CDL classroom score !

one cone during start-up actually can tend toward safety as some adrenaline is correct to keep some mental going, I can back well but if I got one cone that sort of puts me in a strange place as when that is not a cone then that is something that cannot happen,.....the number one issue in my mind when I am backing is do not ever be shy about pulling up to straighten out nor ever have any slightest "self-conscious" about going and looking for yourself, flagger or not

if anyone says naysay about it immediately start looking for a company that knows how to run a yard, one ding on $50,000 worth of equipment??... no yard boss who has been at it awhile is going to ding you for not having that ding, and if they do they is ding-bat & ding-batty

sort of a style issue somewhat as some operations can tolerate some things, but the trick is not to become complacent about the cone ~ just realize that is what the cone is for - so that you see that

 

Cones are easy to hit. I had a hard time when I first started out seeing the cones. I told my instructor to park his car out there so I could see it. He did. Backing into a dock is easier then driving around cones.

 

That is definitely true! I went to a school for my CDL too, and now I am in company training with Carter Express. I am in my 3rd week, and have been doing every dock and all the driving so far. It is much easier with the docks! Also, as the one driver said, DONT BE AFRAID TO PULL UP and readjust. Dont listen to the old timers that say you arent a good driver if you have to pull up or get out to look. I was having a hard time with one dock that i had to u-turn and set up for, and i told my trainer i thought i was not very good yet. He told me there are days when you would think HE never backed before. So, just stay focused, keep your mind on the task, and ignore any others telling you to go faster than YOU are comfortable. That is where mistakes are made. Good luck out there, and stay safe!
Trust me, it DOES get easier as you do it more often.

 

one piece of advice or more so observation when ur on the road u will start noticing two things every truck stop is different and every place you go to dock seems different. my trainer was real good with backing he made me do almost all of them plus some extra in a little truckstop one night. he never let me do the straight line back when it was avail cause there easy all mine had to be 45 and 90 so ill be better at the tougher docks

 

have them use pallets instead of cars or cones.

 

it does "more than that" as not pulling up to straighten is not doing what has to be done ~ the major #1 issue is to use what I call "looks stupid, works great" safety method - the is a sort of impulse to be compliant with what people think should happen, when driving a truck that is not always the way to do it and few have the skills to do really good backing = watch the 10+ years drivers and see how they do it + even if I am wrong then watching whatever they do will teach you things like how they pause ..... notice how slow a dock approach is actually done and time nearly a dozen dockings where driver is one+ decade doing the work and notice it could take 30 minutes from the time first observation of the parking lane 'till doors open, if that is what it takes and dont do it be sure to have your Burger Bob's resumes already in the mail

 

Glad i could help out too, I am still a new driver, but if i can use my fresh in memory experience to help other newbies I am glad to help!
I finnished training and get my own truck this week. If any newbies out there would like you can msg me and ask any questions you may be worried about.
Also, a small piece of advice to the drivers in training or school- relax, breathe, THINK, observe, and you will be fine. My trainer told me something I have seen on here before, " Either you can drive a truck, or you cant. " Good luck to you all, and stay safe!