90 degree backing question

You forgot to tell him to only do it in high range, and if it takes you more than the first shot you are a sissy and should not be driving a truck.

 

You have some wise guys on here but im on vacation and drunk so heres some good advise "GOAL" it will never fail you. Every situation is different once u know your truck you will have to do it less often. Until then Get Out And Look. I have years under my belt and still do it. I can put it in the crack of your ### but i will stop and look if i have any doubts. Check my dac for reference

 

Assuming you are pulling a trailer that isn't a split axle:

1. When the space is tight even 1" of clearance from the near side trailer (in a drop and hook situation) or mirror (in a truck stop situation) is enough (see point 3 below).

2. GOAL the passenger side to make sure you have enough clearance to continue backing.

3. When your trailer axles are even or close to the mirror or edge of the trailer on the driver's side, then you can start "getting under" the trailer (meaning that you start straightening the tractor to the trailer).

One way to think about this whole situation is to think about what "line" the trailer tandems would track if you were to drive OUT of the hole you are backing into. Let's say you are in a truck stop, done your pretrip, and starting to move forward to pull out and need to make a sharp left turn out of your spot. Now think of this in reverse, you would want to "follow" your trailer tandems into the hole.

The problem I see is many schools teach an idiotic method of cranking into full 90º turns to get into position to back into a slot, when the easiest way is to leave room and follow the trailer into the slot.

Hint: watch drivers back into slots in truck stops that are pulling spread axles. They can't do 90º turns because it would tear up the trailer tires. Watch how they follow a broader radius turn into the hole. "Follow" the trailer means maintaining a shallow angle between the tractor and the trailer.

For practice, if you can find an unpopulated road intersection, try backing around the gentle curve and keep your trailer tandems about 1-2' away from the curb or edge of the pavement. THAT's the way to easily back into a hole.

 

Nah, you shouldn't be driving a truck if you can't back into a hole going forward. That's a real trucker right there. If you think it can't be done you're wrong. I met a sweat pants flip flop shredded shirt from the 80's wearing trucker that did it twice!

 

Well just wait til the wife gets out of the truck to help the man out and hear her screaming across the lot. Now that's embarrassing!

 

you put that rig in high range don't you dare get out and look and don't stop till it sounds expensive! then you are no longer a rookie driver! Well then you most likely will not be a driver period! Do what these find drivers have told you. GOAL! take your time! don't let any one tell you how to drive your rig!

 

You have 2 years exp and You can't back into a dock? How did manage that? I paid some one 20 bucks when I had to get in a dock.