Backing up, let me get this straight

True that. I had a job once where I'd drive a semi one week and a straight truck the next.. it was pretty stupid the first day on the straight truck..

 

aint no pride in my game.pull the breaks and ask the driver there to tell you how he got in there.I was a one place where we had to go down a alley backwards and drivers would be out to help you get in then you had to wait for last truck to get unloaded before you could get out.drivers dont offer to help because of the nastiness of some individuals but...if you ask they are more then willing to help

 

Not sure if it was mentioned among the great tips but there's some visualization that can make things easier as well, IMHO, ALONG WITH the other tips...

Many docks make it easy by having "tracks" from the last 100 trucks, or lines outlining 'your' space so you just arc your tandems to meet and hold that track until close(r) to straight on and then it's nothing but a straight back...Just holding the track will ensure you're turning and straightening out...

If you can see or imagine lines coming off of your tandems extending outward where you're heading you can see quickly, while moving slowly, when it's getting offtrack avoiding the need for large or over-corrections...

Just like flying, the last minute of your trip is the part requiring the most skills!...

 

Old trick to backing but simple, forget turning the opposite way! Put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, not the top. If you want the back of the trailer to go right, move your hand right. If you want the back of the trailer to go left, move your hand left. No having to think about it and getting confused with reversing movements. And yes, small adjustments, as you are backing.
Another thing I have used to teach backing, a remote controlled model semi. Always stand behind it and as it moves, you will get a bird's eye view of how everything reacts to each input of the front tires.

 

Currently in school and this whole week is focused on backing.

T.T.T. - Turn Towards Trouble

Helps us keep out trailers straight.

Offset and alley just take some getting used to. I feel comfortable with the concept of backing but it comes down to the movement of the trailer in actual practice for me to get a good feel of what's occurring in relation to the steering angle.

 

Turn Towards Trouble is a good tip. The thing about backing though is that one tip never works for people, lots of tips never help for some people. I have had people get out of the truck ready to beat me to death because they simply have reached the over the top level of frustration because it seems like such a simple thing. Yeah.. just turn the wheel opposite etc etc.. We have all been there! Thats another thing that some expereinced hands and even some instructors do not take into account. We do this stuff almost subconsciously and we need to sometimes go into the "way back" machine and remember what it was like when WE were learning to do this.

One of the most important things is that you HAVE to move your sight picture from left mirror to right mirror consistantly and constantly when straight backing. This helps to see the trailer (I used the tandems / rear wheels to teach the students to see out of the truck.. if they can see the trailer wheels on both sides of the trailer.. they are going straight! if the picture starts to change.. then need to start inputting corrections.. straight... correct.. straight.. correct.. ideally when you can get them to work from the center, push the trailer where they want it to go and not simply follow / chase the trailer all over the place, you will be winning.

 

That is a great way to put it. Most things are hard at first because you never done it before. It takes time and patience and I agree with you 100% FozzyNOK.