Blind Side Backing

What? You mean they don't have all those little cones set out for you?

 

Ain't got no stupid little window, and I can blindside just fine. A little practice and don't over-steer.

 

No disrespect but if you good with your mirrors its not that hard. Any one here been to the US mint in Philly? I used to do that with out a ground guide. Forced blindside, once backed in there is maybe about 50 feet between your front bumper and a several foot thick reinforced wall and your putting it between 2 other trucks most of witch have EX hoods.

I did this back 3 times a week for nearly a year and the only thing I ever did was lightly brush the bumper guide on a W900L. Left a slight scratch on it. Driver didn't even care when I offered to replace it.

You just need to have a good sense of where your truck is. Be able to tell where the trailer is based on looking in the left mirror and seeing how much of the front of the trailer you see. Having good mobility of the power mirror on the right side is a big help. But then again its not something a student should be trying that's for sure.

 

Its never fun to pull into a shipper or receiver and see that its gonna be a tight blindside. Although in 5 years I have only had to do it a few times.

 

I have to do it a couple times a week between two other trucks usually. At first it was intimidating, but after a few times I gained a little confidence, and it does get easier the more you do it. And watching others have to do the same thing also helps.

 

i love my daycab

 

I drive with all the curtains up, including the cab curtains! (keeps it cooler inside the truck so the A/C doesn't have to work as hard) I also close the divider curtains like I'm a flight attendant closing the curtains to First Class...with that smug "maybe if you worked a little harder in school you'd be sitting up here instead" look.

 

Yeah, but being confident in yourself and your abilities to do a blindside back is worth it's weight in gold on the day you need to do it.

When you pull into a nearly empty parking lot, go find some place with about 4 or 5 empty spots next to each other and practice! That's all it takes... and you don't need a daycab or a sleeper window.

 

I had to do a blindside inside a building once, between two other trucks,because they were doing some construction to the building, but weren't quite done. That was an experience.
Just take your time, G.O.A.L a few times, it was OK.