Backing advice?

pull forward and reset your setup

 

Get Out And Look. Do that as many times as it takes, and don't worry about the supertruckers. It gets better as you get more experience.

 

Well how to explain this on here lol

First off it sounds like you have an ### for a teammate, maybe you should look into going solo so you don't have a backseat driver that apparently doesn't know what he's talking about yet he's still barking orders.

If you are afraid of hitting the truck on your right (blind side) try hugging the left side (sight side) as close as possible, that way you know you have the extra room on your right. Also keep in mind where the tandems are positioned. It's easier to back with the tandems all the way back since there is no overhang to worry about.

As far as setting yourself up, I'd set up a normal 45 degree angle back by hugging your left side relatively close to where you want to back into. Stop briefly right in front of the hole you want to back into and get a good visual how much room you have to work with, then slowly go forward and watch your convex mirror on your driver side. The second you can see the second truck in your mirror immediately turn the tractor out to the right until you reach approximately the 90 degree point. Once you hit that point, turn the tractor back to the left until you can see the trailer in your mirror pointing towards the hole. You're set up for your back.

feed it back into the hole them. If the trailer is approaching the vehicle on your sight side do a pull up and straighten out the tractor more. If you notice you are trailing off too far to your blind side, do a pull up but turn your tractor to the left so you are jacked even more.

The only way you can readjust is by doing a pull up. Don't just learn how your trailer acts when you are backing it up, it's just as important to learn how the trailer acts when you do a pull up and how the pull up affects how the trailer will then back up.

And get out and look 100 times if you have to its not a race

 

lots of good company made videos on utube check them out

 

Rock- In another thread I gave advice I have used always. At a truck stop, backing for the nite, drive slowly down to the open spot about 10 feet from the front of the other trucks. Line up your drive axles to the center of the hole. Turn the wheel all the way hard over, and get straight. You will notice trailer will be lined up to the spot. You will see other trucks. Start backing till you get close. Stop and get out and check the site. You will be surprised how you did. Don't worry about holding up another driver. If he is a lifer he knows the risk. If there is no room to get straight, and have that suck blind spot, from angle backing I prop open right door. and hang old bathroom mirror on half open window till I have room to finish backing. You will get a lot of jokes about this but it works great. When half way in remove mirror Hope this helps Mike.

 

As your trailer end crosses the line that runs from the front bumper of one truck to the other (or trailer end...) make for #### sure that you are parallel to the other trucks/trailers on each side as you slide into the slot. Don't allow your trailer to get much out of a straight alignment with that parking slot... and you should be ok.

Just Get Out And Look!!!!

 

Phew this is a tough one to do in a literary format. You seem to be quite aware at how important the set up is. I'm a little aggravated by your trainer.

Apparently there is quite a bit of time on these loads from the information that you have given. Without me actually being there to describe what is occurring in real time it is very hard for me to communicate. So this is what I am going to suggest.

What makes a good backer is repetition. In other words practice. It sounds like you have plenty of time to practice, but you are being given control of the truck when parking is full. Due to time on the load being present what you need to do is practice in a safe environment. I hear you, on the fact that there is some sort of power struggle going on. I would not exacerbate this situation if at all possible. Just give him his short glory and make #### sure it isn't just you butting heads with good info when he tries to offer guidance. OK

Seeing that he is capable of just sitting around till the sun comes up to drive for the day explains to me that you have time to practice, and you need to be utilizing it. Find yourself a good measure of empty spots that are successive. 4 empty parking spots in a row should suffice. Try different angles and set ups aiming for a particular spot. Come to understand how the tandems of the trailer pivot and at what degree they do. Do not sell yourself short. Create an imaginary truck and trailer on each side of the exact parking spot you are aiming for.

The set up is the most important part of backing. Without a proper set up it isn't going into the spot you want it in, or it is going to be a struggle. The biggest mistake I see newbies making when learning to back is not allowing enough room. What I am saying is they are not pulling up far enough beyond the desired spot to get a good set up. Remember you can adjust pulling up to far, but not pulling up far enough leads to having to initiate an entirely new set up. It is the same thing when making pull up corrections. Pull ups by newbies tend to be much shorter than needed. Remember we are talking over 70' of equipment. Make your pull up count. If there is clearance in front of you make sure you use it.

Clearance in front of the spot as you bring the equipment parallel, and inline to the intended spot has a lot to do with the initial set up. The more clearance that is offered to you the more parallel, and inline your set-up to the spot you are trying to back into needs to be. The less clearance you have in front of the spot then the more perpendicular, to the spot you are trying to back into, your set up will be out of necessity. Not all set-ups are created equal, and are somewhat dependent on a tractors turning radius. So without me being onsite to offer help it is very hard for me to say what is best, especially when I cannot see what you are doing wrong.

As far as your codriver spotting you. You two need to agree on a set of hand signals and what they mean beforehand. Honestly, he should know this. He should have already explained to you the hand signals he is going to use. What they mean, and what you are to do when one is given. It is your job to agree with that and trust it, and perform it while paying careful attention to what his prompts are causing the equipment to do. If he is a good spotter those hand gestures will give you a very good understanding of what is taking place as you back. You need to try and work this out with him unless you know for certain he would do something drastic to prove some sort of strange point.

Here I would like to say that if you are not comfortable with how things are going in your attempt to back due to your set up, or otherwise, you need to abort and initiate a new set up attempt.

Don't worry about any feelings of inadequacy. Make sure you have any CB off that might carry taunting words. And if the parking lot is somewhat busy be courteous to other drivers time while remaining focused on getting the training, and experience YOU are paying for. Always, always get out and look when you are not sure of something. I don't care how sure someone else seems to be. Do not feel as though doing this marks you as less than professional in the eyes of everyone watching. NOTHING can be further from the truth!

Find you a good open spot with plenty of room on either side and back that sucker up over and over. Do it from different set up angles if possible to simulate clearance in front of you. Do it until he says, "what are you doing" then simply say, "training".

 

In my opinion, you have an excellent attitude. You can't really be too cautious. Last night I had to drop my empty in a tight spot and bounded in front be a fence with only a small opening. I got out about 5 times and still couldn't get it right. I was super exhausted. I finally unhooked from my trailer while it was partially in the spot, and the re-hooked from the opposite side. It probably looked ridiculous to others (lol, luckily no one was around) but hey there was no contact. Your cautious attitude will protect you - and NEVER let others rush you.

 

My advice on backing is to find an empty parking lot, take your truck and an MT trailer, set up some boxes to simulate other trucks, and practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, do it again, then practice, practice, practice, do it again , practice, practice,..................... The only way to learn is to do it.Take your time, stay calm, get out and look. So practice, practice, practice.............. All the books in the world will not give you the confidence, experience as doing it over and over. You will learn, takes a little time.Just practice, practice, practice.