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.
Any tips for 90 degree back in?????
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Calregon, Apr 21, 2014.
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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
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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.
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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. -
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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!
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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.
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