Do you have to back up double and triple trailers?

There was a thread on here once of a guy who was griping why FedEx trucks never back into spots at the truckstop. I guess he had never pulled doubles.

 

Work for FedEx Freight and backing doubles is a no no. Some people can do it but get caught or have a accident backing a set. And it's probably not going to go well for the driver.

We don't run sleepers, all of our runs pulling doubles or triples are out and back. Either straight to another center or to meet another driver and swap sets. Then back to home terminal. Most people will run the first leg without stopping. Swap trailers at center or meet point. Use bathroom there and then straight back home without stopping.

Running the Midwest even at night if I have to stop getting in and out of truckstops and rest areas is pretty easy. You learn quickly which to avoid.

 

In the fuel island blocking everyone in.... lol

 

OD linehaul here and some terminals we split our trailers and others we leave the set hooked. I don't normally back my full set but have had to a time or two in an emergency situation like the entrance gate to a terminal isn't working and your stuck in no man's land. I do back my lead with the jiff nearly every time I hook up. If you're lazy enough that's all the motivation you need to learn how to back your lead and jiff or a hooked set.

 

A -trains are not engineered for backing and you keep that in mind when you park or wherever you pull in so you dont find yourself in a predicament.
I pulled A-trains for years,,beer lead with a meat pup usually so heavy, however my wagons were all tandem.

 

How is it pulling doubles? Is it weird?

 

I pulled doubles. The shocking difference I noticed, versus the 53 ft dry vans I pulled most of the time, is it's more like pulling just the first trailer even though the combination is longer than the 53 ft trailer and NOT like pulling a very long solo trailer or 2 medium trailers. It took me several days to stop taking corners super wide or screwing up pulling into a pull-thru parking spot by swinging wide enough for the whole set. If you are used to pulling 53 ft trailers, then connecting to a longer set of double trailers causes you to drive as if you pulling a longer trailer, so you swing wider around corners. DO NOT DO THAT. Drive as if you only have the first trailer attached, which is much shorter than your 53 ft trailer. The second trailer will go almost exactly where the first trailer goes. Drive doubles down the road, around corners, around the truck stop like there is no second trailer. Also, if your truck has 2 drive axles and only rarely pulls doubles, slide your 5th-wheel fully to the rear before connecting or you might damage your tractor and mudflaps. Most dedicated tractors pulling doubles only have 1 drive axle and the frame ends just behind that 1 axle. OTR trucks have 2 axles and more frame behind the last drive axle so it's super easy to have the landing gear of the lead trailer run into your tractor frame and mudflaps when you connect to it if you are not careful

The other key point with doubles is you cannot panic stop with a set of trailers as well as 1 long trailer. Each trailer can jackknife or roll over so you drive it with more caution for anything that might cause a panic braking event. Most of the initial difference is just learning the process of connecting all of the airlines and the trailers. I think it took me over 2 hours for the first set I made up and less than 45 minutes for the 2nd set I ever put together. Each trailer and the converter dolly between the trailers has airlines and valves that must be connected and opened/closed so that both trailers have operating brakes. You also have to be very careful to be on level ground and be aware that if a trailer, dolly, or truck starts to roll while you are making/breaking a set you may become a puddle of goo on the ground when it rolls over you.

 

You should know by now....you can park your big rig anywhere, even in front of NO PARKING signs, in front of the scale, blocking the pumps, etc.

Just put your 4 way flashers on.....

 

Man... Thanks for the information, I have my Double/Triple and Tanker, will get my hazmat soon. I don't know if I want to use my Doubles yet, I'm gonna see how that Tanker gig do, if it doesn't work out, then I might try that Doubles.