Extremely nervous about backing

As others have said, thank you for your service.

In CDL school, and then orientation and driver training at my employer, I was always "best in class" with backing. However, out there in the real world, I feel, and certainly look like, a dope while backing. I'm no where near as good as the seasoned drivers who can back in to their docks on the first try. I've learned that even though I can back into cones like nobody's business, backing into a loading dock is a whole different animal. What's great is that there are plenty of other drivers willing to help.

I was told to turn off my CB when struggling, but honestly, I haven't heard any driver give me grief when I have difficulties. It *may* be because I'm female though. I think my sex has a lot to do with how I'm treated at places. Not that it's right, but I think it has worked to my advantage. And for the record, just incase anybody was thinkin' it, I don't use my sex as a crutch, like, "Oh my, little ol' me needs help with...". I do truly hope that the help that has been extended to me is also given to my male counterparts.

Oh, another thing. Try to get advice and help from several different instructors. You may not "get it" under the instruction of one, but totally "get it" by the instruction of another. People have different methods of backing, and different ways of explaining things - take advantage of it! Good luck!

 

So that was you watching me in downtown Seattle?

OP: Like the others have said, take your time, GOAL. My personal trick? Put hands at top of the wheel and "turn toward too much". Too much trailer in left mirror, turn wheel left, etc.

 

Never get frustrated while trying to back,you will have good days and bad days.Even drivers with 10,15,20+ years have their bad days.I have backed into places I have backed into a hundred times before and just screw it all up,just say "what the ****!!!!",reposition and try again.

 

You know that happened to me this morning. Been going to this stop once or twice a day , off and on for ten + years. I would bet maybe a thousand times. Backing in,usually hit it first try.90 degree back from the road, similiar to alley way. Pretty simple, plenty of room.. Today something 'spooked ' me, and it took me about 4 resets to get it right, and then it was not straight. I was embarrassed a little.

Thinking something I use to visually line up with had been moved, but I had not thought of it until I read this post.
It happens to all of us.

 

man when i went to driving school i sucked at backing. i couldn't even back up straight. alley dock, serpentine, parallel, straight backing....i couldn't do any of it and it became very discouraging. but like anything it just takes practice. i got my CDL in spite of the fact that i couldn't back AT ALL, got out on the road, and that's where my real education began. it was scary. but hey, 7 years later, it's all good. i can't remember the last time i had a problem. i sometimes wish i could go back to my old school's obstacle course...the one which caused me so much grief.....and back through all those #### orange cones without flattening any of them, as i was known to do before.

 

The slower you move during backing, the more time will be able to correct with your sterring. TAKE IT SLOW. Repetition will be your teacher.

 

I still have a lot of trouble backing, and I've been driving almost 2 years. Unfortunately, on one of my first back-ups at a truck stop I had a 'super trucker' cut behind me even tho I had my 4-ways on. Next time, I was backing in near the fuel islands and another 'super trucker' was giving me crap on the CB about how long it was taking. He had pulled in to the fuel island to grab coffee and was ready to go. Of course, truckers are always going to give a woman a lot more hassle than they would a man.

 

I have been driving a long time and pull a RGN tri-axle trailer that backs like a boat anchor tied to a dock. It takes time and to be calm, think twice and move or steer accordingly, no one can go with out making mistakes and I hate people who heckle others on the CB. Just practice and practice, if you get to a quiet area once you are in a truck go to the back when no one is around and practice using the lines. Imagine you have trucks parked and take the time to learn the truck, different trucks back different.

 

Lol i have days that I feel like a fish out of water when backing more than a few times my low air light came on but again is about getting it there is not about how fast you do it time and perfection are thingss you can't simply rush.