Advice/videos for straight backing

When i enrolled in truck driving school 36 years ago, i went part time only on saturdays. the other students were full time and were way ahead of me in class. first day i was given a truck and trailer for myself and instructed to do straight backing alone. i spent 6 freakin hours doing straight backs and i kid you not! everyone else was practicing alley backing, blindside backing etc. Little did i know that practice would pay off. I have spent the last 17 years doing Local LTL P&D which a large part of my day is backing which is the least of my concerns where ever i need to put a trailer. Practice is your best friend.

 

Put your hand in the middle of the steering wheel and only make half turns at a time left or right. That's all you need to stay in control.

 

Like others have said, practice, practice, practice. And take your time. An inch up front and it moves a foot in the rear.

Just take your time and focus on what is happening between the steering wheel and where the trailer goes. Even if you mess up a million times in the beginning, you will slowly start to learn from your mistakes. Dont let frustration or embarassment get the best of you. One day all of this wont matter to you and you'll be doing it like a pro, and then you can have a little quiet laugh to yourself when you see another newbie learning it for the first time.

 

after 20+ years of driving, there are days even I can't back up for the life of me.

 

These last 2 posts are so true.

When I took my backing test to go solo, I failed. I couldnt back for squat because my 2 trainers wouldnt let me when they were training. I barely passed the next day and once I got on the road and did it a few times, I got pretty good at it. I got pretty good at backing. Im a bit rusty now because I rarely back up hauling cars.

As yes, there will be days where you can back up to save your life. But the next day you back up like a pro!

 

If trailer is swinging to the left, you want to turn your wheel to the left. I turn it for about a second and then straighten the wheel and repeat if necessary. Possibly countercorrect to the right if you did too much. Watch the tread on your trailer tires to determine that you're backing straight. If they disappear, you need to turn (a little!) to the right to see more of that tread and straighten up.

 

When I was in school they took away our flat mirrors and could only use the convex. Honeybadger nailed it with the trailer tires. Minor adjustments. Oh, and when you get out on your own, turn off the CB at truck stops. Little peanut brained drivers like to make fun of people having trouble, and don't worry about pull-ups, everyone does them, regardless of what they claim...

 

Pulling forward after backing some to get a better setup.