Do I need to adjust my mirrors or just not believe them?

The mirrors will allways give a incorrect image,no matter what you do.
Think about it,they in a position which is outside the sideline off the truck.
So they give an image which is at an angle.

 

"They" say, (whoever the heck "they" are,) that the more experience you have, the less problem you will have with this.

What I have found though, is that bumping a dock where there are no markings at all, other than just the bumpers, is a real PITA, if you can't get a good straight set up. I had one customer where you had to come in at an angle that was somewhere between 45 and 90. No lines on the asphalt, and dock locks that flatly would not lock unless you were "perfect." Far more stressful than having to dodge between things that could be seen.

 

Line yourself up as perfectly straight using your mirrors as you can. Now get out and look at where straight "really" is. It just takes practice to figure out when your trailer is truly straight. Comes with time and repetition. and when you get a new truck, you get to learn it all over again lol. It'll even change between different trailers and trailer widths. I have found once you're backed into a dock, just sitting there waiting. That's about the best time to do all of this, you've got lots of reference points to help you judge.

 

That was where I had problems in judging it. I could be pulling anything from a pup to a 53, and they were not all the same width. And a couple of them dog legged like crazy.

 

Yup, nuttin more annoying than an extra foot of trailer in one mirror and a foot less in the other lol every hopper bottom I ever pulled always drifted to the right, and my last reefer was the same way.

 

It just takes a little time behind the wheel and then that truck will be just like another appendage! For now just adjust your mirrors as you feel necessary and find what best works for you. You can also use landmarks at the docks such as other trucks parked or cracks or lines in the pavement. Sliding your tandems back though will make it tougher on you. Always slide them all the way forward if you want to make it easier for backing. Just keep in your mind the extra swing you add to the rear by doing this. If you slide them all the way back you won't have the swing but it will take longer to get a response back there and make backing a little more difficult. Also when going into tight little towns or places with smaller roads and such if you more your tandems all the way up this will make it easier to navigate through.

A lot of times no matter how you move your mirrors it will still sometimes appear slanted or look as if one side of the trailer is tracking. When in route I always run with my mirrors slightly aimed down and out so that I can see my blind spots a little better. Seat position and height also helps too. Another little thing I do when backing is to roll the windows down. This especially help in cutting down the glare and gives you a clearer picture of things. When blind siding it is definitely beneficial to move your mirrors as you are backing. As you are backing and making your turns constantly move your mirrors to follow the trailer. When in doubt though get out and look!

 

If you want to get straight judge by the track of your rear wheels not the side of the trailer. No mirror set sights straight down the side of the trailer no matter how long or short it is. This works for vans, flats, tanks, etc. You just watch your trailer for clearances.