My school experience

When I used to teach guys, Id have em drop me off on this unused curvy road, Id tell em "go to the end of the road (bout a half mile) then back all the way up to me"

Some guys made it quick, some guys took all day, but they all made it, and were backing masters after that, the worst guys who struggled the most actually did awesome on the cone course

I think the overall on-the spot pressure does a lot of guys in

 

Thank you very much Realdesertkickin. Reminding me of small things long forgotten.

This is one of the reasons I love you all and live to visit here and remember the things Ive forgotten.

Backing up a road a mile or three has happened before, it is usually a worse case scenario for a unmarked bridge too low to clear and did not show on any map or research back in those days. (*Yes Ive had done these things...)

I will confess a story that happened in Norfolk, I got lost and found myself between two lines of parked cars on a winding single lane road in front of a elementry school that had been open for a school day. I had folded dozens of mirriors on the cars apologing profusely at the people running out to see why Im touching their vehicles. Back then folding mirriors were new and just in time for my horror on that twisting road.

After a certain curve trying to get out, I realized that I will be making this final turn to flee the area one rubbing the telephone pole. There is no way possible to back up leaving a stark choice. Sit there for 7 hours until school quitting time with fleet of buses stacked up behind me loading kids because they could not stage in that lot in front of the doors.

Imagine that. Me all over the Virginia papers the following day, worst trucker in all the world heaped with tickets, fines and a mob ready to lynch me.

That is done, I got out. Risking power to 60,000 irate people and my own bony ### below the shaking transformers on that 50 year old pole.

And you wonder why each one of us has a life story in trucking composed of chapter and verse of grey hair inducing lessons of wisdom.

Go learn how to back in peace. Never mind the future.

 

You realize that the trailer tandems generate a specific turning circle that has a predictable radius and circumference (And most people think truckers cannot use big words correctly...) when you learn it, you will be more confident into evaluating a space you are contemplating backing into.

If the tractor has a 55 foot turning radius, the trailer would be around 30 feet. Obviously when done just so, you can cause the trailer to pivot on it's wheels having one set going forward and the other backwards at the same time.

I do urge you to stop now and then and get out look. You cannot believe how many accidents are prevented by this simple behavior. And sometimes a life time of regrets is headed off.

I once struggled to back into a dock but trailer refused to stay straight. So I actually get out and examine the entire right side of my rig. Lo and behold i was fixing to take completely a entire hood assembly plus the chrome air filter unit off a Pete. And three drivers sat there on the bench watching me fight my rig without lifting a finger as if they actually wanted to be hit.

We made a rule in our home partly in support of safety and it goes like this...

When you are tired, cranky, irritable and fixing to shove dispatch where the sun dont shine is at that moment a accident pending.

We have recognized that behavior issue when one or both of us reach it and enough is enough for the day. It helps reduce stress.

And yes I have not forgotten how to put a 18 wheeler into a curbside parking situation feeding 7 meters, it earned me breakfast once in cape cod with two officers eyeballing me through the window and checking the meters to see if one of them would run out of time. Heh.

 

Sounds like the school you attended was a great school. From what you said i did not detect a money scam. I have heard some real nightmare stories about some schools. I think maybe you gave up on yourself to quickly ?

When i taught my wife backing, i simply told her to much trailer in right mirror turn wheel right to much in left turn wheel left. I have never been to a school so i didn't have any fancy terminology or example of angles or geometry to tell her,i just know what simply works .

We practiced in a old warehouse lot. On day 2 she was backing completely around the warehouse and into the docks. Her straight line backing we practiced on a 3/4 mile dead end country road, we drove to the end and she backed it between the lines eventually without touching them back to the start. over and over. She passed her cdl first try.

The story is to encourage you. If my little tiny wife can do it so can you. I would strongly encourage you to go back to that school. Toughen up and Keep things simple , dont over think it. It really is that simple.

 

Get through the school and learn to drive that trailer safely.

Your first company will have you backing for days on end.

They have more invested in you learning to back than a school does.

If you still don't feel comfortable backing a combo, look for straight truck jobs.

That's what I did. If you live in a good place for freight, a straight truck local job w/ hazmat can pay you more than an OTR beginner job.

Or, look for local flatbed builder supply jobs. Backing is kind of rare with these jobs.

I have about 6 months experience and I hate backing. I'd never drive a van!!! But with a flatbed, you have a 90% chance of a pull around.

 

OP.

Change your perspective. Watch the backing from the front of the truck. This helps.

 

Yeah, the "turn into the direction of trouble" method works best.