Any tips for 90 degree back in?????

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Calregon, Apr 21, 2014.

  1. OldHasBeen

    OldHasBeen Road Train Member

    1,269
    923
    Dec 16, 2010
    0
    Not getting out to look reminded me.

    At a place out around LA many years ago I was backing into a spot under a shed, or should I the spot was covered about 10' in front of the dock, & being covered you could not really see what was back there. And I was backing into the first spot.

    I started backing in & something told me to stop, & go take a look. I did, & there was something that stuck out about a foot from the wall, & if you hit it it would tear your off side door off the trailer. After seeing it I went on & back in with out a problem.

    That's when I got mad at the man standing on the dock after getting out & going to the dock. He laughed out loud saying, "I thought I was going to have fun again, I just love to see drivers back into that spot tearing their trailer door off & seeing them have to throw it into their trailer before leaving. Why didn't you stay in your truck so I could have seen you tear the door off your trailer?"

    After truck driving school when you go to back into a spot, if there is ever any doubt at all, get out & look, even if its bad weather, pouring down rain, of freezing rain, or whatever. Its best to be safe & sure than to tear something up. Plus if you tear a door off the company will not like that, plus you will have to spend time going getting it fixed before you can load. Ir at least you will if your pulling a reefer units as I always did.

    As for me if I was an instructor in driving school getting out to looked the situation over, for that I would give you points, that's showing very good judgment & not laziness. There's way to many lazy truck drivers, even back in the days of my driving.
     
    Lux Prometheus and ncmickey Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. jbourque

    jbourque Heavy Load Member

    924
    553
    Oct 25, 2012
    south english iowa
    0
    to answer your question it will come to you the more you do it. when you you get to the point where it is more a pain in the butt rather than wonder if you can you can quite worrying. its not easy just keep trying. lots of luck
     
  4. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,584
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    When it gets to the point you look forward to backing into that difficult spot just to see the beauty of that trailer turning into position, then you know you don't have to worry about it.
     
  5. rank

    rank Road Train Member

    9,870
    113,109
    Feb 11, 2010
    50 miles north of Rochester, NY
    0
    Didn't read all the replies but if you're backing in blind you can attach a rectangular mirror to the pass side sun visor that helps. Pass side Dolly Parton might help too.
     
    Lux Prometheus Thanks this.
  6. rank

    rank Road Train Member

    9,870
    113,109
    Feb 11, 2010
    50 miles north of Rochester, NY
    0
    Shhh. If they could all back up there wouldn't always be that last spot available at the TS. :)
     
  7. Lux Prometheus

    Lux Prometheus Heavy Load Member

    816
    378
    Oct 28, 2013
    San Venganza, Tx
    0
    He doesn't worry about that! He just kicks a newbie out of a front pull-thru spot!! :p:p:p
     
  8. Lux Prometheus

    Lux Prometheus Heavy Load Member

    816
    378
    Oct 28, 2013
    San Venganza, Tx
    0
    Unless Dolly is the age she is now and looks it, she won't be any help at all 'cuz your eyes won't be looking in the mirror... More like about 3 feet lower and inboard...
     
  9. davetiow

    davetiow Bobtail Member

    8
    0
    Apr 26, 2014
    0
    what so many said, watch your tandems, think where you want them to go and start early enough to allow them to get there. oh and don't be like me, sweat it through and finally dock nicely, only to realize you paid so much attention to the 90* you didn't open your trailer doors!
     
  10. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

    4,578
    20,668
    Apr 18, 2014
    cold as hell, MN
    0
    Dont tell me you were up aginst a wall to, so you had to pull all the back out and start from scratch
     
  11. Garrison64

    Garrison64 Bobtail Member

    48
    15
    Apr 4, 2014
    0
    Go slow and don't turn the wheel too much. Give it time to react. Don't be afraid to look back out of your window in the 90 part. Once you straighten out go back to the mirrors. I find it easiest to focus mostly on the drivers side mirror only looking in the left to check for centering occasionally. Practice is the only real way to improve. Back up every chance you get.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.