Backing up

Oh yes... All you need is experience... LOL

Just wait, in 29 years or so you too will be able to hit the hole every time.... LOL

Sorry, some of us here do use "concepts" to do things... They help you get to the experienced level where it comes naturally.

The first time someone said "just put it in the hole" I had a good laugh at him... Talk about lazy teaching methods... LOL

And then they moan and groan when they see that brand new "steering wheel holder" trying to back at night in a crowded truck stop... Why is he having a hard time??? Because no one taught him/her how to back properly. So he/she is backing up a whole line of trucks trying to get at the fuel pumps while they are trying to "just hit the hole".... Happened to me just tonight... And I was the only one to get out of his truck to help him "hit the hole"... LOL

The same drivers are then complaining that no one teaches anything in these CDL Mills of Schools...

So where is a new driver to turn to get help??? Well, here at the truckers report is normally a good place to look for help... And then they hear... "Just put it in the hole".... LOL

Stay Safe

 

So... No trucker here was ever "taught" how to print the letters of the alphabet? No trucker here was ever "taught" how to write in cursive?

One had to "learn" how to print and then one had to "learn" how to write before they ever started to "write your name without thinking about it"... LOL

Next time I see a parent teaching their toddler how to use a fork to eat I'll just walk up and tell the young child "just put it in the hole"... LOL

Some people here make it seem they just popped out of the womb knowing how to drive a truck... LOL ... Silly... Just silly... LOL

 

Use the Force Luke.
Trust the Force Luke.

LOL

 

You're missing the point. "Backing by numbers" is actually the "lazy teaching" method. Anyone can tell someone to "pull up to that cone, stop, turn the wheel all the way left then drive to that cone. Stop, then turn the wheel all the way right till you get to that cone…" etc etc

The point is that's not realistic and it doesn't teach you how to control your trailer in real life situations. There's no cones and controlled backing ranges in real life. There's cars packed where they shouldn't be, docks that were built way before 53' trailers became the norm, pedestrians, traffic, no room to do "school taught" set up.

But hey, those lazy instructors taught you how to go cone to cone and when to turn. Sorry, but that's mostly useless info.

 

Take it slow, goal, and aim to hit the trailer on the far side of the spot then jack it at the last second.

 

Idk in a day cab after eight years, doesn't make too much difference which way I back in. Agreed that sleeper and blindsiding is a bit trickier but I've seen old timers do it with their eyes closed.

 

On the flip side I was spotting someone. Yelling stop! And waving my hands and he kept coming.

 

And I totally agree with you on the step by step backing... I am still looking for that stop sign across the street to line up my trailer with to do a blind side parallel park... LOL

I mentioned that in a prior post in this thread... They teach to the test and the only goal is to complete a particular maneuver so that one can pass the test and get your CDL.

But that is not what we are talking about here.

Teaching a new driver to do an "S" maneuver to move the truck six inches left or right is a concept to learning how to control ones trailer.

I didn't hear a thing about "pivot point" until way after school and after the training program. Now that I have learned the concept of "pivot point" I can apply it to real life backing situations.

My main point is that one must "learn" or one must be "taught" how to control ones trailer way before anyone can just "hit the hole" after a few years of experience.

Just like learning to print and write in school before being able to sign your name without thought.

It's muscle memory and that takes a few of us longer to accomplish than others that may come more naturally.

 

With limited distance in front you'll have to do multiple pull-ups to straighten things out. I am in the process of making a Pull-Up video to explain in Point of View. But for now check this out.

 

Everybody learns differently. I see these posts people asking for a "backing technique" and the replies make my hair hurt. The people responding are being nice, and truly trying to help. Can't fault someone for that, but jeeze it's confusing. Lol

The honest, NOT lazy, answer is practice. Get out there, put the legwork into figuring out how to put that trailer in the hole. No theory, or technique is going to do it. Pure, hardwork and time. That's it. It's not rocket science- but you also can't take shortcuts.

Sure, there's basic guidelines you can follow, and they certainly help, but you learn them in 2 minutes. The rest is just good ol fashioned elbow grease- trial and error (hopefully more trials and less errors).

Also, keep in mind, everyone sees things differently. The back by numbers thing might work for your eye, but not mine.

Point is, the only technique you can count on is figuring out how the trailer moves for YOUR eyes.