Should I be worried about learning to back-up?

I'm a newbie about to sign on with ODFL. Should I be worried about learning to back up? Or should I relax and know that it will come with practice?

 

Relax and Practice...there are drivers with 20+ years experience who have trouble hitting a dock....PRACTICE PRACTICE G.O.A.L. (you'll learn about that)

 

Thanks

 

Relax and practice. Do not get rushed by anybody! And remember short trailers are harder to back up than long trailers. Small corrections. People will get over having to wait for you to back up a lot faster than if you hit their junk!!!

 

Practice, get out and look, carry some small cones for those docks that don't have marked lines. Make small adjustments, pull up as often as you need to. Ask someone to spot for you (although I'm more confident in my ability than putting my trust in a spotter).

 

some days you will look good, some days you will look bad, some days you will get lucky an look like your good.

 

I'd rather be lucky than good any day!! Lol

 

Also have a small light source, nothing too outrageous as you will be aiming your left outer aft tire to it. That does not replace GOAL, this is your number one defense against hitting anything.

I remember a situation where I had trouble resolving the view in the right hand mirrior into a dock at night that sloped down. The view was not natural so I finally got and took a look. It's a good thing I did, the decap bar back there was about ready to rip the bumper off a pete 379 to my right in his dock.

What killed me was there was about 6 drivers sitting on the bench to my left a few feet away intently watching my trailer doors. Hm.. why are they so INTERESTED in my tr.. ah... let;s get out and look shall we?

 

This might sound dumb but if your about to start doing LTL I would not worry about it. Backing twin pups while possible is not easy to do. In most situations the loads are parked waiting on you. Backing is something LTL drivers rarely do anymore. However I would advise to attempt to practice doing it as much as you can. Just know that rangling a pup and a 53 footer while the basics are simular are different in how you back them.

 

As said, the short trailers react faster.

Back at idle speed, no throttle.

Practice with a pick up truck and small garden trailer if you want to get the feel.