Backing straight truck vs trailer

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Kingty9183, May 23, 2020.

  1. Kingty9183

    Kingty9183 Light Load Member

    168
    302
    Jul 19, 2019
    Connecticut
    0
    At my current job now I occasionally have to drive a straight back truck to do deliveries. Back on target isn't a problem at all seemed to come right to me. I wanna know how much more difficult would backing a trailer be and what are the similarities to backing a straight truck?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Chubby Fly

    Chubby Fly Medium Load Member

    569
    796
    Nov 25, 2019
    0
    there are no similiarities. To get the trailer on target its the opposite of what you are doing. Practice with a lawn and garden mower and trailer. Those are harder to back up. Hell you can even practice with a match box car 18 wheeler to get the idea
     
    alds and Badmon Thank this.
  4. Mid-May Trucker

    Mid-May Trucker Road Train Member

    1,119
    2,077
    Oct 23, 2018
    0
    If you got gta v it got both straight truck and tractor trailer so you can see difference
    App store also has free simulators
     
    Hazmat Cat and Kyle G. Thank this.
  5. Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

    1,679
    1,155
    Jun 24, 2010
    Scranton PA
    0
    It will take a lot of practice to back a trailer. In CDL school , half our time was spent backing. Backing in a straight line, offset dock back, parallel backing, 90 degree angle backing. A day cab tractor is easier than a sleeper cab.

    Your experience using the truck mirrors is similar between a straight truck and semi. Also using the clutch and reverse is similar.

    Some guys needed a lot more practice than others, and never really got good at it. My boss would give me the blind alley backs as he knew I could do it.

    I had driven farm tractors as a kid, and backed hay racks, and manure spreaders....so it was like second nature to me. I didn’t have to think about which way to turn the steering wheel when backing, it was more of an automatic reaction. I couldn’t tell someone else how to back a trailer, as I couldn’t unless I was in the drivers seat.

    Sounds like you are not afraid of backing, which is a good start.
     
    Lostmykey and G13Tomcat Thank this.
  6. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

    3,295
    16,738
    Jan 23, 2016
    Eastern Iowa
    0
    I admit I have spent some time driving truck in the gta games. The best part is when someone cuts you off you can just get out and blow them away.
     
    Lostmykey and G13Tomcat Thank this.
  7. Mid-May Trucker

    Mid-May Trucker Road Train Member

    1,119
    2,077
    Oct 23, 2018
    0
    Instant karma
     
    Badmon, Lostmykey and Kyle G. Thank this.
  8. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

    636
    1,777
    Oct 18, 2019
    0
    Cheat spawn tank, problem solved.

    OP, this will not help with your backing..
     
    Kyle G. and alds Thank this.
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    It's a out 200% more difficult backing a trailer than a straight truck. It's just a little more muscle but a lot more thinking about when, where, and what to do. I wouldn't bother trying to teach yourself using anything but a semi truck and trailer. Smaller vehicles turn much much faster and aremore difficult. Plus it's better to have zero experience until you start learning on the 18-wheeler. It's tough gor nearly everyone but it's far harder if you have a bad habit to unlearn.

    Watch YouTube videos on backing to try and understand what you will be doing.
     
  10. Zues

    Zues Bobtail Member

    47
    26
    Apr 22, 2020
    0
    If able and willing to learn you can however one caveat is all is bass ackwards and must learn distinction:). I started 16 foot box now run tractor trailer:). Easy Peasy good luck
     
    G13Tomcat Thanks this.
  11. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

    13,776
    16,234
    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
    0
    Backing a straight truck is just like backing a car.

    Hook a trailer to your car and try it. That is the simplest (and cheapest) way to see the difference.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.