backing up course

http://publicsafety.utah.gov/dld/docs/CDL_Handbook.pdf thats all i could find section 12

 

Yea we have all that we are just looking for the measurements to set up that course but I think I found a kind of answer. The person I just talked to said start the cones at 70 ft for parallel parking, then set up cones 53 ft down the trailer and practice getting into that then decreasing all the way to 20 feet, then practice getting to the sides for offset parking and get as close as possible, as for the alley dock go to an abandoned warehouse and try it (being Utah they are closed on Sunday) lastly we can practice offset by lining up with a dock and backing into the left and right sides. That st least gives us something to work with.

 

Don't expect any help from ANY Utah DMV people. They hate our trucks just as bad as they do in California. I'm going to try to get someone to look at this thread who just may be able to help you. He is known as otter, but goes by the screen name of Other-half TW. Er sumptin' like that.

Anyway, be nice to him. He is one of us "old farts" here, but is pretty good at training. At least if you can believe what he says!

 

Haha any advice is muchly appreciated, thank you!

 

Any advice? Well OK then, "Don't eat the yellow snow!" I just PMed him, but he isn't on line right now.

 

That's even better, try to get him state sponsored training, find out the requirements, his dad can even lay him off for the training. More time behind the wheel getting great instruction and better for his career. Just like going drivers education, sometimes might be a little better than having someone you know teach you, not everyone can put into words how they do something/teach someone properly.

 

Find out where they test and go see what candidates are required to do. Our CDL manual reads like all the other states because it's made by the same orginization. It lists the tests for backing and has diagrams. However, VT does it differently than the examples, and requires a modified alley dock. You wouldn't know unless you did a little leg work. Next door in NH they do it more by the book. Find out. Also, the #1 reason people with no instruction fail is the inspection. The second reason is failing the backing maneuver(s). The driving part is straight up if you have the basics down. You might consider getting a school in the area to give him a quick tutor session on what will be in the test. Private schools do this.

 

It is a good feeling knowing you have a job waiting for you when you pass the test! However, to get that magical CDL through any DMV, the simple application of the tools to complete the task is the #1 goal. The setting of the cones for a course is actually irrelevant, being able to visually see what you need to do is the way to go about this problem. Plus, just because the company only pulls doubles...or is it "truck-trailer", like for a gasoline delivery...either way, the DMV driving test will require specific skills with a standard tractor/trailer configuration. Most schools use the "pup" (25-28' LTL type unit) for the drive test. Keep one thing in mind, the shorter the trailer, the faster it reacts to steering movement, so practice with the unit you will testing with. The only "advice" I can offer would be this:

Use the steering wheel to your advantage! Everybody teaches "steer the opposite direction"...bad thinking, poor instruction!

Your visual part of your brain is already doing a "reversal" with all the information coming in through the eye...it has to reverse the image to be processed. So when you try to think "opposite" you actually are stressing yourself a bit more. Here is the trick I taught all my students for 15 years:

The top of the steering wheel turns the direction you want going forward, the bottom of the steering wheel turns the direction you want to turn going backwards.

The set up is the most important part of backing into a dock or parking location. Let's learn what I call the "Banana Profile":
1. With the units in a straight configuration, drive across the front of the location until the space between the tractor and trailer is at the midpoint of your location.
2. As you cross this midpoint, turn right to a 45 degree angle away from the point. Drive straight (45 degrees from the location) until the tandems are at the midpoint of the location. (You must be watching your driver’s side mirror) As the tandems attain the midpoint turn the wheel left (again) to put a bend in the tractor/trailer until you have achieved the "Banana Profile". (The tractor/trailer has the same shape as a banana.) Now straighten up and continue until you have clearance of the driver’s side rear corner of the trailer and the location the trailer will be backing into.
3. At this point, you should be able to smoothly "track" right into the "hole". Just visualize the line and adjust the turn aspect (declining) as you enter the hole and straighten up as you go.

LET THE TRAILER DO THE WORK...ADJUST TO THE TRAILER, DON'T FORCE THE TURN MOVEMENT BY OVER STEERING. The longer the trailer, the more time it will take to show its movement. Don't get anxious, be patient, and let the trailer make some movement, then you correct the tractor to the movement of the trailer.

1. When backing, place your hand palm down on the center bottom of the steering wheel.
2. Use the bottom as your guide for the direction you want the back of the trailer to move.
3. Having your hand, palm down, gripping the wheel will prevent you (with the natural limits of movement) from over-steering. DO NOT LET GO OF THE WHEEL!
4. Grip the window post (the separation bar between the wing window and the door window) with your left hand, and again, DON'T LET GO. This "anchor" stops you from moving around in your seat...every time you move it changes the visual perspective in your mirrors...SIT STILL!
5. A tractor/trailer combination will NEVER back in a straight line...you need to "add" and "subtract" turn movement constantly. A little adjustment either way will keep the units straight and where you want to go.
6. If there is no "guide line" painted on the surface, visualize the straight line you want to line the driver’s side (sight side) of the trailer then the tractor onto.
7. When you start backing, pay attention to the tandems (trailer wheels)...these are your first and primary points of lining up the unit. As soon as the tandems have gone into the box, begin reducing the turn aspect of the tractor (bring the nose around to the "square line" with the trailer. Now change your focus to the midpoint of the trailer...just before the midpoint gets to the "line", get the tractor square with the trailer so there is no turn occurring...you have achieved the aspect of straight line backing once the tractor is square with the trailer and the midpoint of the trailer is in the box.
8. Keep in mind there are 3 "pivot points" to a tractor/trailer combination.
8a. Tandems are the rear pivot.
8b. King pin (drive wheels) is the center pivot.
8c. Steer tires are the forward pivot.
To move the tractor trailer either direction (right or left) you must accomplish an "S" configuration/movement with the tractor/trailer. Which direction you need to move the units is the direction you begin the movement. (This is for forward adjustments...if you have not centered the units in the dock.) To move it will require 3 steering movements...make sure the movement is sufficient (far enough forward in distance) to achieve the moving distance required (right or left). Just imagine you are driving on an "S" painted on the ground and follow it COMPLETELY.

 

He could consider going to the place where the MVD tests for CDL's, and watch. Check out the course setup. The MVD's have a battery of about 6 different tests, they use them in random sequence, so he shouldn't expect to test exactly the same manuevers as anybody else.