Backing up a truck not as easy as it seems!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by onthefence, Sep 30, 2010.

  1. rachi

    rachi Road Train Member

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    Feb 25, 2010
    SoCal
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    wait till you get to a receiver thats real tite, and you gotta put it in between two trucks, and everybody is waiting on you, and all the drivers sitting there watching you. that sucks!
     
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  3. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

    When you nail it say, "not bad for my very first run huh?" :biggrin_25523:
     
  4. Scott7975

    Scott7975 Light Load Member

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    Aug 5, 2010
    Cortland, NY
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    If you are talking about just straight backing, which it seems ....

    Watch your trailer tires in your mirror. Keep switching back and forth between the mirrors (left and right) If you start to see that you cannot see the tires in one mirror then turn the wheel the opposite way until you do. Then center the wheel again. When I say turn the wheel... I mean just a small amount not a full turn. More like turn it 1/4... so if your had is at 12:00 turn the wheel to either 3 or 9 depending on which way you need to go. The key is to catch the drift and correct it early. This requires only real small wheel movements. Also, take it slow. Use your clutch to control your backing speed.
     
    walstib Thanks this.
  5. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
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    Hope you did OK on your "mid-term".

    One poster called it right...use the BOTTOM of the steering wheel when backing!

    Let me take this one step farther:
    When backing, place your right hand on the bottom of the steering wheel PALM DOWN at the center of the bottom point of the steering wheel...do not let go of the wheel, this will stop you from over steering due to the restrictions of your joints (wrist and shoulder)...

    Grab the wing window strut with your left hand and hold it tight...do not let go of it...this will keep you from moving your body around in the seat...each time you move your head or upper body forward or back you change the visual aspect angle of your vision in the mirrors...stay put and sit still in the seat.

    No trailer will back straight...due to curbing, hitting curb guides or the such the tandems are not absolutely square this is what makes a trailer "drift". So when moving in reverse, keep moving the steering wheel a little (1-3 inches) off center from left and right...you need to keep the front of the truck square to the aspect of the rear of the trailer...this left/right movement will maintain the "squared aspect" you need.

    The reason we say use the bottom of the steering wheel is simple; the bottom of the steering wheel moves the same direction as the trailer when moving in reverse, the top moves the direction of the front when going forward. Once you get accustomed to the steering wheel movement and the direction of travel, you can hold the steering wheel at your "comfortable position", but think about what the bottom is doing relative to reverse direction movement. This "mentality" will help you when you arrive at a shipper/receiver early (scary thought I know) and you have been sleeping for a very short time...suddenly the shipper/receiver knocks on your door...you aren't alert or thinking straight and you need to get in the dock...finding an easy "tool" to assist you is right in your hand....YOUR RIGHT HAND...THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING :biggrin_25525:WHEEL!
     
  6. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    Jul 26, 2010
    Johannesburg sa
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    Just pretend you are in a normal 4 wheeler revercing and you are trying to follow the trailer really close.A bit of practice and it is easy.After a few weeks you will have a problem with a 4 wheeler as you will instinctively go opposite.
     
  7. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
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    Flyingdutchman, nice set-up! You should send some picts to hankstruckpictures. Rerun and Scott had a really good tip about always looking through both mirrors. This is really helpful when some trailers lean or are tweaked or track. Looking through one mirror can be deceptive. One thing I had to add to all of guys good backing info is that you need to keep your mirrors clean at all times. This is so important, especially when the sun is at a certain angle or in places where its dark. Also as far as listening to the CB, can be helpful can be hurtful. There are some very nice people out there that are willing to help out and there are also some very nice folk that will talk you right into another truck on purpose. Usually though if someone yells "STOP" over the radio it is usually pretty safe to do so. You can't go wrong there. You do need to get out and look no matter what. I think Rerun said it "G.O.A.L." Rest assured though I have seen some veterans have tough times. When you are having a bad day you are having a bad day, happens to all of us, and yes every time you whip it in first shot there will be no witnesses! One thing that gets me is staggered angle parking. I guess because it is the simplest, it just throws me off every now and then and I am a well seasoned driver. On that subject be careful when you are pulling out at rest stops or truck stops that have angle in parking where you can just pull forward out of the spot. If your tandems are slid forward you have to really watch out for that swing when you turn. It can be very deceiving. Good luck guys it won't be long you will be giving backing advice!
     
  8. ac120

    ac120 Road Train Member

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    Aug 27, 2010
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    At first--3 half-days is "at first"--it may be frustrating. Be patient. Take the advice offered in the posts above, and practice as much as you can. Practice until you don't have to practice anymore--there is no other way to learn this essential skill. Some of that practice will be with a trainer and some of it will be when you get out on your own.

    The job is cool. At least, I found it to be. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, you'll have a pretty good time.

    I'd be happy to keep my fingers crossed for you, but only if you practice. I don't want you to be like the guy who hadn't practiced backing enough, gave me a hoodectomy at a Flying J, then drove off. It cost him his job and it cost his company almost seven grand. Practice might not always make perfect, but without it you're not a driver, you're just holding the wheel. Like the guy at the Flying J.

    Safe trip.
     
  9. Cruiser9

    Cruiser9 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 1, 2010
    Groveport, OH
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    Look at the years of experience on these guys that are telling you "slow down, think about it. You can do this". Paddletrucker laid it out for you. Set up your truck correctly to start, don't start backing up if you are not straight. Then, put one hand on bottom of the wheel at 6o'clock, turn the way you want your trailer to go, and usually not past 9o'clock or 3o'clock. Between 9 and 3 is where you want to be.

    Watch the other students. Stand in the same direction as the guy in the truck. Watch what he does to the front wheels and then notice what it makes the trailer do.

    Keep us posted on how you are doing.
     
  10. dsmatuska

    dsmatuska Bobtail Member

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    Jan 26, 2009
    Pine City, MN
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    That's exactly the method I use, and I think it works great.
     
  11. fulgrwnmn

    fulgrwnmn Light Load Member

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    Sep 17, 2008
    whitehouse,oh
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    what most of the above is saying, but no one said, is hold on to the wheel at the bottom and "steer to your mirrors" in others words steer to the way you want your butt end of the trailer you want to go, and all the other advice of slow steady, non big movements will make you look like a pro in no time
     
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