More questions

I'm back with more questions. As you all know STT isn't doing a very good job with training and I'm stuck with him as he is currently the only trainer available.

I've been bugging him to help me with my backing. I'm pretty much learning it on my own. I'm getting a lot better with my straight backs but the 90 and blind petrify me because all STT does is tell me turn, turn, turn, back, back, back, forward, forward, turn, turn until I'm in place. I've explained to him I need some landmarks to know where I am and what I need to do next because this constant putting me there isn't helping me learn and I'm having trouble figuring it out my myself. So I started looking here and youtube for insight on where I need to be to do it right. I know practice is the best way but he doesn't give me any time to practice. He has us running like crazy. This past little over a week I drove over 3500 miles which would be really nice if I was actually getting paid for the miles but I only get $500 per week period during training and only have about 25 days in the drivers seat.

I think I finally got through to him that I don't want to spend any more time than absolutely necessary in that truck with him. He seemed to think that I was happy to stay with him for weeks yet until I finally told him that I didn't have that many weeks left and gave him the cold shoulder. After that he says I will start working with the customers, dispatch, and doing more backing.

I watched a video from CR England about proper backing from 2011. I know bad company but what about the info he gives for the 90? Is it any good for starting out?

I don't know if posting the link would be ok with the tos so I won't post it. I know it's titled CR England-- proper backing posted Oct 2011.

I haven't watched anything on the blind side yet but that's the next thing in line. I need to get this figured out. The sooner the better. I don't want to end up tearing up someone elses bumper because I didn't learn how to do it from STT before I got turned loose.

Thank you again.

 

Thank you PattyJ and HotH20.

I've done 1 90 and 2 blind sides so far. STT has done all the rest because that's how it's worked out when we arrive at our stops. This last blind would have been my 3rd but another truck moved in front of us and there was no way I could have safely done the blind without hitting the other truck. STT almost hit them 2-3 times while trying to move around.

The last blind that I did I got ticked off at him and practically yelled at him that I needed more information to learn how to do it and he started to explain, got a few words out, shook his hands, and stormed out of the truck frustrated that he couldn't explain it to me. His excuse was that he was going to go check then disappeared in to my blind spot then got angry that I wasn't responding to him. I had the window open so he hollered at me but I just said I couldn't see him. Then he walked to the front of the truck and went back to his turn, back, forward, turn. I finally stopped watching him and started watching my mirrors. I made it mostly in 1 spot and was able to correct it somewhat from there. I doubt anyone could have used the other space but I was in and went to bed. That was on our way from Dallas TX to Amarillo to pick up a load going to Portland OR and Seattle/Fife WA.

After we got done with that load and got back to CA was when he finally said I would start getting to do more work with the customers, paperwork, and backing. I just seriously doubt that suddenly he's going to change and I'll actually learn something from him.

Thanks Cuzzin it. I will do exactly that.

 

Thanks Clyde07. I have every intention of practicing. I just have to get into my own truck where I actually have some time to practice.

Thanks Vinsanity.

I do understand that he can't teach me everything but what I'm asking is simple stuff like when I come to a space that I want to back into for the night. I stop and check it out. Now how far do I pull past that spot before I know I can actually get into that spot? 1, 2, 3 spots? More? When doing a 90 into a dock how far past the dock that I need to get into do I go to know I can get into that spot? He just keeps telling me to keep going this way or that. I started looking in the mirror and moving the mirror around so I could see but he got irritated with me that I wasn't watching/paying attention him. All I want is kind of a guideline that I can use to learn from.

I will continue to work on it every chance I get. If the truck wouldn't have been in the shop getting fixed I would requested to stay in the truck to practice instead of being put up in a motel again but it had to be fixed from where he hit the deer and I was complaining that the windshield wipers needed replaced.

Oh and just to let y'all know that I have been putting your help to good use. I can now hook up and drop a trailer all by myself without the truck jumping all over the place empty or loaded. I have even gotten a compliment from someone who had to pick up a trailer I dropped that I did a good job dropping it. And I see what you mean about having to lower a loaded trailer. That was my last one. Thankfully STT didn't want to wait around while I worked on getting it lowered so took over. It was REALLY heavy to crank down.

Thanks everyone I do appreciate the help.