Advice needed.... Effed up right at the end of training...

there is 101 ways to get rid of someone,they have seen something in you and they told you to stay.

 

Start thinking of yourself as more of a trailer driver than a truck driver. One of these days it will click in your head, and backing wont be a problem anymore. Spend time when you're at the truck stops watching other guys back. Go through it in your mind, and decide at what point each action should be initiated.

Thinking back to my early days with a trainer. OH GOD HELP LOL. Trainer was up my butt about something. I threw him out of his own truck on a bridge coming out of New Orleans. He had threatened to kick my butt, so I called his bluff. I remember him running along side of the truck crossing that bridge LOL. I found out later he was already in trouble for fighting with previous trainee's. Apparently he wasnt nearly as important to his company as he thought, as the next guy he trained got him fired.

Anyways, my point. Do what you gotta do to make it through your situation. Find that happy place and go there when he starts ticking you off. Eventually your gonna get your own truck, you'll make the decisions. And you'll breathe a whole lot easier.

 

Go to a toy store, buy a toy tractor and trailer. One that actually pivots at the fifth wheel.

Play with it backing on your living room floor. You'll figure out at some point that every time you move that wheel, it makes the trailer do something. After a while, it will be second nature and all you'll have to do is put your head out the window and look backwards at the trailer.

The toy really helps.

 

Like everyone else has said Get a new trainer. Like most noobs i was lousy at backing but my training kept working with me till one day he told your over thinking it "Just turn toward trouble" That clicked for me and I have been pretty much nailing them first shot ever since. Best of luck in what ever you decide.

 

You are having trouble backing? Now why would any student have trouble backing?

BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST DETAILED THING WE DO, AND THE THING WE DO THE LEAST!

You aren't alone with this dilemma..every student I had was in the same boat at some point....try this....lucky for me I have it saved in Word and can copy/paste it!:

[FONT=&quot]Use the steering wheel to your advantage! Everybody teaches "steer the opposite direction"...bad thinking, poor instruction!

Your visual part of your brain is already doing a "reversal" with all the information coming in through the eye...it has to reverse the image to be processed. So when you try to think "opposite" you actually are stressing yourself a bit more. Here is the trick I taught all my students for 15 years:

The top of the steering wheel turns the direction you want going forward, the bottom of the steering wheel turns the direction you want to turn going backwards.

The set up is the most important part of backing into a dock or parking location. Let's learn what I call the "Banana Profile":
1. With the units in a straight configuration, drive across the front of the location until the space between the tractor and trailer is at the midpoint of your location.
2. As you cross this midpoint, turn right to a 45 degree angle away from the point. Drive straight (45 degrees from the location) until the tandems are at the midpoint of the location. (You must be watching your driver’s side mirror) As the tandems attain the midpoint turn the wheel left (again) to put a bend in the tractor/trailer until you have achieved the "Banana Profile". (The tractor/trailer has the same shape as a banana.) Now straighten up and continue until you have clearance of the driver’s side rear corner of the trailer and the location the trailer will be backing into.
3. At this point, you should be able to smoothly "track" right into the "hole". Just visualize the line and adjust the turn aspect (declining) as you enter the hole and straighten up as you go.

LET THE TRAILER DO THE WORK...ADJUST TO THE TRAILER, DON'T FORCE THE TURN MOVEMENT BY OVER STEERING. The longer the trailer, the more time it will take to show its movement. Don't get anxious, be patient, and let the trailer make some movement, then you correct the tractor to the movement of the trailer.

1. When backing, place your hand palm down on the center bottom of the steering wheel.
2. Use the bottom as your guide for the direction you want the back of the trailer to move.
3. Having your hand, palm down, gripping the wheel will prevent you (with the natural limits of movement) from over-steering. DO NOT LET GO OF THE WHEEL!
4. Grip the window post (the separation bar between the wing window and the door window) with your left hand, and again, DON'T LET GO. This "anchor" stops you from moving around in your seat...every time you move it changes the visual perspective in your mirrors...SIT STILL!
5. A tractor/trailer combination will NEVER back in a straight line...you need to "add" and "subtract" turn movement constantly. A little adjustment either way will keep the units straight and where you want to go.
6. If there is no "guide line" painted on the surface, visualize the straight line you want to line the driver’s side (sight side) of the trailer then the tractor onto.
7. When you start backing, pay attention to the tandems (trailer wheels)...these are your first and primary points of lining up the unit. As soon as the tandems have gone into the box, begin reducing the turn aspect of the tractor (bring the nose around to the "square line" with the trailer. Now change your focus to the midpoint of the trailer...just before the midpoint gets to the "line", get the tractor square with the trailer so there is no turn occurring...you have achieved the aspect of straight line backing once the tractor is square with the trailer and the midpoint of the trailer is in the box.
8. Keep in mind there are 3 "pivot points" to a tractor/trailer combination.
8a. Tandems are the rear pivot.
8b. King pin (drive wheels) is the center pivot.
8c. Steer tires are the forward pivot.
To move the tractor trailer either direction (right or left) you must accomplish an "S" configuration/movement with the tractor/trailer. Which direction you need to move the units is the direction you begin the movement. (This is for forward adjustments...if you have not centered the units in the dock.) To move it will require 3 steering movements...make sure the movement is sufficient (far enough forward in distance) to achieve the moving distance required (right or left). Just imagine you are driving on an "S" painted on the ground and follow it COMPLETELY. [/FONT]

 

Well you have probably noticed that every response has said to stick it out and I also agree. Stuff happens and it does not matter what industry it's in. If you were building your house and hit your thumb with a hammer would you quit or continue building. Consider this your house and learn from your mistakes.

 

On the backing thing...It will get a lot better once you are on your own and don't have some guy breathing down your neck. You may have to do 5 pull-ups, but then it will be 4, 3, 2, then eventually one. Heck, even after two years I still do better when my co-driver is asleep in the bunk and not sitting up front.

 

Hey dev, :*) I have more anxiety now then I did when in the training course..hehe just trying to figure what company to go with now. On the back ups and manuevers I did better when my instructor let me alone for a while..that way I thought it out for myself. I also went to you tube and punched in how to alley dock and found a few good views to see the pivot points and articulation..practice n determination..I passed manuever dmv test with only 2 points..and learning to shift smoothly :*) hehe first week I was a basket case..and yesterday driving my personal vehicle I almost got rear ended by a semi and thought ???? Any whoooo check out you tube for visuals..good luck!

 

Welcome to trucking.I have yet to talk with a trainee that had a perfect training.Everyone makes mistakes and you learn from them.You've come this far I say stick it out.Once you're done youll be getting a trk and you'll be so happy and excited..I'm with your company,don't quit.They sound like really nice ppl and they believe in you.

 

Otters post is one to print out n read till it clicks..awesome post for explaining!