telling me to look for the alignment of the tractor to the trailer by looking at the trailer wheels in my convex mirror. He is telling me to look for the drift itself by looking in the convex mirror. I've never heard of this technique by anyone, but I've watched my instructor do straight line backing using this technique, and he is a pro.

Everyone is giving me conflicting advice!

I don't really like the idea of looking for drift in the convex mirror because I believe that distances are distorted in the convex mirror.

Whose advice do you people think I should follow?

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There is another question I want to ask about, but I have a limited time at a public library computer. I'm going to post this first post to make sure it gets posted. Then I'm gonna try to get my next question in within the time limits. I don't want my time to run out before I can post anything.

**-insert name-** · 09.08.2012

YOu;ll have to find a style that works for you, you'll hear 1000 sides of the answer here.

**Mommas_money_maker** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by expedite_it

I attended C.R. England's Trucking School in Indiana in August 2012, and I failed out of the school due to an ability failure. I only got about six hours of training behind the wheel in my entire time at C.R. England. I'm not ready to give up yet. I'm attending another truck driving school in Alabama right now.

I need help with straight line backing. Most or all of my instructors have over 20 years of experience as commercial truck drivers. I watched all of my instructors perform straight line backing in a tractor-trailer truck with a 53 feet long dry van trailer, and all of my instructors are highly proficient doing straight line backing, yet they all seem to give me different advice. At C.R. England they define straight as the relationship of the tractor to the trailer (straight has nothing to do with the alignment of the semi-truck to the cones/lane at CR England). At C.R. England my instructors told me to determine and adjust my tractor-trailer to be straight by using the convex mirrors and only look at the trailer wheels (not the trailer itself). At C.R. England my instructors told me to determine if my trailer is drifting to one side by looking at the trailer tires in the flat mirror.

At the truck driving school I attend in Alabama, my instructors tell me to determine if my trailer is drifting by looking at my trailer in the flat mirrors. I believe my instructor told me to look at the trailer itself, not the trailer wheels.

Then there is another truck driving instructor who told me to look for drift by looking at my trailer wheels in the convex mirror. To clarify, this instructor is not telling me to look for the alignment of the tractor to the trailer by looking at the trailer wheels in my convex mirror. He is telling me to look for the drift itself by looking in the convex mirror. I've never heard of this technique by anyone, but I've watched my instructor do straight line backing using this technique, and he is a pro.

Everyone is giving me conflicting advice!

I don't really like the idea of looking for drift in the convex mirror because I believe that distances are distorted in the convex mirror.

Whose advice do you people think I should follow?

---------------------------------------

There is another question I want to ask about, but I have a limited time at a public library computer. I'm going to post this first post to make sure it gets posted. Then I'm gonna try to get my next question in within the time limits. I don't want my time to run out before I can post anything.

WHOA! talk about way overthinking the whole thing and I think that may be more of the problem than anything.

**snowwy** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by scottied67

What I found that works for me when backing down 2 rows of cones in a straight line back is to look in the mirrors for some fixed object in the far distance and aim the trailer edge for that item, keeping in mind the cones.

Some instructors will say to hold the bottom of the steering wheel so that if your trailer drifts to the right, you pull the steering wheel to the right.

put your hand on the bottom of the steering and turn into the direction of the trailer is only making you turn OPPOSITE of the direction.

put your hand on the TOP of the steering wheel. you want to turn INTO the direction. not OPPOSITE.

i just watch the trailer in my mirrors. but i've never had to worry about docks.

**Scorcher21** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by Mommas_money_maker

WHOA! talk about way overthinking the whole thing and I think that may be more of the problem than anything.

was going to say the exact same thing. calm down take a deep breath and just drive. Don't over think it, you will only screw yourself up. Trailer drifts a bit correct it. go slow. calm down.

**NavigatorWife** · 09.08.2012

I wonder if there are any You tube videos you can watch on backing. I saw a CR England video on backing on their safety site and it made it look so easy at the time, but then I don't drive.

**Zen Trucker** · 09.08.2012

You need to find what works for you and what makes the most sense. What works for someone else may not work for you. Try the advice you are given and see if works. If not, try something else.

When I'm backing through the cones, I keep my hand at 12:00 and keep checking both right and left flat mirrors only. The second I start seeing any drift (I look for the relationship between the trailer and cones attempting always keep it parallel and right down the middle), I immediately turn the wheel to 9:00 if the trailer is moving toward the driver's side and 3:00 if it is moving to the passenger side for 1 to 2 seconds max and immediately come back to 12:00.

If I'm not in the center of the course, I will let it drift for a few seconds (as long as it is moving in the right direction!) and then straighten it up.

If I catch it quick enough, that is all I need to straighten the trailer back up and keep it right down the middle of the course. If it is not, I give it another second or two.

Remember though, that this is what works on the truck we use in school. The truck you are using may need more input for a bit longer if the steering is not as responsive.

**expedite_it** · 09.09.2012

Originally Posted by Driveone

I just look at the surrounding like use something to align yourself too

At C.R. England they advised us to find a reference point when backing up. I have never used any reference points except for the cones.

also you don't have to turn the wheel back and forth all crazy just a little fix and turn it right back to straighten out.

One of my instructors would turn the steering wheel one way to correct it, and then he would immediately follow that correction by going to the opposite side. For example, if the trailer was drifting towards the driver side, he would turn the steering wheel to the left for a few seconds, and then he would turn the steering wheel past center to the right for a few seconds.

This is another example of the conflicting advice I've gotten from instructors. Other instructors I've had said to move the steering wheel back to center after making a correction.

**expedite_it** · 09.09.2012

Originally Posted by Driveone

I just look at the surrounding like use something to align yourself too

The only reference point I have used when straight line backing is the cones.

**expedite_it** · 09.09.2012

Originally Posted by WorldofTransportation

Either you are confusing what they are saying or I am confused as to how or what you are saying.

What did I say that confused you? I would be glad to clarify.

1. The setup is the most important part of backing.. If you don't setup properly you will never hit the hole..

I agree, but sometimes it's difficult for me to get my tractor-trailer set up correctly.

2. Don't be one of those turn the steering wheel hard one way and then have to go just as hard the other way use small corrections (unless you have know what you are doing)

The consensus among my instructors is that a person is doing something wrong if one turns the steering wheel hard one way and then has to go just as hard the other way, but one of my instructors did just that (when straight line backing) all the time.

3. Don't ever ever ever use the fuel when backing slow and steady is better than an accident.

I agree with you on number #3, but that same instructor who would do what you said not to do in your point #2 used the fuel when backing.

4. Get Out and LOOk. even in school get out and look..

I wholeheartedly agree that Getting Out and Looking (G.O.A.L.) is an excellent idea, but my instructors think I GOAL excessively. They hate it.

5. Use every mirror on that truck they are there for a reason..

I agree.

6. Don't worry so much about the trailer worry where the wheels are going it will show you a path if you look (they will telegraph everything)

That's my current strategy.

8. While we are on the subject don't be afraid to ask questions.. If you don't understand ask.

My instructors say that I ask too many questions.