Blindside Truck Stop Parking

There are some truck stops that have true 'only blindside' spots, one I can think of is the back lot of Sapp Bros in Denver, saw a CREngland come in late at night, well, heard him take off the hood of the truck directly next to me. A real shame because it was a trainer/trainee team.

These are what I call Modified Blindside spots -- angled so that you see them from your blindside mirror during your set up if there is not enough pull-ahead room. I prefer the angle to be the other way.

 

Let me guess, it was the trainer driving.

 

I think it was the student but he should have woken the trainer for help.

 

I agree. I never blind side back. Just asking for trouble.

 

Go the other way where possible. Or even back down from the fuel line where you can usually do a circle to set it up.

Work around the problem. Don't keep banging your head (And trailer etc) against the blind side problem. I don't blindside back much. Maybe a dozen times a year if that and only if there is no other choice.

 

Never? If you pull a van there will be times you just have no choice! You don't worry about how long it takes you, you don't worry about how many people are watching you. You set up properly, GOAL as many times as you need to. If you have a power right side mirror, you can often use it as you back. But even with that power mirror, GOAL is the key.

 

When I started I knew there would be times the blindside was unavoidable so I would practice when I could. A truck stop with little traffic and a bunch of open spots.

It's really no different than a sight side, just in reverse. Heck, on a tight sight side back you have to get out and walk all the way to the other side of the truck to GOAL. On a blind side look out the passenger window and then just step out to see how you're doing on the driver side. GOAL is easier with those ones.

If your set up is good a quick GOAL and in she goes.