backing question

Something I've thought about, with this and other similar threads about backing; it's really about spatial intelligence. Those of us blessed with good spatial IQ have an intuitive feel for things like backing. We don't really have to think about it, it just happens. It's similar to artistic ability: some of you can quickly and intuitively draw something pleasing to the eye; whereas others (like me!) have to mechanically and methodically attempt to create something aesthetic. I really learned this trying to teach some guys how to haul cars; good, intelligent drivers who just couldn't 'see' a load on their truck, and struggled accordingly.

My point is that for some, backing will never be easy. That's not to say one can't be proficient, only that it will never be intuitive. It's how your brain is wired, so don't beat yourself up over it. Just find your routine and use it!

 

Yes and no. Yes, some people have an innate "feel" for what to do to make the trailer behave. And no, some people will never pick it up. But there's the other 85% that can do it with training. One thing I've learned working in many different industries and working for the second largest training school in the country in another field, a good teacher can train a bowling ball to sing opera if the bowling ball is willing to learn. The key is to break the task into small steps, show the student exactly what to look for at exactly which time. 6 billion people are qualified and capable of hitting the highlights and the generalities of a task. A teacher can focus on the key detail and can learn what the student does and doesn't know.

Trucking, and many drivers, is an industry highly resistant to analysis and training. Trucking is full of "you drive your truck, I'll drive mine" and "he's driven for 8 years, he OUGHT to know that already." There is a large portion of drivers that may have gotten into trucking because of their resistance to more formalized learning. For some drivers you could print next week's lottery numbers on paper and they would not take advantage unless someone TOLD them what numbers to play. It's not really an IQ issue, it's a deliberate and stubborn habit of dismissing anything you don't already know or do, and never asking if you should learn or do something different.

Industries and companies with very high safety levels just plain operate differently than what many truck drivers have ever experienced. Just as cosistently poor people, for whatever reason, think very short term about money. Low safety level industries and employees just get through the day with no thought about any improvement. In fact, if you want to make many truck drivers mad start talking about how to make an improvement. There are a surprising number of veteran drivers that are terrible at backing a trailer and plenty that can't even drop a trailer after it's parked without causing a problem. They just don't happen to be around when the next driver picks up their trailer so they don't know what problem they are causing, and they never inquire. Some football coach said "practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." Doing the wrong, or random thing over and over is like throwing the day away.

First be consistent, even wrong in the same way over and over, and then improve. Most drivers I see are more random than anything.

 

im a new driver as well one thing that really helped me out in the past when it comes to backing in to tight spots was "WHEN IN DOUBT, GET THE ##### OUT" if there is any doubt what so ever dont be afraid to get out walk around check it out and get back in turn the cb down to a low roar open all ur windows and slide it in....its a lot like sex you dont get anything done just ramming it in and hopping for the best all u get is a bunch of pissed off people hope this helps

 

As new driver all I can say is practice.

Now before I drove truck I did have 17 years experience hauling a backhoe on a 18' trailer with my t-plate dump truck. And I had to back down some narrow cemetery roads using nothing but mirrors. You really just need to get a feel for it, specially blindside backs. Anytime I am in a truckstop and see a driver having trouble backing I am more than happy to get out and spot them. I even had a 20+ year driver than me for spotting him on a blindside back. Never be too proud to accept help, nor too busy to give it. After I helped that old timer he talked to me for a bit and gave me a few tips of his own.

One member here (sorry I forget your handle) has some sage words of advice in his sig...."why think you are ok when knowing is only a 53' walk away". I have gotten out 6 or 7 times to check myself on a blindside back into a dark truckstop at 3am.

 

KISS= Keep it simple stupid You drive forward and you can drive backward it's just a little slower one way than the other. Learn the size of your truck to the inch. It could make a difference. If you see daylight between the truck and an object your good to go.

 

The further forward the tandem is set, the more squirrelly the trailer will be.

I like to make a big production of backingg in next to a decked out hood. I'll get out and look behind me a half dozen times, ease it back a little, pull up, get out.... Pretty soon, the owner of the hood gets out and starts guiding me in. You know...chickie driving a L/O truck and hauling a Swift wagon just has to be a student. About the time he's coming around his hood, I slide the trailer in like there's a magnet in the back of the parking spot. Usually, he kind of smiles and shakes his head on his way back to his truck and comments through the window, "Messin with me, huh?" And I just smile. It usually ends well...with a nice conversation and joking around. I do not do this when there are people waiting to park.

It worked with Swift wagons, even Prime wagons. But now that I'm hauling Wally-wagons, it's not as effective.

That said: If I need to get into a difficult back and someone wants to heckle me, I tell them they can either help or shut up. Whatever they do, it's going to affect my backing time. Keep heckling and it will take me longer. I'll make sure of it. Get out and help and we can clear the aisle faster.

 

As said a thousand times, practice, practice, practice. I have gone from the world's worst backer to a pretty competant one, and its probably the proudest accomplishment for me in trucking. One thing I havent seen mentioned is that I would spend countless hours in the driver's seat after I parked it for the night just watching other trucks back into tight spots, often trying to predict how they were going to turn the wheel, when they were going to pull up, etc and just made mental notes. I also mentally reviewed every back I make, whether it was perfect one shot deal or I had to pull up 12 times and get out and look 10 times. It really helps me figure out what I did right or wrong.

The main thing is always take your time. When its all said and done the guy that is screaming to get out of the way would much rather sit there an extra 5-10 minutes waiting for you to get it right, instead of the extra hour its going to take if you hit something.

 

Just last night, I was moving too slow for a guy, I was lined up with the hole, easing in, he pulled up on my front bumper, as I went back, he inched forward. It was tight. I got out of truck to look, just for the point of it now, my truck stalled. Its old and does that from time to time, its also an automatic, if you try to start it too soon after it shuts down, it messes with the computer. Then it won't start till it resets, about 4-6 minutes, well that happened. But mean while a gas tank pulled behind the guy who was being an arse.

The arse couldn't move, the gas tank, watched this guy do this to me, and he wouldn't move, just for principal. Needless to say, karma. My favorite flavor!

 

practice practice practice any where and ever where you can ask for help. good drivers will help.