Offset/Parallel

You're using 28 ft pups to do backing training with? Wow. Those can be hard for experienced drivers to back. Go real slow with them and you'll be fine.

 

Dunno, I only used a 53 footer. The parallel was easiest. Full crank and jack to 90 degrees. Stop, then full crank and back until you are in the slot. Easy peasy nice 'n easy.

 

Pup are harder even for the best they react faster than a 53' the easiest way to remember is turn the wheel away from the way you want the trailer to go.
while looking in your mirror if you want the trailer to go right, turn the wheel left.
Pick a spot on the ground that you want your tandems to hit use it as a guide.

 

When backing, turn the BOTTOM of the steering wheel in the direction that you want the nose of the truck (and the rear of the trailer) to go.

It's next to impossible to give instructions, as not all trailers behave the same way. Sometimes even the same trailer on different attempts... 1.5 turns of the wheel, back until you see rivets, then full turn the other way, back until straight may work most of the time, but only if you start out in the right place. A foot off, and you hit a cone. Or, the tandems may not be in the same spot that you are used to. Lots of things can throw it off just enough.

OTOH, these instructions may well get you close enough that you can make the little adjustments that are needed to put the trailer in the hole.

 

I'm really not trying to sound like a smart Alec. First; it's important to be clear that when referring to right and left I mean the right and left side of the rig as if you are sitting in the seat facing forward. Driver side is left, passenger side is right. This is which way to turn the wheel when backing thing is a common struggle for new folks and they hear a ton accurate but complicated and confusing tricks. Here's my simple one I told my trainees when I was a trainer. The first one will help when either backing or when simply driving:

When it comes to so many things in CDL driving, get in the mindset that you don't drive a truck: you "drive" a trailer. The truck is just the power plant for the trailer. I can't really explain it but that concept will help you remember to swing wide and square your turns going forward and get the feel of getting the trailer where you want it moving backwards. Helps keep "what is my trailer doing?" in mind on downgrades, hard breaks (may yours be very few and far between) and slippery road conditions too. Think: I drive a trailer. The truck is just the tool that lets me "drive" the trailer.

Now, since you are "driving the trailer", when backing: which way to turn the wheel to get the trailer to go where you want it becomes quite simple. Turn the wheel in the same direction you want the nose of the trailer behind you to go. I'm not getting into doubles and triples. Just a single rig. If you want the nose to go right (toward pass side); turn the wheel to the right (clockwise - toward pass side). If you want it to go left; turn the wheel to the left. It also takes the whole looking in the mirror or out of the window thing out of the equation because it doesn't matter. It's the same. Either way, you still turn the wheel in the same direction. That's gonna sound insane to you but trust me. Try it on the range. Back up and look out of the mirror while turning the wheel to the right. Now straighten up and do the same thing looking out of the window. You'll see. The rig doesn't care whether you are looking out of the mirror or window. When you are in reverse it's gonna move the nose of the trailer in the same direction as you turn the wheel.

So, forget about the complications. Drive the trailer; watch your trailer wheels and bumper and turn the wheel in the direction you want the nose to go. Look out of whichever gives you your clearest view of what you need to see, mirror or window - makes no difference, but do the same thing; turn the wheel in the direction you want the nose of the trailer to go and you'll be serpentine backing into a blind side alley dock "by the seat of your pants" (without having to think) in no time flat. How much to turn the wheel and when is all about practice. Remember that less is more. Little corrections. You'll get this no problem. Just remember what my 9th grade Algebra teacher used to preach to us: "Simplify!" You'll do great.

Best of luck to you and go ahead and get into the habit NOW of always maintaining three points of contact (2 hands and a foot or 2 feet and a hand) getting in and out of the truck and if you are carrying something - put it down somewhere before climbing. Truck drivers have the highest rate of OTJ injuries of ANY occupation and the largest category is from FALLS. Establish good habits now and you won't have to break anything later.

 

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When you "set up" for the parallel try to point the trailer at the far corner of the spot you are parking in. if you don't get setup right the first time a pull up can really help.

Once the trailer tandems are over the line then focus on parking the truck, once the truck tandems are over the line you should be straightening out (getting under it).

The parallel blindside is the easy one and it helps to have the offset down. Try to relax, you aren't going to feel comfortable with this until you are in your own truck.

 

That's why I think it's the easiest of the skills tests other than the straight back.