Alley docking tips!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by pharrari, Dec 15, 2012.

  1. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

    Sounds like you're "turning and hoping" instead of turning, seeing how it changes your track and making adjustments as necessary...When you look at your rear wheels, you need to visualize the track their on and extend that line, with your mind, outward so you can make corrections before it's too late...Also, move very slowly so you can catch if you get off-track and only need small corrections...Once you get into making big movements and corrections, better to pull forward and start over...
     
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  3. jbourque

    jbourque Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 25, 2012
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    are you looking a the back of the trailer or where your tandems are when you are backing up? remember the tandems are what turns the trailer not the back of the trailer. i know it is really hard to backup and the only way you are going to get any better is by practice. it do not help if they keep changing trailer lengths on you either. but there are a lot of hard things in trucking and how you cope with that is what makes you a good driver or a bad one lots of luck jon
     
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  4. passport220

    passport220 Road Train Member

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    Oct 9, 2012
    Des Moines, IA
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    Not so much too much (right) turn but that you are hanging on to the right turn too long. Long holds of right turn will put u in a jack knige.

    Put right turn into it to get it started around the corner, lay off, watch and adjust. As your tractor gets very near to the corner you should be putting all the left you can on the wheel to get your tractor to catch up and get under the trailer. As your tractor is getting near to the corner, you are only working to get the tractor under the trailer. If the trailer is off the mark on the box as your tractor is very near the cornor, live with it, GET THE TRACTOR UNDER THE TRAILER, in position to make an adjustment, pull up or not.

    I understand the pull up space is small, that is fine, u don't need much, only enough to point the trailer in the right direction once the tractor is under the trailer. You will do most of the work of moving into the box from the pull up when backing up again. The pull up is only to get the trailer POINTED in the right dirction. That short pull up will often "snap" the trailer and tractor back into line. Now, this time as you back up to hit the box, your tractor will be under your trailer and your control of the trailer will be more direct, like a straight line back.

    Step 1: Get the trailer turning and moving around the corner
    Step 2: "Chase" with the tractor, the trailer is now moving in the right directon, now get moving to position the tractor straight under the trailer.
    Step 3: Now that u are straight or near straight under the trailer, make your adjustment just like a straight line back to finish up.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2012
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  5. ladywrongway03

    ladywrongway03 Heavy Load Member

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    you usually have to pull up to get straight with the trailer.100 yrs ago when I took the test I left the alley dock for last andscored high enough on the other stuff to pass that I just didnt do it.But when I back up I watch my trailer wheels when they are just past the line on the drivers side then cut it tight to the left.
     
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  6. pharrari

    pharrari Light Load Member

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    Nov 21, 2012
    Sanford,FL
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    How much turn should I put into it as I'm just getting ready to back up from the start cone? Should I back up straight for a little bit and then apply my right turn?
     
  7. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

    Do it how your instructor showed you...
     
  8. pharrari

    pharrari Light Load Member

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    I have ADHD, I had 3 people show me 3 different ways now I'm confused.
     
  9. passport220

    passport220 Road Train Member

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    Oct 9, 2012
    Des Moines, IA
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    The course you are working on should be close to standard to others, but without seeing it with my own eyes it is hard to say.

    However, yes, on the courses I have worked on, I am putting right turn in right away. Turning the wheel one half turn (my hand at 12 o' clock on the wheel, turning down right to 6 o' clock), I get my head out the window and watch the trailer and adjust from there. Sharp turning movements, then get off it just as sharp.

    As jbourque said it is important to look at the tandems. However, if you are having a hard time, change what ever it is you are looking at, tandems, back cornor of the trailer, what ever it is, if you are having a problem, change it and look at something else and DON'T FORGET TO LOOK AT THE BOX ALSO as you are backing!
     
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  10. Palace37

    Palace37 Light Load Member

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    Dec 11, 2012
    New Jersey
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    Best advice!!! Stop worrying about it and just do it. I just passed mine Dec 3rd. Mine was a 90 deg. One short pullup and in. And did you do air brake test yet? I would worry about that first. In NJ it's air barakes, pre trip, yard then road. You want advice how to do it but nobody here knows your setup to start so it's hard to tell you what to do. Just relax and "GET ER DONE"
     
  11. pharrari

    pharrari Light Load Member

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    Nov 21, 2012
    Sanford,FL
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    Thursday and Friday is the test for Air Brakes, Pre-trip, and the skills test. Maybe even starting on Wednesday. I still have to get parallel park down.
     
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