Backing, how long did it take you to catch on?

Honesty right there.

 

The CDL school I went to was a Comm College. We had all the time we wanted on the practice yard. A few of us were backing in a straight line across the parking lot at 1500 rpms, just to see if we could do it, and we could.

We would do offset backs and parallel parking all day long.

If you didnt get enough practice in school, you may want to see about doing some practice backing now with a company truck......practice until you get good at it. Do 2 four hour sessions, and you will have more confidence.

Backing was easy for me, except one time I had to do 12 pullups to get a tanker into a building. Wow, that was hard for me to believe....backing into a building is like backing into a black hole as you cant see nothing inside.

 

Yea backing into buildings is always fun.

 

2 years and I still put myself too far away for a proper setup.

 

I always sucked at backing, now I pull doubles, no backing ever.

 

Only 6 months. No training in 90 degree backing. Trying to figure it out on my own. Watching guys intently at the truck stops.
Every once in a while they have me take a dry van to a dock. Last one... I went in and told them I ain't no Reefer driver. They are good at backing and have lotsa practice. Us tanker, and flat bed drivers aren't nearly as good at backing. I'll be rather clumsy. They said ok. One guy said he has a CDL and understands. I got to the dock. Asked them if ok? That one guy walked over and looked. Said: That's close enough! And the important thing is that you didn't hit anything! .... I said: You got it!

 

X1Heavy got it head on.

Even after 17 years I still have my moments once in a while.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
If you feel you might be blocking somebody, let them pass before you pull forward for the next correction.
If there isn't enough space to do it, then be it. Don't feel pushed.
If it takes too long for the waiting driver, he should simply get his xxl rear end off the seat and help you. If he feels too lazy for that, well, time doesn't matter for him then.
Good luck, stay safe and there is always room to improve for all of us.

 

Backing is a skill.. its not easy as people think it is. I have had grown men jump out of the truck ready to whoop me because I could not open the top of their heads and pour in backing.. Its something that you have to do until it "clicks". Once it clicks you can back into anywhere a truck will fit. There are some steadfast rules though. GET OUT OF THE TRUCK!!! Get on the ground and walk to the rear of the trailer and look at the angles from back there. SLOW!! Do not use the accelerator when backing.. let the truck take care of it.. you're busy. Don't trust guides ESPECIALLY ON THE RADIO!! Turn all the noise off and open you windows! I got forced into backing well fast.. it was tough and nerve wracking.. but I have (knock on wood) been doing this for over thirty years without damaging anything. I drove old non power steering cabovers in downtown San Francisco and Oakland .. so it was definitely total immersion.

 

See thread on blind side backing -

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