Backing getting worse

Everybody has good days and bad days. There are some days I can hit every dock in one shot and others where I couldn’t hit water if I fell out of a boat. Just stay calm, be patient and take your time. The trailer will eventually get where you want it to go. When you start getting really mad and rushing, that’s when bad things start to happen.

 

I have shifted from dry vans to flatbeds and spread axles. Thru the process this time some were 48 feet long others 53. Some trucks turned tight my new truck is like a barge on a windy lake, it takes 3 city blocks to make a turn. One thing I learned with all the variations is the speed you drive while setting up matters. In school we all stopped and cranked the wheels until the next turn and stopped and cranked again.

Now at the truck stops the trucks are cruising 5-10 mph trying to get the same setups. Some have learned to compensate for the sloppy setups and claim great experience. Others just look for big lots. I must admit I like big lots and I cannot lie.

Take your time on the setup and the angles will be there. I wish I could turn my rig better but a long nose Pete and a 53 foot spread axle flatbed just does not park easily. If loaded my tires look like they are about to pop the beads. If the lot has sand the trailer rocks as the tires get a grip then lose it. So far no tip overs. I find myself when loaded heavy looking for independent dirt lots and avoid Loves or Pilot. Even at noon to 3pm my truck combo does no like the narrow lanes. I did get to haul a dryvan this past week and it was sooooo nice baking it into a . It seemed like pulling a boat trailer and backing down the ramp.

I am old but new with trucking. Off and on for 45 years. Many are better than me but I still find the fundamentals keep me from accidents and damage. The Offset back, Parallel parking back and 90 degree dock all have great tools for most any backing. The setup or at least recognizing when you are not setup right helps the most.