Backing in tight places

Question to yall(esp notarps). How does a spread react different. Mostly we have 45 and 48's and 1 53' but no spreads. And I'm looking at a lot of flatbed comps than run spreads. Thanks for the help.

 

A spread will often not back the same way twice. I can put a spread anywhere, but doubt that I could do that with a van anymore. Spreads are hard to spot. You can actually roll the tire off of the rim. Some you can drop an axle to make it easier on tire scrub. There is a 10 foot gap between axles 4 and 5 unlike a van where they are together, plus on a spread you can not slide the axles.

A spread will turn a lot later until you get the hang of spotting one. Can be a nightmare in big cities on side streets like chicago. Hard to stay off of curbs or sidewalks....

Some flats and decks you can move the axles. I just never pulled one. Prime has some that goes into CA.

 

Thanks notarps. Got an ok from mcelroy and waiting on howard, ct and cypress. Either way prob no sliding axles. Hope to see ya out there soon.

 

You are welcome. I would stay away from cypress. Don't know very much about howard. kickin chicken posted about them being a good co I think. Mcelroy would be a good choice.

 

I normally try the 90 Degree backing or line myself up on a 45 then go into a 90. But if my trailer is line up in the spot -n- my tractor is off then a pull a 4X4 move back about 4 feet turn my wheel in the direction i want my tractor to go. Then move forward about 4 feet . My tractor will move but my trailer.Will still stay line up cause if I'm right ( correct me if wrong ) But for trailer to move off tract it has to move 10 feet so moving 4 feet at a time the trailer would still stay line up while you slowly line tractor up with the trailer.
Hope this helps in anyway .

 

Sure, it's not rocket science.

But knowing that you steer in the opposite direction when reversing in a combination vehicle (unless you're pulling, or in this case pushing, doubles) isn't the same as knowing how to back.

Backing is, like so many other things, a matter of feel. You can get good tips from people; everyone has a preferred approach, and those can be useful to learn, but since every situation is different, you really can't learn how to back by rote.

CDL schools are very irresponsible, in that respect. They'll teach you by rote how to do whatever backing maneuver your state requires -- and they can do that, because the testing area is a controlled environment. In my case, it was learning how to parallel park with a 40-foot trailer, which probably sounds harder than it was. I can count on two fingers the number of times I've ever had to do anything like it out in the real world, and I can assure you that in those situations, my by-rote approach from CDL school would not have worked.

So anyway, the point is that you may come out of CDL school thinking either that it's easy or that there's some universal trick to backing into a dock. My first employer actually had training videos that implied something similar -- giving trainees step-by-step instructions for 45-degree and 90-degree backing maneuvers.

But it's not always easy to back, and it's not the kind of thing that lends itself to step-by-step instructions. There are no hard-and-fast rules. Hell, even the exact same hole in the exact same lot can feel different, depending on where you've slid your tandems/fifth-wheel.

Learn the step-by-step stuff to get an idea. Practice those instructions in roomy areas, at first, and go from there. The most important things are to take it slow, and get out and look when in the slightest doubt.

For what little it's worth, the best lesson I learned about backing wasn't even about backing: It was about pulling up. Getting yourself in the right position to begin with, and knowing how to fix your mistake when you start to go off track, are probably the best things to learn. If you do those two things right, the actual backing isn't really that hard. The worst thing you can do is try to fix a bad setup by trying to be a backing wizard. Just remember: There are no awards for backing like a star, but there are serious penalties for messing up.

 

Something that has been missed by all the posters. When your looking down the trailer with your mirrors. If you dont see open air between your trailer and the obstruction? Your definately going to hit something.

You should be able to see your path on both mirrors on your straight back. You still need to GOAL, yet you willbe able to see straight past your trailer and the next. If it seems tight on that side, turn the truck toward the tight area to increase the distance when backing.

 

Right. I get that school is only the basics, but the school I'm attending is also not like any other cdl mill. The school tests are so much harder/more in depth than what the dmv req's they have 2 seperate set of test. You can get a cdl and not graduate. We do alley docking bt 2 trailers that are 10' apart and we back our road trucks in next to the others(no cones). But I have definitely seen how the same hole and almost identical setup can be vastly different. All in all, I know I have along way to go to be a pro I just try to learn everyday. Thanks yall.

 

I have Backed Flat bed Tandems, Spreads 57 foot flatbed 53 food Box 45 foot Hoppers and more. A Couple of tips 1 is to pratice find somewere around home and try out different angles find the one that works for you, Bring someone to help make sure you dont hit anything. Another is if you go to a place you havent been before with more than just your truck loading and its ok with everyone let the other poor soul back in first. This way you can get an Idea of your angle.
Look for Tracks. 80 K trucks leaves Tire marks Walk those marks they can tell you the cut and angle needed to get in the slot. And the most important rule remember even if someone helps you back in and guides you right into someones Car it is still your fault

 

last night I had to drop between 2 trailers that was way tight! this older gent was laughing at me scoping the situation out before I backed in. he says his comment " are ya scared" I replied NO just wanna make it the first time he says 20 says ya can't I'm like ok your on! swing around line up and the LIGHTS GO OFF! he is rolling on the floor I brought it back in and landed 1st time straight and square. he walks over hands me 20 and says you know that was just luck and I said no Just Karma that would have never happened at another time. I'm terrible and slow in the dark usually.