Question about backing & turning

Only thing I think you forgot is the further the tandems are forward the more tail swing you are going to have. Also the further back your tandems are the more room you’re going to have to have in the front. Some Shippers and Receivers require you to pull the tandems all the way backs. I am more comfortable backing with them all of the way to the front or the 48 mark. In the cases were they want them all the way back I slide them after I get it in the hole. It has been my experience that the CDL mills do a piss poor job of training people to back, or at least giving them the opportunity to work on backing maneuvers. It's something that can't really be taught you just have to do it, do it, and do it again. The more opportunities that you get to practice the better you will get at it. There are days that I can't hit the easiest hole in the world to save my life. We all have those kinds of days ("EVEN the Super Truckers"). There are other days when I can put it in to a very tight spot when I'm half asleep. When you get in to the real world take your time. As has been said practice the "GOAL". If the Super Truckers start riding you on the CB use that little round button that says on/off set it to off.

Be Blessed!
And be Careful out there
Storm Crow

P.S. I forgot BUG the heck out of your trainer to let you back the truck up. It's the only way you'r going to learn.

 

If your doing multiple different backs on a pad, like angle or other, look for a point of reference that will get you in the general area of where your backing. We are currently practicing the backing test, and we have 5 areas to cover, and two of them have a reference you can pickout and use.

 

My trainer told me to throw one of my "old" work gloves down on the pavement for a reference of where to start my turn. It worked rather well!

 

With those tandems all the wayup on a 53 you get a whole lot of swing on the rear end of your trailer. It's okay for a dock but can make it VERY hard to get into some tight truck stop spots.
Just wait till you get to try a spread axle trailer. it can go from pivoting on the front axle one second to pivoting on the rear the next and then back!
But you really just need to do it. over and over and over. My father made me do all the backing for a year before he let me out on my own. Not only did I do all the backing but if I didn't get it perfect, or fast enough he;d make me pull out and do it again and again untill I got in perfectly in one or two shots. Some docks you just won't hit in one shot regaurdless. You eventually just lear to "feel" it. you have to learn how fast the trailer gets out from uder you and then how fast you can get back under it. Oh and don't oversteer as stated before. I used to love watching the new schneider drivers when they had the daycabs. Those things turn so fast the poor drivers would snake back and forth a hundred times before lining up with the dock

 

lil boots how do you know when to turn?(reference point)

 

do you turn the truck off when getting out to look? people can always highjack your truck

 

My instructor always advised us to "drive the trailer". In other words, visualize yourself sitting on top of the tractor, facing the rear of the trailer, and driving. Now transpose your steering movements while inside of the truck. It sounds corny, but it worked for a lot of my classmates that had problems backing. Good luck.

 

Most places you can just leave it run. You wouldn't be out of the cab that long. Just do a quick walk around to the side your not sure of. Unless you are in a high crime area then use your best judgment.

 

"Turn Towards Trouble" is the easiest way to remember which way to turn your wheel while backing.:smt025

 

A friend of mine who is a trainer said he finds what has helped his students the most besides alot of practice behind the wheel is he has a remote control tractor/trailer (like the kind kids would play with) and he lends it to them while they're in training with him and tells them to set up for example 2 cans of soup to back it between ect. It may not give u the size but he says it really helps with learning have to set yourself up and gives you some idea on how things react.