Ok I have got the hang of driving, double clutching, watching trailer down and up shifting excetra but I am haveing a hard time with the 90 degree backing. Can anyone give me some tips to make it easier.
90 degree backing...
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by teachmebouttrucking, Mar 19, 2008.
Page 1 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
one thing i've always done, pull foward till the very end of your trailer is about 10-12ft past the spot you want to park into, then turn the wheel all the way right and start backing up, straighten the wheel to avoid smacking the trailer into the side of the cab and as soon as you see the trailer tires stop rolling and almost start dragging, turn the wheel all the way left and do it quickly, depending on where the trailer tandems are, it will go in almost perfectly every time.
just remember, the best thing you can do while backing is take it slow and if you are unsure, set the brakes and get out and look.bornagaintrucker Thanks this. -
That's one of the first things the instructor told me when I was testing. It sure would help to be able to. It may differ from state to state, I don't know. -
Thanks Brian. I will try that this weekend.
Kaydriver I know what you mean were not allowed to get out and look either. -
I only use the clutch to get into 1st or reverse in practice. When I tested, I faked double clutching. -
Can anyone help me with the setup and procedures for a 90 degree backup when there is no room for anything else and a short area in front of the dock to work with?
Thank you,
Demmy -
if you're talking about 90 degreeing in between 2 rigs at a truckstop -good luck! I've driven almost 3 years and I still won't attempt that! of course they make the steering on these flatbed trucks where they won't turn as sharp as on a trailer that doesn't have a spread axle. if they didn't, you'd be trying to get it at too sharp of an angle to get it in the space, then risk tipping the trailer over.
demorcan - you have to go really really really REALLY slow! but if you determine there simply isn't enough room to manuever - tell them there isn't room and tell them to unload you in the street. -
You guys should try P/D here in NE (Boston, NY, etc.) Most every stop is at some old mill built a hundred or more years ago!
Gettin' OUT is almost as bad as gettin' IN! -
They were beneath a bridge and there was no wiggle room to do anything. You either put it into the dock (inside the building) the first time or you started all over again.
One of the bridge poles was directly across from their dock preventing a straight in back.
And, I used to run the east coast on a regular basis and I can say with some degree of certainty that warehouse was about as hard as anything I encountered on the east coast, including the meat market that required backing two blocks the wrong way down a one way street.
And, when you left, you could not turn right so you had to turn left and then back about 100 yards down the narrow access road and then onto a major throroughfare (on the blind side) to get out of there.
Scary!!!
So far as answering the original question: PRACTICE and then MORE PRACTICE.
Just relax and don't get in any hurry and you'll do just fine. -
Do not be afraid to tell the shipper or receiver that you cannot get into an assigned dock if you sincerely believe you cannot do so safely.
I have done that on more than one occasion when other trucks prevent safely backing into a dock.
Better to wait than to be charged with an accident.bornagaintrucker and Lynchmob Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 2