Backing practice

the school i went to here in tn gave 2 pull ups and 2 get out and looks. i personally dont think that its an accuarate way to score a test., i mean in the real world who cares if it takes 500 pull ups and 1000 goals as long as you dont hit anything and your even with the dock with your truck straight with the trailer and your steer tires straight your good (yes, its a pet peave of mine). i know its kinda an inconvience to other drivers but safety is always the key, dont let another driver force you into a mistake.

 

From the DMV perspective they don't got all day, and they got other truckers to test. Most of the limitations in place, although are inconvenient, counter intuitive, and down right stupid, are mainly put in place to demonstrate "If you can't do it our way, then you're not a good enough driver to be out there."

I practice everything enough that I can nail it on the first shot. Because I know if I can do it in 1 try without walking, then I can do it in the 3 tries the DMV allows. But once I'm on the road or at a truck stop I'm going to walk my ### off around that truck and try as many times as it takes.

 

Really, there's some logic to it. You have to cut off the testee at some point. Give a 15 year old with learner's permit unlimited time and he's got even chances of getting it in the hole (preserving the cones is another question). The whole point of the skills test is to...test skills.
They want to know that you can functionally execute basic maneuvers, and taking 8 tries to set up and back in a text-book angle back in a very controlled environment that's guaranteed to have enough space to make the back probably demonstrates that the basic skill isn't developed yet.

All that said: Not being allowed to roll down the window takes the idea I just described a little too far. The only reliably safe way I could back the T660 I used to have was to learn the open-the-door-and-lean-out skill. Darn cab was too narrow for the chicken-wing stance to yield good enough visibility. You've got to stick your head out the window/cab somehow, especially in a backing situation where you need to be precise.

If I'm backing into the middle of three empty spots, now, I'm not going to roll down the window, especially in the rain. But that's not how the skills test is set up, is it?

 

**********OUCH!**********

 

I just got done at C1 in Indy In. We had alot of practice with backing the only advise I can give is do not think to much follow the steps and do not over think the prosess

 

backing is the hardest and also most important thing to learn. i sucked balls at backing my first time, and i knew i would going in...but it was harder than i even expected, for me anyway. it was really frustrating at first but even if you sit in there straight backing for 2 hours straight, which i did my second day, you start to pick it up even if you dont realize it. once you get it in your head the direction to turn without having to think about it, then it all starts to come together.

 

One day you'll find yourself in a parking spot and not quite remember doing the work to get into it.

I had this happen the first time at the FJ in Lodi, CA. I saw a spot and backed in, but I was thinking about something else (probably the load info or the HOS or whatever). And then I reached down and set the brake...and my whole body felt like it was a gong that had just been hammered. I was in the spot, hadn't hit anything, hadn't pulled up, and hadn't had to think it through. Frankly, it scared me a little, and I did a walk-around just to make sure I hadn't fooled myself into thinking I hadn't hit anything.

That was a weird feeling.

Mind you: I wasn't being absent-minded about the back, it was more that the skill had become instinct instead of conscious thought.


...Then there's the days that I still have once in a while, when I can't seem to get into a spot that couldn't be more perfect.

Who knows.

 

depending on how and where you are backing it can be a pain in the ##### but the one thing that makes it easier for me to do and remember is to chase-that -##### lol if you want to go straight just look in your mirors and turn towards the side of the trailer that is coming around lol but make small ajustments

 

Someone mentioned a wheel barrow. That's a good mentality for a beginner. The handles are the front of the trailer and you have to visulize which way you have to push the handles to get the tire to go in the direction you want it to. Then you compound that by figuring out how to manuever the truck to push the front of the wheel barrow/trailer to get it to do what you want it to do.

Fifth wheel, trailer ball are all the same. They use the same physics of pushing this way to go that way. Anyone that has a boat or worked on a farm dragging a hay wagon around have an edge as the know the general concept. Shorter things like a pick up and boat trailer are much harder as you have to react quicker. Tractor trailers are bigger but more forgiving. It's hard at times working in tight spots going into tight holes anywhere. Add being tired makes it even harder. So be well rested for your test.

Watch your trailer tires when you pull out from a dock. Watch how they track and try to reverse that when backing for a smooth operation.
Setting the trailer up for a back is many drivers biggest mistake. Use any visuals to help yourself. A dock with painted lines is much easier to back into. Look for old tire tracks from the last guy and follow his trail. Look for an expansion crack in the concrete for a visual reference. Any of these will help you square up. If you have good depth perception you can tell when you are at a right angle to a building.

When you take your test, you will have to parallel park and back into a dock like space. Parallel, back that trailer at an angle and trailer tandems about 18" or so from the curb start pushing the nose of the trailer towards the curve. Remember you need about half that angle to get your tractor back under the trailer. But they don't grade on the tractor. They are concerned the trailer is parallel to the curb and within one foot I believe. They might mock a fake curb with orange cones. Same with the dock.

If you need more visuals, find rocks or something to throw on the ground. As with anything, practice makes perfect. Even the best have bad days. Pull ups are your friend.

You get out on your own, find wide open spots to practice on before you attempt a tight back at a truck stop or dock. Other truckers on the CB are a great help at truck stops. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Ten truckers will be there in a second if you just ask. Well at least one, lol. When in doubt, get out and look at the position of the back of your trailer. That's alot easier doing than explaining why you took a guys hood off or hit someones personal property. Never ever blind back unless you absolutely have to. Simply because it's hard to see.

 

The only thing I have to say is I would rather have roads filled with drivers that can't back up, but can get the truck from point A to point B without killing my family in the process.