Setting up correctly helps on a tight blind side back. I see too many drivers who start a blind side back with the tractor aligned straight to the trailer. I always set up with the tractor ####ed at about a 15-20 degree angle to the trailer so that I can go straight into a hard jack if needed........... without worrying about the trailer rolling backwards too far as It begins jacking.
You may only get a few degrees tractor angle on tight city streets, but even a few degrees can really help.
Get out and look every 5-10 feet if you have to.
Like Rank said: There are mirrors that you can buy to put on the curb side visor that really do help.
Don't sweat it.....and go nice and easy.
I know drivers that have been in the business for 40 years who break out in a cold sweat with blind side backing with a big OTR tractor. I worked with a small company here in the Tidewater area for a stretch. Me and a old timer ( a self proclaimed trucking god ) had to pick up at a distributor in Brooklyn for a home run. It was my first run ever into NYC. The ole timer was having a meltdown trying to get this trailer into a inside dock off of a tight one way street. There was a bout 5 inches clearance on each side of our trailers at the entrance, and we had to run up over the curb on the other side of the street to jack in. I offered to "spotter" for him and he went off even worse. The 2 guys at the dock were standing there watching him melt down with amusement. He got out of the truck and called our dispatcher to scream at him. The dispatcher immediately called me to ask if the guy was stable, and if I could back his truck in with him spotting me. I agreed to do what ever got us loaded.......I didn't care, and all I wanted to do was get home for the weekend. I took me about 5 minutes to finally figure it out............ while the idiot old timer sat on a curb cursing NYC, dispatch, me, and trucking. When it was my turn to back my trailer in, the ole timer was already gone and I could still hear him cussing on the CB. I never spoke to the guy again afterwards.
Still need help on blind side back
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Flashdrive7, Apr 24, 2015.
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Get a day cab...then ya ain't got a "blind side"!
mitrucker Thanks this. -
Thank Heaven I'm in a daycab. I LOVE my back window!
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Trick I learned is to watch where your tires are. Find a painted line or a crack
in the pavement and try to line up your tires with your mark.
Open your doors first. I normally pulled a roll-up door trailer, company
gave me a swing door and I forgot to open the door before I backed in....
Bad enough to back in once, only to do it again...... -
yup, us "oldtimers" sure can't drive like you young'uns.
didn't appreciate the old people bashing.
yes, blind siding is to be avoided if possible.
ask if there is somewhere to turn around or get help.
I can, but don't if I can avoid it.
it's an accident waiting to happen.
spotters sometimes don't know squat and are worse than 27 "GOALS"
but, then again what do I know, I'm an "oldtimer"GenericUserName Thanks this. -
if your in a day cab blind side back is easy
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Some trucks have a big window on the right side of the sleeper you can look through. Still the best way to do it safely is GOAL, not matter how many times you need to do it.
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it isn't easy no matter what solution u use especially in a spot like that.get it done and hope u never go back to that place
Dumdriver Thanks this. -
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