If someone asked you to back there truck up to a dock would you do it?

Also, I just couldn't back in once to save my life so I asked yard jockey and he did it for me.

 

I've only been driving for 5 months and I wasn't a good backer until 2 months ago a fellow driver who said he had 9 years exp told me back up while your steering which made it so easier cr England would say hard right hard left which works but takes longer. Now I setup and bang I'm at the dock it used to take me 2 or 3 setups but I've learned from drivers I met on the road about backing and safety and one thing they said never let someone else back your truck just ask for help and most of the time someone will coach u thru it

 

I did it before when I was peddling in Philly. Sometimes they would drop there trailer and if shag it from there. Just doing the shipper a favor.

 

Yup, I'd back it for them. I also have a hand held CB I use if they just need a spotter. "Go to channel 8 and lets get ya in there!" Nothing worse than a spotter on your blindside - you can't see them...

 

What's a dock, haha I love flatbedding.

 

When I drove flatbed, we would bump the docks at North American Salt in Kenosha, WI and they would drive onto it like a a regular van trailer.

 

I drive a dry van and we often pick up manhole covers in Ardmore, OK. This place was built for flatbeds exclusively, you back into a hole with with concrete platform on 3 sides. Its a very tight fit, just enough room for a flatbed to squeeze in, it was a pita with those dam swing out doors. I went there so often it became easy to back in with no pullups, practice, practice practice. Instead of trashing around inside a truckstop on the weekend go to the party row where theres likely plenty of space and back into a spot from different angles, thats how I got blindsiding figured out.
My answer to the original question is no I would not bacck the truck in but I will try to guide them in, sadly some cant even back with help.
One exception, loading in St Louis going home for Christmas. There is a bad blizzard coming and I tried to help a female Swift driver for 45 mins, she kept over- steering and getting out of line. She had my dock blocked so I finally docked it for her, she was amazed I did it in one try.
I suggested she practice backing if there was plenty of room in the truckstop, no idea if she ever got it. She seemed like one of those girls that smile and flirt with a guy so he'll slide her tandems for her or whatever.

 

I was in one of the eastern states. Rhode Island, I hthink. I had just started pulling a 53' trailer. My company sent me to a company whose dock was sized for box trucks. i tried until the receiver came out and started staring me down. I got on the CB and said, "For the love of God, if there's a driver near here who can hear me, I need help docking this trailer... please!". I was really frustrated.

An old, grizzled O/O responded. He asked where I was. Turned out he was finishing a delivery around the corner. He docked the trailer ofr me, but had me stand on the running board so he could explain to me how he was doing it. I learned a lot that day, and will always be grateful to that man for his kindness and willingness to help. I offered him $20 but he wouldn't take it.

 

have always said no, how else will you learn?.. but do help out.

 

I've never been asked by another drive to back on any occasion, and I probably wouldn't.
Of course he has to learn at some point so I would definitely help them, but it's crazy as hell how many of y'all are trying to downplay the "what if." Backing someone else's truck into a building or another truck is still a preventable...

The one time I ever backed up someone else's equipment it wasn't even a tractor trailer.
Some guy at one of my furniture drops couldn't hit the dock to save his kids, cause he was in a Tahoe, with tints hooked to a 4x8.
Easy for me cause it's a daily thing. Also, was a big parking lot without any obstacles, he just couldn't get the trailer to go where he wanted it and for obvious reasons.