backing into truck stop spaces or a dock

I had to do a few pull-ups trying to get into a spot at Lee High the other day. It was dark, around 10pm, not much light, and there was a truck parked on each side. Plenty of space in front, and was pretty much a straight line back, but I kept getting too close to the truck on my blind side for some reason. Then the flatbed on my sight side turned on his load lights to help. It was then that I could see the line on the pavement, realized that his truck was not straight in the space, and I was using his truck to line up for the space. Doh!

 

You're focusing on the wrong thing. Just relax and focus on what you need to do.

100 drivers will explain 100 different ways how to back. You've probably heard every viewpoint more than once. Just forget about all that and find what works for you. Everyone 'sees' it a little different and each back is a little different. Just take your time and learn from each back. Don't try to rush it, the individual back or the learning process.

 

heck ,there's times when I can't back for squat,too !! lol. I just do a turn around the block or truck stop and try again in a new spot. there's just times when the geometry of the articulation of your rig will escape you.even for us old timers. even paid a girl $5 many yrs ago to back into a dock from h3ll. she was a local driver. I ain't too proud to ask for or accept help.

 

I couldn't back up a van for the first 2 days with one, I'm an EX-15 flat. The swing ain't a problem for me, pulled a few 53' trailers. Now tandem, EX-employer had 48' sliding tandem's. Now I just need to adjust to sliding on a 53'.

 

Great advice from everyone. I am back out on the road after being out of trucking for the last 15 years. I have seen many new people struggling backing in ( Most still with trainers ) Alot of them are turning their wheels while not moving and have no idea which way the trailer is going to go when they do start moving or moving very little before trying to correct. I am by no means saying to never stop once you have started but, you have to keep moving enough to see what your tailer is going to do once you have made an adjustment.

I hope that makes sense.

 

Bingo on that! I hate to see a driver do a 2-foot pull-up, because with very few exceptions, it does no good. A whole lot of mini-pull-ups won't accomplish what one maximized one will. Excellent point, PJ!

 

Don't get in the mindset that you have to back in to a parking spot. Why back into a dark narrow spot when you can bac into a big lighted spot when you wake up in the morning.

 

When I first started driving in 2005, it seems like I remember drivers leaving their marker lights on overnight, now I hardly see that. I wish people did, because then it's easier to see a truck when you're backing in. I leave mine on for that purpose so that there is less of a chance of me being hit.

 

Yup, or put some reflectors on your truck. If I'm parking at night, I'll do G-O-A-L every few feet. Sure it takes forever, but I didn't take TMC's hood off.