are expectations high for new CDL graduates?

Keep in mind that most of the day you are moving forward and only a slight fraction of the day are you backing. For you new drivers do yourself a favor and once the parking lot empties out and you have some time on your hands, practice your backing. Try to set up all different situations. It will definitely help. Just takes doing it.

Now when you pull in the truck stop at 4pm and there's a line of trucks waiting to back in a spot, you will have the confidence to pull in, set up and put her in the hole!

 

Just believe in yourself...backing takes practice dnt forget to always adjust as needed....

 

I have not been at this that long, but i reached the point were im halfway competent, and confident. just like everybody says, practice, practice, practice. but honestly were i really started to get it was when i was on my own and the pressure was on, sink or swim. and i found out their were plenty of other drivers ready to hop out of thier trucks and lend a hand. one thing i also found to be a big help was whenever i was backing into a spot with a truck on my blind(right hand ) side i would stop and let that driver know i was new and ask him to hit his horn if i was going to hit his truck. always remember, take your time, and when your not sure g.o.a.l., or get out and look. and if you think its taking you too long rember that hurrying and hitting something like another truck or parked car, your going to be a lot, lot ,lot, longer. One last thing, its not rocket science, it will come to you, just like it came to all the rest of us, time, is all.
be safe yaall.
b

 

.when I would shuttle trailers on weekends I was home I met a old man who had a really hard time backing up.I told him to just drop the trailer and I would put it in for him.I will never forget what he said to me.He said Ive been driving for 30 yrs and there will be some days you will get it but other days no matter how hard you try you just cant get it.Give me any dock where I am the only one and 20 docks to pick from and I find that alot harder then backing up between 2 trucks

 

Dang, what school and company did you train with? A whole 20 minutes and an hour and a half behind the wheel shifting? Wow, that's insane. I'm doing my program with a community college that's 7 1/2 weeks long. They are required to have me do 120 hours worth of driving which I completed and I've had atleast 5 weeks on the backing pad.

I've actually gotten better at backing and I'm competent with my driving and shifting skills. I'll be finishing my course on Monday and signing up to take my CDL test this coming week. Wish me luck. Never in a million years did I think I would improve from two weeks ago but the light bulbs are fickering on in my mind and it's starting to click.

 

At some point you will be able to drive the truck just as easily as your car. Once in a while I have to pick up the kids at School with one of the smaller trucks and soccer moms just flip out when they see a truck in the parking lot

 

I'm in driver's school too (Monday will be day eight). I think I have the straightline down, but the alley docking - I still need an instructor to ride the step with me. Driving a bobtail? It's been great so far. But yeah, the backing has me concerned. Good to see the responses here. It gives a newbie comfort!

 

You'll get it.Backing was my weakness too.It just takes time.

 

Im taking the Nebraska driving test on Wednesday, & alley docking is still quite an adventure. A little birdy told me to just run over the cones, put your bumper in the box, take the 2 point deduction & move on. The real training is out in the real world actually backing between trailers & not cones. Its easier when you dont have some1 standing there with a clipboard also. Pass it & move on.

 

Don't listen to that little birdie.I don't know what your DMV is like but here you must pass the alley docking and you can't move to the next step to passing the test untill you do pass the alley docking.