Backing up a truck not as easy as it seems!

Endorsement from whom? The company? DOT? I used to haul steel coil but I didn't have or need any kind of endorsement from anyone to do it so I've just never heard of such a thing being required.

 

Coil endorsements are not required in every state. If the company you're going to drive for hauls coils, check the CDL requirements for their home state to see if you need it. For example, I'm trying to get on with TMC. They only do flatbeds and I'm sure I'll be hauling coils at some point. If I get assigned to the AL terminal (in Doraville, from what I've been told), I'll have to take the AL coil endorsement test so it can be added to my SC-issued CDL.

I hope I gave the right information. I'm going purely on what I've been told.... Although I was given this information by a company. If I got it wrong, I'm sure my fellow drivers will call me on it. Shiny side up, drivers....

 

Actually it's a certification, not an endorsement. It has nothing to do with a CDL. In Alabama you can do an online certification and get a certificate which must be in the vehicle whenever you are hauling coils. I believe it costs around $25.00 or less. If the company offers the training and certification, they probably cover the cost. The whole thing usually takes less than an hour.

Best regards

 

Thanks for clearing that up, dib. I'm the type of driver that will pull whatever load the company tells me to get under. I just don't want to do it illegally. Very much appreciated!!

 

I never knew such a thing existed. Interesting. And knowing what I know from my stint as coil guy, I'd say its something that more states ought to require.

 

After reading some of the stories here, I already have it in mind ahead of time that the first time I pull into a truck stop that the radio will be going OFF....no distractions.

 

Wow that sucks...Did your school give you enough practice and did they think you had the maneuvers down to the point they thought you could pass or did they just say, it's your turn, good luck?...

For parallel parking, maybe I just had a good teacher as me and the one other guy in my class hit them everytime from day one...Here's how we do it...

Start with end of trailer at the first cone with about a body width from the cone...

Cut it hard right to the stop and back up until first piece of DOT tape is covered...STOP

Cut it hard left until you're tractor is straight with trailer...STOP

At this point the center cone should look like there's about a 1.5ft from your trailer...

Back up, keeping that gap until the end cone is at your battery(or between back of tractor and trailer)...STOP

Cut wheel hard left until the first cone is even with your shoulder as you sit back in the seat...STOP

Cut wheel hard right and back until your tractor is in the box...STOP

You may not need to do anything other than pull forward a few feet at this point if at all...

That procedure works like clockwork for us, I hope that helps you...


Straight backing...

If you pull out straight, it should back up the same way with only minimal turning of the wheel...I find looking at my driver's side mirror is all the aide I need making very small movements of the wheel...Without watching you and seeing what you're doing, it's really hard to offer more advise but I hope those tidbits help...I wish you the best of luck...

 

If his trailer keeps drifting it means he's not reacting fast enough ( turning the wheel ) ..... which means that he might want to try and spin the wheel a bit faster. The truck will move in reverse a little faster if the truck is on a downgrade. Learning to move the wheel 'fast' will be beneficial to a new driver !! Especially if your tandems are set all the way back !! Learn to react fast and this will save a lot of unnecessary maneuvering once you get the jist of it ! Yes , you would move the wheel slower in a tight situation when backing between trucks at a truck stop for example or even a tight dock. But getting the trailer in the hole is the first step !!

 

Not saying what you're saying is wrong, but as a newbie, but if it gets to the point I need to make large adjustment(which means backing up straight, I've already done something wrong) I find it easier to STOP before making large adjustments in the steering wheel...I found doing them on the fly, with my inexperience, just didn't work as well as stopping...Maybe with time I'll be able to do them on the fly...Just a thought...

 

LOL, wait till you get to a busy truck stop with a line of tired drivers waiting to back in after you. It's fine to stop and turn the wheel in an empty training yard with no hazards lurkin' about. But you should start learning to back in motion..lol... right away !! That's the only way you're going to learn and you might as well start now while there are no obstacles ! lol . Also make sure you are aware of what's in front and on the sides of your rig while backing so you don't take out a pole or some half-wit 4 wheeler that snuck up on your right ! ( or left ).