Cant alley dock

OK, first, RELAX! the reason your in school is to learn how and it takes time. Your instruckers are going to keep with you till you get it. I had the worst time with the 45 degree dock while in school, and my first 6 months solo there were times I dreaded having to dock. just take your time and it will come. and remember, don't keep trying the same way every time, keep making small changes untill it works for you. My instruckers taught me a trick that helped me in the beginning but I don't know if your skills lot is the same as ours was so i don't want to tell you something that might mess you up even more. It will come, just like everything you have ever learned in your life, if you do it enough times you can't help but learn it.
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The way I learned was to put myself in a bubble and exclude everything and everyone so I could concentrate. Remove all emotion and make up your mind that you will accomplish this successfully this next time and you will.

 

Get out and walk it....think about where u hv to put that truck..every turn cut break .the works. Till you see it...and dude relax...just relax....and remove that cant word...its just beatting you up rt now..walk it see it and do it...

 

Well here in Florida it is a 90 ally dock not a 45. I couldnt get it either. But one day it just clicked and I got it every time. For my self I drive the piviot point not the tractor. That was my AH HA moment.

 

Practice my friend, lots and lots of practice. It will come to you. Try not to get nervous, as it will only impair your thought making process.

SLOW down, think about what your doing. And then? More practice!

Good luck to you.

 

Do this, go into the truckstop and watch everyone going in and out the door to the fuel island. Now, if all those chuckleheads learned how to do it, surely you can too ! keep after it, you'll get it.

I will offer this advice. you need to be able to picture where your truck is at and the angle between your truck and trailer. If you are in the middle of backing and you really lose all sense of where you are just get out and look. you may have to get out and look 5 times backing into an easy spot. doesn't matter, because each time you get out you are learning something and beginning to understand what is going on as you back. just keep thinking that everytime you get out is just going to make it easier the next time you back, and the next time, and the next time.

 

Take your time. Don't overthink things, and relax. Start out small. I usually trained people with a straight back, then slowly worked them to a 90 degree. Try doing a 45 degree first, if that doesn't work, go with a smaller angle. You aren't the first one to struggle with backing. Took me forever to get it down.

 

I too can't alley dock, I don't think anyway. Never tried, except in school. However I don't have too, and better not. I really don't think there are any docks that want 54k lbs of rocks in bulk form... I do however get to "practice" this, by trying to back up to a very specific spot on rock piles.

With that said, follow the great advice given in this thread.