Backing tips please.....

Good story for drivers to learn from and feel sorry for dad. Sometimes if we can go back and look at situations that gone bad, and change them. If that were me, and had a chance to RUN over and tell them NO, Don't do this, it looks to dangerous, It might have saved his life, but things happen so fast sometimes and we don't have time enough to do this. We can only Pray for that Dad, that he has peace in his life. This story is a tough one, Thanks Gas Hauler.

 

Backing inside a trailer with a Forklift-Clamp Truck. Saw this guy unloading round HUGE rolls of Paper for Printing Presses with the clamp truck, and The driver goes inside the trailer while he is clamping a roll, and talks to him, the fork lift driver turns the fork lift to the side and crushes the guy against the wall, he drops like a rock. That had to hurt real bad, and a 911 call was made. That and getting feet run over I do not do well with watching. We gots to be real careful on docks with heavy equipment backing up.

 

My advise: take all the real estate u can and take ur time...I wait patiently when someone is backing. And I turn my freaken headlights out, too.

 

That's a terrible story, wow. No parent should have to bury a child. I'm so sorry for the family. It does a good job of illustrating that we all face serious danger every time we let out the clutch and start rolling these big, heavy machines. Best to all, and we can't be too careful. J

 

My advice would be to go to a truck stop during slow times, in the late morning hours or early afternoon and practice. Different trailers have different characteristics. On the tanker I pull now that has a long wheel base to the back tandems, if I step about 8 steps from the rear of the trailer to the spot I want the trailer in when having to make a 90 degree back, usually works out decently. The most important thing is not get in a hurry and get out and look if any doubt on proximity to hitting something. Always check the blind side when doing the 90 as it is most likely place to hit something and try to set up correctly. Try not to back "blind side" if you can avoid it. I agree with the comment about the manual vs automatic and hate the automatic transmission when backing. Truck will not move without giving it some gas in reverse and difficult to get the "right touch" on the gas pedal. I saw a guy do serious damage to a trailer because he was too lazy to get out and look when trying to hook to it. Went over the top of the king pin and panicked somewhat pulling up rapidly and then bent the landing gear. Always smart to just take your time and not feel rushed to get it done right.