backing into truck stop spaces or a dock

If you begin to turn when the trailer tandems are "in front of" the space ... you're way too late. The best idea I can give is in as many cases (most cases) thing "45". Think 45 degrees, Try not to over it analyze the situation. But the most important advice overall is the initial SETUP. And that can only be learned with experience but the "45" point mentioned comes into play here. A bad setup can make for a difficult, if not impossible back without reseting and starting over from the setup.

Turning the CB off is the right thing to do half then time, and the wrong thing to do the other half, so leave it on unless there is a lot of chatter about stuff a mile away. Sometimes, a respondent will actually offer critical and valuable info.

 

practice.practice.practice.don't worry about what others may think.we have all been where you are at this point in your driving career.if you see a driver sitting in his truck near the location that you will back into,get out of your truck and ASK him/her to watch for you and advise you either on the cb or out of his truck assisting you.this is not the time to be timid and 99.9% of all drivers will get out and help direct you.

G.O.A.L.regardless of the number of times. we all have to get out of the truck from time to time in order to verify that we will not be hitting anything.if you know a spot is beyond your skill level and the truck stop is super busy,THAT is precisely the time to ask for help.

 

I used to have the same problem. What I finally ended up doing was in the middle of day go to the back end of a large ts and just practice over and over. Try differant ways of setting yourself up, my trainer taught me one way and I coud just never quite get it, finally after practicicing numerous ways I found a way that worked for me. I still have days when I just can't get the trailer in a hole no matter how hard I try. All it take is practice, you'll figure it out. never be afraid to ask for help if you get hung up, rather that then hit someone else

 

Yeah it will come together with time, don't worry too much, we have all been there and there are times when we still have those moments. At least I do and Ive been out here 9 years. I still think of myself as a rookie. You will be fine just get out and look like x#1 says, it's much better than hitting something.

 

Yeah, and no matter how long it takes, or how many tries it takes, ignore the impatient and the drivers that may mock you...it's YOUR CDL and YOUR career, not theirs.

 

Had an old-timer watch me back into a dock door. Asked me "what's easier to do, jack the trailer or straighten it?". Well, jacking it is easiest to do. "Right", he said. "So start getting back straight long before you think you need to. You can always jack it quick if you see that you need to, but once you see that you need to get back behind it, it's too late."

Helped a lot.

 

At some point in your career you will figure out that backing up is just like going forward. You are driving the truck. You are driving the truck backwards. It will go where you want it to go. At first you are just turning the wheel and praying it will go the way you want it to. In time it will go the way you want it to.

Use your mirrors. After you get out and look of course. The trailer goes away from your hand if your hand is on top of the wheel. It goes toward your hand if you have your hand on the bottom of the wheel. Do not watch your tandems, drive the truck.

 

2 mistakes I see most often. First is not pulling forward far enough to utilize all the room availabe. Pull forard take all the room you have (or need), second is do not over correct. It is better to pull forward a couple times. If you fell lost pull forward adjust your position then back you go again. And practice.

 

try watching at the trailer wheels, not the back of the trailer, then picture the path the tires will make. If you focus on the tires, thats the pivot point the trailer will swing on and the end of the trailer is overhang that will swing off the pivot.????? um, hope that made sense.... kinda hard to put into words.
STexan is dead on, set up is the most important part, get it right and you look like a pro, blow it, and you look like a rookie,lol.