Help me understand the 90 degree alley dock

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by DedicatedDriver, Sep 13, 2012.

  1. GOSTRIDER13

    GOSTRIDER13 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 9, 2012
    City with no pity
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    If you have a little time check out you-tube CR England back up Videos it will give you a little insight of what your looking 4...Good luck to you....
     
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  3. sadwar

    sadwar Road Train Member

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    Lockport, IL
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    What size trailer or you backing with? 28, 40, 53?

    Here is what m instructor told me to do, it helped me to pass my DMV no problem. We backed with 28' trailers and a day-cab.

    After you are set up and ready to begin backing turn the wheel all the way to the right. Back-up until the CORNER of the trailer is parallel with the catwalk(or the back of) the cab. Trailer is now 45 degrees to the left of the cab. STOP.

    Make your wheels straight. Back stright up until you can see the middle of your landing gear. Trailer is now way off to the left of the cab, you have achieved the 'banana'. STOP

    You can now turn wheel to the left and walk it into the whole. Obviously how much left and counter steer you use will depend on your scenario.

    Again, this was using a day cab and 28' trailer.

    I know work for Schneider and am going through orientation. We are taught how to set-up for a 45 degree back using 53' trailers. The set up gets us to the 'banana' shape. I have noticed when backing the 53' trailer I have to keep my wheels straight MUCH longer to get the wheels and back of the trailer pointed toward the hole before I start turning to the left. It is a lot of practice, touch, and feel. Obviously from a 90 degree you would turn the wheels to the right to achieve the kink in the trailer first
    and then do the above. How long you keep it to the right I do not know.

    I hope this helped some!!:biggrin_25523:
     
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  4. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    The Village, Portmeirion
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    If your having a hard time getting it to the hole you might be starting out with to sharp a turn.

    When you start out and turn hard to the right look in the left mirror at the drive tires. back up and watch along the outside edge of the tires until they line up with the middle of the landing gear frame. Look for the bottom of the "V" shape in the frame between the legs. once it's there stop and straighten the wheel out before you start trying to put it in the hole.

    That's one way to give yourself a consistent "setup" for the back, and it might still be a little sharp. from there it's just practice.

    Good luck. Confidence helps alot. :)


    Edit: sadwar beat me to it
     
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  5. Thebeesknees

    Thebeesknees Bobtail Member

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    Apr 9, 2012
    Tilton, NH
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    I went to NETTTS trucking school in mass, 7 hours a day was reverse maneuvering. Start with a good set up, tractor and trailer straight. With your hand at 12 o'clock on the steering wheel cut right to 4 or 5 o'clock, keep your head out the window so you can see, wait until you're cab is at a 45 degree to the trailer, immediately counter steer in the opposite direction you want to try and keep this 45 degree angle through out the maneuver by cutting the wheel from right to left ir left to right. Try not to get in too tight to your pivot cone, once the rear of your trailer clears the pivot cone cut the wheel all the way left once your landing gear meets the same plane as the pivot cone, this will help make the tractor and trailer straight and be much easier to straight back into the box. And as your bumper approaches the box stop use a get out.

    If you think your too close to the pivot cone stop, use a get out, see how much room you have to work with.
    The trick to using a pull up is pulling towards the cone you can't see or pull towards the cone your too close too and then do your best to get the tractor and trailer straight again. The more straight everything is the easier it is to correct and maneuver successfully.

    ....of course there are no cones in the real world after your test...and it's up to you to decide whether or not your rig can fit into spaces when your out on the road

    good luck on your test, focus on pre trip first then worry about the maneuvers
     
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  6. DedicatedDriver

    DedicatedDriver Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2012
    Southeast
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    Wow, lots of great tips. I have a couple toy/diecast trucks I can practice on so I get a good idea of what it should look like.

    My school has a variety of trailers:
    42' tanker
    48' flatbed
    53' van

    For the test I will be testing on the 48' flatbed, I already got the offset on that one so I am feeling confident about using the flatbed.

    I am not going to let this maneuver get the best of me. :biggrin_1square10:
     
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  7. Doublecutter

    Doublecutter Light Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2011
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    Hey DedicatedDriver, what school are you going to in Louisiana? Sounds like it might be where I went.

    Remember, with the alley docks, you can pull up to adjust your trailer. Some of my classmates tried to be "supertruckers" and felt like a failure if they didn't back it straight in. I don't feel like that. If you have to do a pull up or two, it's no big deal.
     
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  8. DedicatedDriver

    DedicatedDriver Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2012
    Southeast
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    Acadiana Tech in Crowley. Is that where you went?

    Oh yeah, I am not afraid to make a pullup. lol
     
  9. Doublecutter

    Doublecutter Light Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2011
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    I went to Acadiana's sister school--South Central Technical in Thibodoux.
     
  10. Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Middle Tennessee
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    Sounds like your teachers are making it too hard.

    You have to set up in your mind's eye the points that are blocked by the vehicle, kinda like x-ray vision.

    Then forget all you have learned from your stupid teachers. Just concentrate on using your tractor to push your trailer where you want it. You should be used to steering a straight truck, it's just like a car, so just use it to push trailer should come natural. You are just backing up into the trailer to push it. Just gotta practice and relax and forget how many times to turn left, right, that's just bullcrap someone made up to get students and student loan dollars! They needed a curriculum.

    Picture you are watching yourself from above while you push your Matchbox toy semi back into the hole if that helps.
     
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  11. hellbilly

    hellbilly Bobtail Member

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    May 17, 2011
    canton oh
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    something else i was just thinking about that may help you. make your pull up count! don't just pull up and get yourself in more of a bind. when you pull up steer the truck to make a "S" shape (or reverse "S" depending on where your trailer needs to go.) and do this only when you are straight to the cones (if you know what i mean kinda hard to explain) you say you are using a 48' flatbed? is it a spread axle? that will make a BIG difference when it comes to backing up at a 90 degree. don't over think the backing maneuver or it will mess you up every time. once you get your cdl it will become easier since your not under so much pressure. pretend that those cones are 2 big Peterbilt's loaded down with chrome and lights and if you hit one then you got something to worry about haha. when do you go for your test?
     
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