backing is a breeze for me except one part.....

I am still in school, can back in-between two crooked trailers at a 90 degree angle, hold a 2-3 inch line on a 100 ft alley way, back between a zig zag obstacle course with precision, line it up and back down an alley. I can back a truck, with one exception, my depth perception for docking sucks. Sometimes I'll stop and be 24 inches away, the next time, I bump the dock.

Now I know in the real world, this isn't such an issue. Who cares if you lightly bump a padded dock, or get out and you're 14 inches away. But for testing in school, we got to be within 12 inches or the start adding penalty points. Bump the dock and it's game over. Any tips for judging how close you are? The instructors say to look at the pin at the rear of the trailer. Ok, great, I see it, the problem is, can't tell how close it is to the dock exactly. LOL

Any tips are appreciated.

 

That’s crazy. I gently bump every dock I ever back up to, as I was trained to do!

 

All I can say is good luck, and hope you get it figured out. In the real world it would not be a problem.
I am just the opposite, I could put it with in inches for years, For some reaso I now have the same trouble you have, I don't know why but it has changed. I rarely have to bump a dock, but when I do I just ease up against it, that way I know for sure I am there. lol

 

funny after 20yrs my depth perception sucks like that too, i still get out and think im close to a truck or trailer behind me and im like 5 feet away. i got new glasses recently, they helped some but not with the depth perception. also when im looking at my trailer at an angle backing in and the trailer is going to the right of another truck i have a hard time telling how close my trailer is to that trucks mirror looking at it from that angle. it really hasnt bothered me untill recently, its like im getting worse at backing, maybe its like an athelete after his prime on his way down, ya will go with that lol

 

Stick your head out the window to get a better view. With time, you will get a good feeling of when you should bring the truck to a crawl. I always lightly bump the dock, or have the equipment bounce off the dock pads. Once I am there, I let off the clutch just a little to create some resistance, and then I set both brakes. Otherwise, your trailer will be 1-2 inches away from the dock, and it could be a problem for the forklift guys.

 

Usually, bad depth perception is due to a weakness in one eye. How's your vision? I believe there are exercises that you can try in order to improve depth perception.

 

Use one of your get out and looks and don’t worry about it.

 

Shadows & trailer tire placement. The next time you hit it right, take time to make a mental picture. Look more at the surroundings compared to your trailer. Find something you can look at & say That’s it i’m in.

Every back is different. No two the same.

Stopping your front bumper in a 2ft box is easy, dropping the icc bar in an imaginary 2ft box is dumb. Imo anyway.

 

Back up until the dock stops you,,,

 

I’ve killed a couple lol but for some reason I always end up with my driver side not straight lol