when you are at a truck stop with lots of empty spaces. Practice....thats what I do. Then I ran into one where I had to hit a tight spot cause there werent any others left. Guess what.... I did it and my confidence grew way big. Now I just have to take my time and take it slow and realize that I'd rather have someone looking at me NOT hitting anyone else truck than laffing at me cause I was frustrated and in a hurry not to show my noobiness.....
Help me understand the 90 degree alley dock
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by DedicatedDriver, Sep 13, 2012.
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I've finished truck driving school. I failed the 90 degree alley dock twice in the "Basic Control Skills" portion of testing. The main thing I've learned about it is I have to watch my tandems as I back in, and I have to anticipate when to go hard right getting it into the box. I also try to avoid pivoting on the tires because when they stop rolling you start to jackknife.
My goal is simply to get in the box to the point I know a "pullup" is all necessary. I'm working on it at work using the yard dog as well as a tractor always realizing the key is to watch my tandems as I'm approaching and while hard left to carefully take some of it out as I back on my approach to the box.
I know it comes by doing it and doing it...and doing it. Today I backed four containers in, twice I did the 90. I'M GOING TO GET IT ON THIS NEXT TEST!!!OPUS 7 Thanks this. -
If you have a door mounted mirror you can swing the left door out so to see the trailer, it helps especially if the stacks are in the way.
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go buy/download a truck driving video game and switch back and forth between the overhead view and the "in cab view". The scania simulator is decent and cheap ($10). They're euro trucks but the concept is the same regardless of cabover vs traditional. Play with that for a while and you'll quickly develop an intuitive understanding. I have my guys that we train here at our company do this and it makes all the difference. If you could switch to a helicopter view of yourself when backing life would be a lot easier wouldn't it?
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Don't beat yourself up. There are a lot of experienced truckets that are only fair at going backwards. See it all the time. Most over steer then can't recover. Maneuvering a truck is one of the trade marks of the professional driver.
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When you're going forward, you're driving the tractor.
When you're going in reverse, you're driving the tandems.
Learn to drive the tandems and everything will fall into place.okiedokie Thanks this. -
I turn my wheels based on what I see the tandems doing in proximity to where I wish
to back.
As many have said, the more I do it, the better I'm getting. -
It's a done deal!!! I got my CDL yesterday. On the backing skills I had ZERO points deducted! Now to get to work and start my Driver Orientation!
pattyj Thanks this. -
Trailer goes in the hole.
Honestly it's as simple as that. Every rookie out there loves to be PC and over complicate the simplest maneuvers. I've done it too when I started. "Crank the wheel three turns right, 2 1/2 turns left, blah blah". This is why you're struggling. Don't think about it too hard. Just stick the truck in the hole. You'll stop doing 5 million pull-ups. -
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