a few tricks I have learned..

There really is not much you can do. Sometimes you have to pull back out, and just try to reset yourself and do it all over again.. Practice makes perfect. There are still days when I can't back straight into a spot even when no one is near for say 100 miles LOL...

 

WARNING!!! That "count the holes CAN get you into trouble as not all trailers are set/built the same! It's always safest to measure from the Kingpin than take a chance that can cost you $168.00 in CA for 1 freaking inch!

I carry a 100' tape measure in the tool bag! I also use a wonderful multi tool called a vice grip! Clamp the tape measure to the side of the trailer centered on the king pin and go to the back of the trailer and there you have it , the proper distance. I use my black marker and put a small line for whatever bridge law I need and I have no worries!

I posted this info months ago and had someone whine about having a 100' tape measure! Big deal! What if you need to geta NYC permit or have to measure off how far the car that hit you went before he stopped? Or needed to measure a flatbed load? That tape measure takes up not much room in the tool bag or box! Being safe over sorry is the key here along with not giving DOT your money because you were lazy enough to "count the holes" and not measure!

How do I know it cost $168 at the Banning Scales? You figure it out yet? Thats right, I counted the freaking holes and it made the tandems ONE FREAKING INCH TO LONG! When I got home after that load the tape went from the big construction tool box to the bag in the truck and I think it cost me $20 a few years before that for the tape measure! Now I have a 100" and a 25' measure in the tool bag and I can handle the weight!

Live and learn!

 

Get it right the first time so ya won't have to pull up

 

Now i too carry a hundred bill or one foot tape measure both work well , one works well for getting un outa ca jail tho, but my shoe's is 8 1/2 wide , which makes the bottom of my tenny is a foot even, so i just walk it off too center, then i measure and most times im right on the money, never ever go by holes in old or new, never ever trust your air gauge for load weight ether , that can throw u off big time, most new trls have a decal posted by the tadems now , too tell you certain points too put it and how too do it a idiot cheat sheet i call em but for those drivers that can only braille read , probly wont dont do much good, Everett.

 

cali and mich are the only state that have a really retarded king pin law. but for every other state i go by holes. anything under 38k in the box they stay all the way forward. I dont run cali or mich so i never have to worry about king pin law

 

You can jackknife in on those, though, this does take some practice. And depending on how much pull up space there is exactly, you may have to inch back and forth several times to get in. Where your tandems are will come into play also.

I learned a lot from watching yard drivers or whatever you call them. Those in the bobtails moving trailers around at big facilities. You cannot emulate them exactly since you have a bigger truck, but if you watch them you can learn about the angles and geometry involved.

In fact, even when there is plenty of space, I find myself jackknifing in anyway as I've come to be comfortable with that maneuver.

 

10' from the back works if your kingpin is right at the front, but it's not. The way you are doing it you are less than 40'. That's ok with a light load, but a heavy one and your overweight on your trailer. Would be more accurate to measure how far back your kingpin is from the front and subtract that from your 10'. It's always best to measure. Some shortcuts just don't pay.
I've always thought it was easier to set your tandems back before you back up. That way you don't have any overhang on the back to contend with. Less chance of backing into someone, especially in tight spaces. Also good for not much pull up room. Your pivot point is closer to the dock.
I am saying I'm experienced at it. 21 years. You're trying to learn, that's more credit than I can give some I've seen.