advice needed

Losing speed to the point where you need to back down a hill is the problem you need to address first. Are you driving a 10 speed?

 

Hi there, welcome to the board and to the trucking business. It sounds like you need a new trainer - ask your safety man or your terminal manager if someone else can train you. If that's not an option, then find a big, open parking lot and just practice setting up and backing up.

If you're ever backed up a bumper-pull trailer with your pickup, like a U-Haul trailer or a boat, this is gonna work the same way. Because you have a pintle hook setup, the pivot point is behind your drive axle(s).

The simplest way is to put your hand at the bottom center of the steering wheel (6 o'clock position), start backing up slowly, and then push your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. If you want the trailer to go right (toward the passenger side), push your hand a little bit to the right (4 or 5 o'clock position). If you want the trailer to go left (toward the driver side), push your hand a little to the left (7 or 8 o'clock position). Once the trailer is going the direction you want, straighten the steering wheel and the truck will center itself in front of the trailer. Then, as you keep going backward, just make small corrections until the trailer is in the spot where you want it so that you can make your drop.

I hope this helps. Also, you can watch this video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/mTLc-ciG1_s The video focuses on backing a boat trailer into the water, but it's the exact same thing as backing up your tank trailer.

 

Best bet is trial & error. Try to spend some time in an empty parking lot, set up some cones or other markers to replicate a parking spot/area. Pretend your steering wheel is a clock face (bottom part being the 6) whichever direction you point the six is the direction of the trailer movement. Try to "tune out" any distractions that aren't related to safely backing your rig into its spot. The toy Idea is also effective, it gives a clearer understanding of the positions of the Truck, trailer & parking spot and how their positions relate to one another. Practice every chance you can & remember no one was born knowing how to do it. Best of luck to you.

 

I'd tell you to learn to shift before you worry about backing up. If I get a trainee I expect him/her to already know how to shift so I don't think your trainer is doing anything wrong there.

If you get the shifting thing figured out try paying closer attention to your dolly. You need to steer your dolly to make the trailer do what you want. And don't go crazy with the steering wheel. You can't chase it down like you can on a semi. Be ready to pull up a lot.

 

In backing a T/T concentrate on the trailer. Small corrections with the truck. Get the trailer going where you want it to go then catch up with the truck. There are 2 joints to manipulate instead of 3 on a set of doubles. I agree with one of the posters. I came in on my day off (back in the day) and spent a lot of time in a large lot backing. You just have to do it. Having someone tell you only goes so far. Once it clicks, you will be able to do it anywhere.

(Also, you can back doubles, and even triples with some practice).

 

She's backing a straight truck with a trailer connected via a pintle hook.

 

T/T is a truck and trailer. 2 joints for backing, vs 3 joints on a set and 5 joints on triples.

 

Part of the problem with shifting is that is a tank. You have the liquid moving. If you are getting it out of gear when it hits the back you will all but stop the truck. You need to try and shift with the rhythm of the load. So once you feel it hit the back and start to roll forward that's when you need to down shift. Clutch in go to neutral clutch out, pop the accelerator get the rpm's up fairly high 1700 or so and clutch in and finish your shift. But remember just pop the fuel and don't hold it. And all this needs to be done fairly quick. You want to finish the shift before the liquid starts back. Are you only having problems down shifting on hills? If so practice down shifting on flat ground. Pulling tanks it's good to down shift any time you are going to stop. It helps keeps movement to a minimum.