Alley Docking tips for a newbie?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by JrzyDave, Oct 28, 2021.

  1. JrzyDave

    JrzyDave Bobtail Member

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    So I just started my drive schedules in school. We get 11 one on one 4 hour classes with an instructor. Yesterday was day 3. Straight Back...No problem. Offset.....not great but confident I'll get there. Alley Dock......Oh my God I suck. Whatever I"m doing I just can't make the trailer go where I want it to.

    Any tips on making my life a little easier with this maneuver because I can see it becoming my Waterloo. :)
     
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  3. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    The biggest problem I see rookies make on an alley dock is not starting to get back under the trailer soon enough, causing the trailer to turn past that 90 degrees.

    By "get back under the trailer" I mean getting the truck straight with the trailer.
     
  4. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    i taught at 2 CDL schools, and i can assure you that everyone sucked.

    give it time, chase that trailer, and get under it. it's all in your timing to the trucks response to your input at the wheel.

    you only have to do it once at the DMV test site.

    you may never have to use it ever again, but i can assure you, when that ONE time comes.???

    it'll be like, "what the hell, how did i do that"?
     
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  5. JrzyDave

    JrzyDave Bobtail Member

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    I know that makes sense to you but for someone who is totally new........how do you get back under the trailer correctly.....what way do you steer? How much do you steer? I have an instructor who is just yelling turn left, turn right....not really explaining anything...lol They are real good at yelling though...lol
    I start out with a hard right to make the trailer go left but I can't make it listen to me after that.......I turn the wheel back to the left and it still keeps going right......and now I'm basically jack knifing......very frustrating.

    I'm going to assume I make to big of steering corrections one way of the other.
     
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  6. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    by "getting back under the trailer", you turn your wheel in the direction, that you need to get your truck lined up, with the trailer, in a straight line.

    it's almost impossible for any one to explain it to you via the message boards.

    and i cannot find any videos on this right now.

    you can however, buy a toy truck, that has front wheels that turn. believe it or not, toy trucks have helped many understand how to turn the wheel.
     
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  7. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    check out this







     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2021
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  8. JrzyDave

    JrzyDave Bobtail Member

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    Awesome...... and i may go toy truck shopping tonight... Lol ​
     
  9. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    believe me, it works...you get to see how to set up the steers to back up....
     
  10. JrzyDave

    JrzyDave Bobtail Member

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  11. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    You can't be any worse than what is out here now..

    Take as much time and as many pull up's as you need to get that thing backed in, it isn't a race...Don't let anybody push you or rush you.
     
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