how important is backing?

Some locations you never even touch reverse. Others you're backing around a mud pit with a spotter. It's VERY important.

 

No tankers yet, but belly dump is zero. I forgot I had reverse actually.

 

Very important....here in PA you might find yourself blindsiding around a corner into a spot just barely wider than the trailer, backing down the lease road because of the mud/snow/ice. Trust me on this- there's nothing that will tighten your sphincter muscle more than trying to go up an icy hill that has several 90 degree turns only to get to the top and spin out. At which point you may be backing all the way to the bottom and trying again. But not to worry, its fun!

 

OK, My first thought on this, is why are you concerned with the backing?, If you are just learning to drive, then learn to back up, Then no matter what job you get, backing shouldn't be a issue, Personally, I don't think someone fresh out of driving school should take a job, that requires little to no backing, JMO

 

Probably part of the cdl test requirements . . .

 

I started driving a smooth bore right out of school and never had to back up except at the yard to drop my trailer. I loaded food grade myself and its a pull up kind of set up almost always. I was always allowed to take my break where ever I was loading, I think because food grade is always such a rush and they just want you on site if a driver is not there they have to dump the product to make room in the holding tanks for more product. Sooo... when I did have to back it would take forever and I would barely get it. I had another guy actually back my load one time. H ow sad is that? I would not stop at truck stops because I was afraid to back in a space if the lot was crowded. You get the point. So I made a choice to go to a dry van company for awhile to actually learn how to be a driver. With van you will have to do magic like manuvers with that trailer. I think my first load was in a downtown old housing area that had a pickle factory in it and I was like the street is only as wide as the truck to begin with, wtf? You learn how to not only back really fast but drive in super tight areas. So I guess I would say if you can start with van then go to tank you will be a better driver as a result and maybe live longer as well. I went back to smooth bore but was a wayyyy better driver and its nice to be able to take a break at the truck stop lololo! Just my two cents.

 

I had some tank driver trying to argue with me that it was way harder to back a tank than it was to back a 53' van. Lol. I hauled a 43' tank for a couple of months and backing was a cakewalk in comparison lol.

after 20 minutes or so of arguing, he threw in the argument that "you have to back a tank into tighter spots". Yeah, nice try getting yourself out of the hole you dug yourself into, but even with van these people still push it to the limit the amount of space a 53' conventional has.

 

pulling tank in the oil feilds you will find your self backing in some very tight spaces, with a lot of things in the way. if you are doing anything to do with frac, workover, or drill rigs, pulling production or crude very little backing

 

So Ezrider_48501 are you saying pulling production water has little backing ? As I to had the same ? And have turned some jobs down in ND pulling water until I get better at backing , I mean I can get them where I need them but gotta pull up and get out and look sometimes , Thanks for any info on this in advance