Backing...

But everything is so small in them... My old eyes struggle at seeing much fine detail... But I am getting use to them more and more.

 

GOAL a lot as you first start getting used to using those mirrors. For blindside backs I'll frequently set the parking brakes and open the passenger side window to lean over and eyeball how I'm progressing. With experience and on easier backs I can now use the fender and globe mirrors pretty well, but still have a ways to go.

 

I haven't been it the seat for quite some time but I was taught on short dirt trailers. Put your hand on the bottom of the wheel. Turn it the way you want the trailer to go. If you put it on the top you must turn it in the opposite direction.

 

First trick to learn is how to go from reverse to 2nd in a hurry. Kill the lights and haul ### after you scrape up some guys pretty Kenworth. At least I thought it was pretty slick when I about about got thrown out of my bunk about a year ago by some crazy Russian. Only way I caught him was he got hemmed up trying to exit out threw the fuel island and somebody trapped him.

 

What school you going to? Hit me up, went to their school in Trenton

 

MILLIS USES 53' trailers in school

 

Awesome, those are easier to back than what most truck schools use; which is a pup trailer... the thing about backing, and you will learn this quickly-- you're going to have to know where that trailer will end up, six seconds down the road. You know what I mean? there's a delay between when you crank the wheel, and when the trailer reacts.

You'll learn to anticipate where the trailer will be a few seconds before it actually gets there. At that time, you'll learn how to make your adjustments so you can hit the dock (or the cones) perfectly straight. If the trailer has already gotten away from you, it's too late, and you'll have to use a pull up. But by learning to anticipate where the trailer will be about six seconds later, you can make those adjustments before the trailer gets away from you; you can then chase the trailer with your tractor to keep backing perfectly straight. It's hard to explain here but once you get it, you'll understand this concept better...

 

I see a lot of threads in this forum from drivers and potential new drivers asking questions about all aspects of this job. These questions are good because even experienced drivers can learn tips. However I want to add something for you new drivers. You are going to read threads and posts in these forums making all trainers and training companies look bad. Take all of these threads with a grain of salt because YOU ARE NOT HEARING BOTH SIDES. Not all trainers are ######## and most training companies are not evil incarnate. My point is thus. Don't sweat these issues because over time you will pick this up. You will learn to back, you will learn the tricks of the trade in time. Just take it one day at a time ask questions of other drivers and in these forums. This job is hard enough even for veteran drivers so don't over complicate it.

 

HEY! That trailer was messed up when I got there.

Seriously though you REALLY can't GOAL too many times. Was at a Walmart DC once and it was dark, raining, the lights that were there just made the backing worse and like most WW DC's the rows were JUST wide enough to swing trailers in. Didn't want to get out for a 3RD time and SMACK! luckily it was only some scratching and the trailer was an sbox to begin with, but that could have gone down very differently if I wasn't crawling or if that trailer didn't have a aluminum corner on it. GOAL, GOAL, GOAL!

 

Get out and look as many times as needed. Do not let anyone rush you. if other drivers are being inpatient it is not your problem do not let them stress you. Also check the area you are delivering to with google maps satellite view to get a picture of the area.