Backing issues

Put your location on your profile.

 

In this one, the idea of "a extended line" may be helpful, ignore the counting part, your truck and available space will change that.



This is a decent example as well

 

Some companies will hire you with only the cdl permit and you'll be trained OJT as a drivers helper. They usually give you 60 - 90 days to get the hard copy cdl.
Sygma Network
Reinhart Foodservice
McLane Company
Allied Van Lines

 

Whatever it takes. Food service has lots of backing in tight spaces.

 

Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke has a cdl program.

 

Focus on the trailer and and the parking spot.Take baby steps when turning the steering wheel.all over steering will get you in a postion where you'll never get out without help.Remember your steeri,g your trailer into the parking spot or dock not the truck.Its important you do not turn too soon or too late because you'll be in the next parking spot.I always focused on my back trailer tires and the lines.So if you will be testing with those stinken orange comes pretend those are the lines once you see your trailer entering inside the cones start straightening your trailer quickly but baby steps.If your trailer starts to veer to left or right pull up a little bit and keep taking many steps till you're completely lined up .

 

Just curious what the next phase of training is? Its unrealistic for a student to learn 7 maneuvers in a week. Let alone get good at them. Some people find the offset hard but the 90 degree alley dock a lot easier. It all depends on you and when the light bulb comes on.

One student while in school used seeing the glad hands as a sign to where she broke the trailer enough to correct it on the offset lol I'll leave it at that.

Sure you want to be mindful of where the tractor is sitting but usually that comes into play for tight spaces and setup. Right now focus on what your tandems are doing.... are they swiveling or pushing back (more for the 90 degree alley dock) Its what others have already said. Its about setup, angle, and spacing with the trailer, distance in your mirrors. Small corrections early save for major corrections later.

A lot of students had an issue with pushing the trailer to far back after they had it straight to start cutting in the lane for the offset. If you lose the cone on your blindside mirror, the trailer is to far back and you'll need to cut in at a harder angle.

Two tips after school is over and your trainer may mention it at some point once your in the real world. I've had to use both of them already.

1. If your in mid day sunlight backing into a building and its a dark dock and cant see well. Sit a flashlight on the dock as a marker point.

2. If your blind side backing don't be afraid to use your power mirrors to your advantage on the blind side to to see how your angle and spacing is. If you are ever in doubt of course G.O.A.L.

I've seen people make the experience worse by beating themselves up over minimal things. If your ever unsure push the clutch in and buy yourself some time to correct the wheel. Best wishes superstar, you got this. Back with confidence.

 

Don't stress over it, it only makes you nervous. I've been out here 21 years, but if I feel I am being watched, I still get a little nervous and then f it up. If I pretend no one is watching that lets my brain process the situation and I put it right where it should be. And some of my biggest misses have been in a wide open lot, just trying to get between the lines..but if it were two trucks I was backing between, not a problem.