Backing practice

My school had about 40 hours of backing practice, that included blind side docking, parallel parking, straight back backing, and serpentine backing - that was the most challenging. We backed so much, we eventually got bored with it, and would stand around bs'ing with each other. It was the most important part of our training, as one of my first runs was an offset back on my blind side with a telephone pole on my blind side that had been hit many a time and only a foot of space on each side of the door I was backing into.

We backed in a straight line fo about 300 feet and had target cones to back to. A few of us could back it at full throttle in reverse...but the instructor wanted us to do it at idle....took longer that way, and was actually easier to back at full throttle than at idle!

Backing is the most important skill you can practice during your training!

About half the class of 15 were good at backing and the other half were not...soe guys could just not get it.

16 hours will get you ready for the DOT test, but 40 hours gets you ready for the real world...also, night time backing is a whole lot tougher than day time. Especially with a shiny trailer that reflects all the light sources from every angle...

 

I never went to a driver school,but I started backing farm equiptment up, at age 8. The principal is the same. Clean your mirrors everyday, roll both widows down to get a acurate view,windows up the view is distorted, and you get a reflection. On very tight spots,slide the tandems up. At a truck stop spot- look at your parking spot good, make sure the other trucks are not angled into your empty spot. If you need practice go out back in the truck stop and practice, were there,s no trucks around. Try different setups for backing, because that,s what you,ll have at shippers. The setup- before you backup is the most important. I started driving in 1989 and backing is my favorite thing to do in a truck, just for kicks I,ll still do a difficult-tight backup,just for kicks.

 

I learned more backing skills from on the job experience than any training can teach you. JMHO

 

Yep. It's called "on the job training," and it never stops.

 

I wonder how many miles a year you do in reverse?

 

After four years, I still won't put it in a tight hole at a truck stop. Reason is that the company I drive for will fire you if you "scratch" another truck or trailer, so I don't chance it. I have no choice at the shipper and receiver.

 

Hello everybody. Whats the best way to set up?