So some months ago I finally made a decision after dragging my feet for literally years, and signed with a cdl trainer that would work with my hours, since there was no way I could get 4(+) weeks off from work to got to a cdl school, and none of the ones with a better reputation could accommodate me on a part-time basis since my work hours are far from rigid, so I was really limited with who I could sign up with. Here apparently for the test they have you do straight back, offset, then you pull around the lot to the blind side parallel. The place I am with will not let me practice the blind-side parallel in the way that I see everyone doing it, via you tube etc. This place has me in a single axle day cab tractor with a 40' box, the tandems are about 5' forward, and we are told to pull 1' to 1-1/2' within the outside line of the box, our most rear tire 5' past the entrance cone of the box. Hard left, reverse until the right front corner of the trailer is over the right frame rail, stop, then hard right and rotate that right into the box while reversing, keeping your eyes on the mirrors, if you hit it perfectly you can just get completely in the box, if your off a little you can pull forward to curl the tractor into the box. I recently watched at dmv testing, a few guys easily tackle the blind side using the well known method, and I also witnessed a couple guys fail miserably using the technique I've been given no choice but to practice. I have never practiced the well known method because when they see you doing that in the yard they stop you. If i did it on the test it'd be my 1st ever attempt. Again, I have no choice, I even have had a trainer jump on the rail and stop me when he saw me straight backing into the corner of the box. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of something that isn't one. When I am set up correctly I usually hit the box. I have upcoming road test jitters. Thoughts anyone?
Unless you are doing inner city P&D you will very rarely have a need to parallel park a rig. Just do whatever you need to pass the test... Then figure out what works best for you in the real world.
Barely passed the offset parallel park when tested years ago. Wish they would have taught me instead how to have my door pounded on and woke out of a dead sleep after waiting and moving in line for 6 hours and than have to back a tanker into a tight poorly lit bay on a dark rainy night.
since you said you usually can get it if you get your set up proper the way they have been training you to do it, I would stick with that way for the test even if it isn't the way you see people doing it normally. During the testing procedure is not the time I would tell somebody to try a maneuver for the first time. After you get thru the test you can try the other way and see if it works better for you.
My school taught it, and I did it, the way your school is teaching with the same type of tractor and trailer setup. Schools like doing it that way because the student doesn't really have to understand backing. You just follow the procedure exactly, using the corner of the trailer over the frame rail as a guide, and you'll get it in every time. The school is teaching you to pass the test, not how to drive the truck. All schools are like that to some degree, the ones that are part-time probably even more so. That's why your first job will put you through additional training for a month or more to teach you how to actually drive a truck and do the job.
Remember...it goes in the same way it comes out. Put the rig in the box then pull out without hitting a cone or crossing a line. Stop several times when pulling out and look at where the rig is positioned. Once you are clear of the box, stop and throw it in reverse and put back in the box. It's easier for people to do it if they have cones set up versus just having painted lines.
