Backing!!!

Take as long as you need to and GOAL as much as you need to. Every back that you don't hit anything is a successful back. You WILL get better with more practice.

 

Each backing scenario is different, and having the tandems forward or back will depend on how much room you will need for tractor movement. Tandems back will require more space for tractor to move, and tandems forward will make tractor movement less strategic. You can even run into situations where you start with the tandems forward, and during the backing process you will need to slide the tandems back so the front of the trailer has more movement than the tail of the trailer.

 

As stated above just make sure to take your time and not hit anything. Never get in a hurry because another driver is waiting for you too move. That's when you make mistakes. Soon enough you'll feel like you can hit any hole with yours eyes closed. I wouldn't suggest it though.

 

I would find a happy medium with the tandems and leave it there, and get used to that setting. Too far forward, and tail swing can be an issue going in and/or coming out. Too far back and that requires more room up front.

 

^^^ This is your advice! I worked for a beer dist and before I got my own route I was always helping our convienence guys so everything was corner stores, gas stations, things on one lane streets, basically anywhere a truck should NOT be, that was every stop! Find your happy medium and adapt to it, remember people are STUPID and natural selection will attempt itself daily and it will use YOUR truck when possible. Nobody cares that your lights are flashing, that your backup alarm is screaming, that your VERY visible backing and taking out a street while doing it they will walk behind, drive behind or into you either out of stupidity or their dreams of that big settlement check. That job put me on my game, I'll give it that!

 

Go sloooow, that makes it easier

 

Take it easy. Don't let anyone intimidate you to go faster to get out of their way. There have been times when I've actually GOAL'd when backing my own pickup.

 

All the advice above is good. Im a yard jockey. I make a living backing in trailers. Been doing it since sept of last year and there are doors that sill intimidate me at times.

A few things. When i was otr i did tandems forward because i was usually in small places and needed room in front. Kimberly Clark in bolingbrook il is real tight and want tandems all way back. I would slide at guard shack get to door. Go foward cause trailers in front of me. Then when i was good in whole i woud slide back again. Home depot too.

Dont be afraid to ask for help. All the guys here have been doing this 5+ years. I still have them site for me and at times have them back it in and i watch.

One problem i had was oversteering. Think of wheel as a clock. 12 3 6 and 9. 12 top 6 bottom. Set up then quater turns to see how trailer reacts put more turn in or take it out if needed. Oversteering will get you out of position quickly.

If at a warehouse and just cant get in ask us. I will do it. I will have you drop trailer and back it in. Dont be ashamed to ask. Id rather you ask and not hit anything then have you hit something and cause a mess.

Good luck and take it slow. Most importantly goal.

 

sliding the tandems all the way forward makes the wheelbase of the trailer shorter thereby making the trl swing 'quicker' when backing. The major drawback is the end swing behind the trailer; it becomes a liability, get out and look a lot.

One thing I like to do when backing up in a tight space is to 'bend' the tractor when I'm doing my setup. Let's say I'm going to be docking 'normally', watching my rear out the driver's window. Right before I finish my initial pullup I turn the wheel to the left and put a bend between tractor and trailer; trailer at about 90 degrees to the dock and tractor slightly pointing inward to the left. Turn the wheel back all the way to the right and start backing slowly and then turn the wheel back as needed watching the trailer and avoiding jack knife. Pull up as needed. Watching the trl wheels is important of course; when the driver side trl wheels are going forward you are going into jack knife (jacking the trailer); not necessarily a bad thing but when you have the trl where you want it, you don't want the trl jacking; do a pull up or a bunch of pull ups.

And watch that end swing.

You'll get it, good luck out there.