Driver can't back up!

That's a fact. A good tip for new drivers is don't worry what you think other driver might think of you. I wouldn't think any less if you got out and I'd help you if I could. When you get out and check that tells me you're doing your best to keep your record clean and doing what you can so you'll have options if you need them.

 

Only 7 times on the try...where are backing up? I can see this everytime I get to a dock. I've watch company drivers tried to back between my KW and Pete and take 1 hour or better and it's a straight back. I usually give my assistance after 30 minutes some will take some will not. Most of the time the problem is you are turning to much...it doesn't take a lot.

It all goes back to training and I don't understand it but it seems backing is not taught anymore or y'all aren't listening I don't know which. You don't learn backing in a 3 hour session...it takes hours... I've trained one person who is coming back and being my co-driver we spent ungodly time backing up....her favorite today is a blind back. That comes from backing every spare moment we had.

I firmly believe if you can't straight back at least 1 mile you don't belong in a truck. It surprising how many cannot back a straight line....don't even think about putting and kind of turn in the mix.

 

Hey bunny I'll tell ya the school I went to did not give you a whole lotta help in backing. We straight lined and did a one turn of the wheel angle back. That is all that Whizcowsin requires they teach you. And the way most of the schools feel is that it is the companies responsibility to train you. Right or wrong there it is. I needed a lot of help when I got with my trainer on backing. I got it. Bit still there were times I had some helacious mondaze out there where I couldn't hit the dock if my life depended on it.
A coulple of times I just pulled it around and did a new set up because I had myself so fubar it wasn't even funny.

 

Tell us what all you've ran over, kangaroos, koala bears, whatever?

 

I'd like to add that although staying with one setting on the tandems as Danc said will familiarize you, a wagon is actually easier to back the further back the tandems are. It just takes a lot more room to do it.
The point I think the noobs don't get is that they try to drive the whole rig, thinking about too much at once. I always taught that when backing, drive the trailer; not the truck. The rest just falls into place once you focus that way. I saw one after another get it and do 100% better. Practice will pay off (but not next to $350,000.00 trucks) when you get into some of those northern truck stops I recall where your mirrors would be 2" away from the mirrors on either side of you when you got in.

Yes yes grasshoppah...be the trailer...be the trailer...

 

Yeah I guess having them forward is nice for city driving but maybe I should try having it close to the 41 mark.

 

Are those the days when your so tired just getting the load there on time was an effort? Been doing this since dirt but when it's the third time I've bumped the dock and been driving in traffic that has no common sense I'm right there with the rest of you. Never known to be perfect and when I have my kid brother or partner in the truck laughing so hard their crying.....it can be unnerving. Of course once they can get themselves together they'll be glad to show me how it's done.

 

I drove a Fire Truck for over 25 years,and we ALWAYS have/had someone behind me backing up. Standard rule and Safty first! Good Luck Driver, D.Y

 

On most newer fire rigs that's not needed much as most of the good ones such as Seagrave, Sutphen, and Pierce have put back-up cams in the back of the rigs

 

I believe we are you know exactly what I was referring to there mad bunny. Yeah I just called 'em mondaze out there. What made me feel bad was one night I had some issues felt like I was blind in one eye and couldn't see out the other, and one driver started razzing me. I told him it had been a rough day and then he replied could it be any worse than losing a trailer tire, get it fixed start rolling and then lose a steer, followed by a drive keeping it upright? I said " I ain't got an excuse and you had one %%^^&&* up day."