Falling behind in school...

You probably won't be able to back perfectly and confidently for months after you get your CDL. Takes practice and experience. You don't get that in the few days of the 4 weeks they give the training.

 

It's interesting to hear how different schools operate. Not to say one school's method is any better than anothers, just saying they are different.

The school I attend is a 5 week course. The first week is classroom time dedicated to cdl requirements preparing us to take the cdl written tests. Passing these tests will get us a cdl permit which will allow us to drive the trucks. It's like a learners permit for your 16 year old. The second week covers things like logbooks, trip planning, and pre-trips. The third week, we start out on the track, primarily at the straight line backing. We have to learn how to straight line back because if you can't do that, you can't do the other manuvers. After a few days of that, they split us up into groups of 4 or 5 and move us into the other manuvers-90* alley dock, off-set (left and right), and parallel parking. This is where we have spent much of our time for the last week and a half and into our last week as well. During our manuvers, about 4 instructors will take a few of us and we go roaddriving. I've only been out on the road once, but I know I will get at least one more time next week. I'm getting my backing manuvers down pretty good, although more practice would really be good. Definately need more time on the road, that's for sure. After we graduate, then we go for our cdl test, which will include a pre-trip, 3 backing manuvers, and a road test.

Not sure what I could say to help you with your backing. I'm not sure what you are having problems with. I would say don't rush it, if things don't look right, stop and think about what you have to do, then make your corrections. Works for me.

 

"For alley dock, he had me aim for landmarks in the yard to get correct setup. To me, this is cheating, as I won't have this luxury in real life, right?"
It took me a while to get good at backing too, but after your out with your trainer for a while, it will get better. Right now I would say listen to the tricks to pass your test, and when you get out on the road you will gets lots of one on one training with your trainer.

Just parking at a truck stop for the night, will give you practice. Most of these spots have about 55 -57 feet between the lanes, so you will learn quickly how to set up and back with out turning it into a straight line back, like they often teach in school. I built my backing confidence with my trainer. GOAL will become part of life. I still get out and look on that blind side.

 

Work with the tricks the instructors are giving you. They are (hopefully) former truck drivers who have done this before. They've also taught other students before you with the same tricks. They are also familiar with the requirements to pass the cdl tests. Once you start to learn how to do things their way, you can work on something that might work better for you.

The first couple days I worked with straightline backing, I was all over the place, But I listened to what they said. Now I usually manage to get it back fairly straight. The straightline track is set up with cones along each side of the lane. They tell us first to line the cones up with the trailer. After we got a bit better, they told us to focus on an object behind the trailer and keep the trailer lined up with that. This bit of advice is actually practical because there are no cones at a dock.

 

Joe,

Dodger is right, just dont get all frustrated.......no one is born to back, it just takes time. I think some people learn differently, and respond to different methods of teaching.
The goal of most schools is to teach safety and help you get your CDL. Once your out in the truck with your trainer, the whole environment changes. Just dont get in a hurry, focus on the basics skills and passing the test.......the rest will take care of itself.

I tend to over think things, and this would get me in trouble. Having owned a business, I too was cocerned about the real world and what will I do when this happens??? At this point you just need to develop those basic skills, using what ever method.

Have you decided on a company yet? There are more companies hiring students then it a appears....they are just getting super picky and some have quit advertising. I was super lucky to get a trainer, where our personalities matched, and he was very paitient. I hope you too get someone that will take the time to help you feel confident. I hope years down the road to do some training myself, I have some ideas.....that well might not be to well accepted by the mainstream thought process, but I think would help students learn faster. Sometimes an industry is very slow to change or adapt to new ideas.