Ready to graduate but crap at backing!

Just a couple of tips that MAY help you. Kingpin line-up: Get a view of what it looks like by doing it opposite. Get in a truck that is already hooked. Get it ready to drop and pull out a little at a time. Get each view burnt into your brain. Then just reverse the process. Backing: Long ago a yard man gave me a tip: If you have the room, get the trailer and tractor lined up BEFORE you enter the space. Not always possible but the concept helped be to get better. Stick with it man. You'll get it.

 

You're definitely not the only one! I've been driving, solo, for 16 months and I still have trouble with backing. I'm not a natural at it so I have to "think" every time I back to a door, back into a parking spot at a TS, etc.

IMHO, the most important thing to do is accept your "newbieism" and focus, primarily, when you're backing, on not damaging anyone's equipment or your own equipment. If you have to GOAL 10 times to get into a slot, then get out 10 times and GOAL.

 

If u cant learn to drive a rig in 6 hours of one on one.... ur too nervous to be a truck driver, and sad to say but nervous with 80,000lbs= dangerous to u as well as other drivers. U got to be a lil crazy to be a good trucker, its not for everyone. My advise is control ur fear of truck..or get u a new line of work that u will be confident with.

 

I sure hope so.

Justin, if after a year you cant couple a trailer, I will personally drive you to Mcdonalds for the job application.

 

Backing takes practice. There is no shortcut.
It's comes to a visual spacial understanding. Remember, when backing a trailer, you are steering the tandems. Watch where they are going. Trust me, the rest of the trailer will go right along with them.
After a while, something will click and it will work for you.
Also keep in mind, schools are there to get you a license. You will learn to shift, back, park, dock and everything else, on your trainer's truck.
You will perfect all these motions with your own truck.
Nothing comes at once. It all takes time.

 

Justinld I feel your pain

The school that I attended only taught us to straight back (only backing required for passing the driving test here in Manitoba) I fortunately was hired on with a great company that has taken me on and placed me in a mentored driving situation for a few weeks. Driving forward is not an issue for me but as you know that's only half the battle.

They have been paying for my mentor and I to practice my backing and every time it's getting a little bit better. for me judging the arc of the turn then the timing of counter steering is my biggest obstacle right now. I usually end up waiting too long before starting to straighten out the tractor to the trailer and overshoot the hole.... Just milk them for all the practice time you can and it will get easier... I still have a ways to go but it's getting better...

Remember to go slow and practice, practice, practice.... Best of luck to you

 

I stressed over backing in school too. Now if its a tight back I can usually get it right in. The problems I have are when I have 15 open docks and no trucks or trailers are in them, takes me forever to get bumped.