Backing up into docks- Any advice ?

Most students over steer . They still want/need the trailer to go left . The other poster used the word chase, that's correct. Once you start to straighten out (the angle from truck to the trailer) the trailer will still go left till you get back in front of it . You are creaming the cones on the left side ? Start countering sooner . Most are too aggressive on the angles.
One tip that helps some to help know which way to turn the wheel, steer with your hand at the bottom of the wheel (backing) . If trailer needs to go left , push left. If trailer needs to go right , push right. Go to a truck stop on a given afternoon , and watch guys back in. Pay close att to steer tire input , and what it does.
If you make a wrong turn (backing) pull back to where you made your goof. It will take more then twice the distance to correct a goof if you keep backing . In other words if you move 10 feet with the wheels right , and they should have been left, it will take 20 to 25 feet to correct . When inches matter , we don't want to waste feet.

 

Always get out and look!!

 

I went thru the exact same setup (cone layouts) when learning.
It was hard for a short while, so don't think you're alone. Cones make it much harder than real-life, because in real-life you might have walls, other trailers, or large type objects/landmarks to gauge turning and alignment by.
blairandgretchen hit on an important point (beat me to it, in fact). That is... if your tandems are set at the very rear of the trailer, the trailer will turn into the "dock" in a smoother more gradual arc. An example is like pushing/steering a two wheel hand cart.
If the tandems are set forward (good bit of trailer overhang behind them) then the trailer will turn much quicker and "pivot" on the center of the tandem area. This tends to require more practice. Trailer length also matters in how fast the trailer reacts to turning your steering wheel.
My advice is to study closely (watch) the arc in which your rear tires are turning. While watching this, also have an eye out for the "line of sight" straight down the side of the trailer front-to-rear. You can use this "line of sight" or "aiming" especially on straight backing portions, but not so much on turning.
Hope some of this helps. Bottom line tho is, it really takes practice. You get progressively better with each hour/day/whatever.

 

I have no problem keeping the trailer straight while backing up in a straight line,its backing up and tryign to figure out when to turn and how hard to turn to get the trailer in the box without being crooked/the truck being crooked. The "Line of sight" is why I dont find backing up in a straight line difficult.i can corrrect the trailer easliy. I havent hit any cones yet, just been backing in crooked or backing up and the truck is crooked and trailer straight.

 

One ing that did help me as silly as it sound is to go buy a small toy truck and trailer.. doesn't have to be an exspensive one.. I see them at walgreens, Walmart for $5 to $10..

It helped me to get a visual and better understanding of how the truck moves the trailer around..

Then, when you are in the truck.. think it through.. get the visual in your head how the truck will need to move to move the trailer the way you need it to go.. when I do my visual.. I think of it as if I am above my truck and trailer.. just like when I am practicing/playing with my toy truck..

I think that is why I had an easier time learning to back then my class mates.. because I had a good reference and idea in my head of how the truck moves the trailer..

 

I did the same thing. I'm a visual guy anyway. Need to see how things happen. Can tell me about it all day, won't matter. Need to see it. A toy truck helped me bigtime.

 

Take your time. Go as slow as possible. They don't time you for your state exam. The slower you go, the more time you have to react to adjusting the angle of your trailer. Roll down your window, look outside along with watching your mirror, then draw an imaginary path based on where you want your trailer to go.

 

you beat me to it, I would suggest the same thing.

Secondly, and I hope I can explain this adequately, don't "drive" the truck, but "drive" the trailer. In other words, you watch where your tandems are going, not your truck and adjust accordingly by steering left or right. Maybe someone else can chime in and explain this better.

 

I'll "bookmark" this thread for a more lengthy reply later. Just got a dispatch.... there is a very good step by step guide for setting up and executing an angle dock.

 

Backing in school is not comparable to backing in the real world. Do what they teach you in school but when you get out here it will be trial and error but don't get frustrated