Backing into docks

He drives a straight truck.

 

Didn't the OP say it's a straight truck? He did. Try what 77 said, pull up farther. Pick a spot to line up on, on the dock, an expansion joint, whatever is there, line it up and roll it in.

 

if you haven't hit anything it sounds like you're doing just fine.

 

x2. That and use all the space that's available to you when pulling up. Coming from the experienced guys at work...most newbies sell themselves short when lining up a backing maneuver and end up causing themselves more work. That's a habit that I broke myself of in short order.

 

Your profile says "Trucker 2 Years".

It is a straight truck! No different than a car, just longer.

I would also assume you drove a passenger car for some years before your trucking career?

More than one reset is too many with that amount of time driving. Unless you only have like 4 feet of extra space beyond the truck's length to maneuver.

Mikeeee

 

I struggled mightily with backing in school. Some of us are naturally good at it, others (like me) have to work twice as hard to master it. As others have said, make sure you pull up enough before you back (if possible) to get your truck straight. Get out and look if you need to. Only takes a second. At that point, stick your head out and look at the front wheels. Get those completely straight and do NOT let that steering wheel move. Take it nice and slow. For backing, I ride the clutch for speed control if it's a hard backing maneuver. Let that sucker creep. Again, if you need to, get out and look when you're 5 feet away or so. That's plenty of room to straighten out in the truck you describe. Adjust accordingly.

No worries, just remember to breathe and don't let the fact that everyone on the dock is laughing at you make you rush it and goof it up. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

 

I prefer pull thru docks....

 

Are you looking out mirrors or out window? I prefer to look out the window when I can but when it's close to straight I make minor corrections looking out of left mirror mainly but still checking right mirror for safety. On set up the back should be on drivers side if possible. Also try to predict where rear tires will be when you turn out on set up. Also it's a straight truck, it's like driving pickup. Also your not gonna get fired for bad backing just hitting something.