Backing up a fuel truck, with a trailer attached need help

So you get into a new trucking job with no experience in that type of trucking?
Did they not train you with this equipment, or did you tell them you had the experience when you really did not?

Or is this just another one of your nonsense threads that you get off on?

 

What your driving is called “Truck and Trailer”(T&T). Second, to back up, don’t follow the trailer, follow the wheels on the “Dolly” what you define as the “fifth wheel”. It takes practice.

 

1st, welcome, I don't want you to get off on a bad start here, most want to help. Some are a bit cranky, but mean well or they wouldn't be here in the 1st place. What you are trying to do, is like pushing a chain. It's essentially the same as a set of doubles, and while only the longest employed drivers at CornFlakes (CF) could do it, it's pretty hard. Most drop the dolly and 2nd trailer and put them in a dock separately, but a tank takes a bit more preplanning. In other words, don't get in a situation where you have to back up. Not having 2 5th wheels, or a "set of joints", might be a bit easier, but I don't think all the practice in the world can help. I've seen straight trucks pulling a wagon, mostly California, and wondered how they back those up. Come to think of it, not sure why you'd have to back up a tanker anyway? Good luck.

 

It isn't fuel hauling, it is truck and trailer skills or lack of.

Below is the best advice, but I would consider by week 6, if you haven't gotten it, see if they can get you into a different truck combination.

 

How to handle a 25 m truck and full trailer.




Student reverses trailer towards gate. 2025. Last week of internship.

 

The simple answer is it’s the opposite of backing a single trailer. With a single trailer if you turn your wheel to the right while backing the back of your trailer will go to the left. With a truck/trailer set up if you turn your wheel to the right while backing the back of your trailer will go to the right. It will also take less input from the steering wheel because the tongue on the trailer is short and your pull trailer is short.

If the company has a truck and will allow it I’d say go in on your days off and just practice at the yard. When I drove flatbed the company had B trains and 40/20 A trains and sometimes those guys would have someone park their truck wonky at the yard and then they’d get in to see if they could back out of where it was. The hardest part will be to retrain your brain if you’re used to backing long single trailers.

 

Granted this is overseas, but watch what direction his steer axle turns to get the trailer started in the direction he wants to go.

 

Pulled a California Double(that’s what I was told this setup is called) for years. Practice and time, you will get the hang of it. A couple of hints, do not pull up close to anything on your sides until you get more experience. When backing, if things go haywire, pull forward as soon as things are going wrong, and try again. And most importantly, do not ‘drive head first into a situation’, if you can’t back into it you’ll never be able back out of it.
Once you get the hang out, you’ll never want to pull a long bore tanker(or box) ever again.