Anyone have any advice for a student on straight line backing?

Uh no..... No.......NO.........and NO!!!

Just like driving, you have to look at where you're going! You can't focus on the trailer in the mirror or you won't any idea which direction you are backing. Yes, it can be a handy guide, but if you try and judge a straight back solely by the relationship of the truck and the trailer, your trailer won't end up where you wanted.

 

I told him an easy way to stay straight, I didn't say to zone out and not look at anything else.

 

You're right, and I should have quoted some of the more egregious examples further up. You were just the bottom one. Sorry!

 

I'm in my 4th week at truck driving school. I'm not a veteran driver but as a person who recently suffered same thing as you I maybe the right person who can help you the most. Believe it or not my trainer didn't even let me practice backing more than 15minutes on my first backing practice day. It's because I was #### good. I'm not trying to show off but explain how I could do that. It's all because I practiced truck driving with computer game. It's called 'Scania Truck Driving Simulator'. You can get it from steam or download it through torrent. It would be the best if you have steering wheel but even if you have only keyboad it doesn't matter. By playing it you will learn how truck moves. Trust me. Once you master the license course through the game you can learn from trainer 10 times faster than now.

 

We backed up against a building with minimal space when I was in trucking school (who's idea was that?). Against this building there was a downspout on the corner of what would be the driver's side (if you were to back up to the building).

TIP 1: What you eventually figure out is that if your trailer is getting to close to the downspout you turn the wheel left. If it's getting too far away from the downspout turn your wheel right. When you turn, turn only a QUARTER of the way. That way if you mess up you are only out about a foot or two.

TIP 2: What also helps me is that we used to have a piece of tape on the front on the trailer toward the driver's side, almost on the corner of the trailer. Right by where the screws/rivets should be that hold the corners and panels together. If you can't see your rivets on that side, you turn the steering wheel left and that will straighten your trailer. If you can't see your trailer tires turn right and that will straighten you up.

If you keep those things in mind, you should be okay.

 

Heck, all these people worried about pulling up. I do not even try to go into the hole without a pullup. I set up knowing that I will need to pull up one time. I do this because it is an easier setup. Trying to set up for the perfect angle is harder, and if you mess up you either hit something or you are way off and need to reset anyway.
And I still will have days that I cannot get in the darn hole and have to pull up a few times. The worst is doors that have nothing around them, no lines and not allot of room out front. Or the last door on the building, and the lot ends at the end of the building. But those I just blindside into.

 

...ugh! Oh god I hate those lots. I really hate it when I'm looking in my mirrors and the truck appears to be aligned right with the curb...so I get out all happy about getting it straight without lines.

And then I see it... I'm more crooked than a handyman with smooth hands. Makes me madder than heck. ...and then I walk away and get over it just as fast.

Not comfortable with blindsiding yet. I avoid it at all costs right now. I've done it a couple times, but like I said I avoid it.

 

I didn't think the OP worked for swift......