Dazed and Confused advise please!!!

It almost sounds as if you are over working the steering wheel.

It would be so much easier if it could be seen, and shown in person.

Basic advice.
Short trailers do not need a lot input from the steering wheel. ( i.e. they turn faster)
Long trailers turn slower.

Just practice. Find an experienced driver that will help you out. And once you have it where you feel comfortable with backing in anywhere, go find your original driver trainer and give him a swift kick to jewels. You will feel much better then.

 

#1 Advise...Use all availiable room. SHUT THE ENTIRE DRIVE DOWN IF NEEDED! I'd rather wait 5 minutes on you, than have to waste 30 minutes assisting with an accident/witness report.

Other than that....It sounds like you aren't properly set up to begin with.

The most common mistake I see with beginers, over steering. That combined with trying to make "huge" corrections/movements forward or backward.

You don't have to pull forward 40 feet to correct a simple tail swing issue. Most times it's a simple 5-10 foot movement that is needed, or less.

Another issue I see, and that I feel causes some of the above issues. Failing to turn the wheel at the proper time. If you see you need to steer left to correct the problem...DO NOT wait until you get the truck moving to turn the wheel. Turn it first, then move forward or backward, in small increments. Also an issue when you are already full lock left, and need to cut left.....goes back to, improper set-up, and waiting until the truck was moving to start the cut/turn.

Think baby steps...always baby steps. And never rush the job. Bozo the clown that sits off to one side PO'd cause you're blocking trafiic, will be in that same boat within a few hours...ignore him/her.

You'll eventually develope a feel for what is needed and when. It just takes time.

4 most dangerous words in a truck stop (If you leave your CB on)..."Come on back driver" If you can't see the driver...and he ain't sitting in one of the trucks you are backing beside. They aren't talking to you. Even then...I get out and look.

 

Even though I aced this in school....a T/S is an entirely different animal all together. My trainer tells me that it is usually my set up when I have a problem.

What I do when I can and if time allows when I stop for lunch and if there are spaces to back into even though there might be an easier place to park. Take advantage of the space and time and back into a space. This may seem a waste of time to some and I only do it if the freight is not hot. Or if I am dead heading.

 

Just use ALL the room you can. If you have to hold up a line of cars/trucks/airplanes/whatever, do it! If you can, try to setup for a straight line back. That way, you will be better able to see whats on both sides.
Also, take it slow and turn the wheel in small increments. As was said, oversteering is easy to do.
Good luck!

 

the one piece of advice that has helped me the most....

"steer" your trailer tandems. Of course make sure you have enough space in the front, but if you work on getting them in place, the rest of the truck will just follow.