Finally hit the dock!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TravR1, Aug 14, 2018.

  1. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    So I did smething early this morning that felt a little corny, but it worked! I drop off at a warehouse with wide open docks that dont have lines or anyrhing like that. Ive never been able to hit that #### thing no matter what I did. Kept telling myself it's just because I'm tired and have been driving all night.

    This morning I set myself to do the back best I could then I got out and stood directly in front of the edge of the dock and dropped my hat, right about where I wanted my Tandems to hit and start the turn. It was 100x easier. Trailer went straight into the dock.

    That one step saved me tons of pull ups I normally had to make in the past. Ran over my hat, but that's OK. Made me kinda look like I knew what I was doing and not some stone cold rookie.
     
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  3. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    Well done!
     
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  4. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    Adapt, improvise, overcome, and when all else fails curse loudly.
     
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  5. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    Thanks! I thought id post that for other rookies having similar problems.

    Set up using the 9-12-9 formula thing. Dropped my hat. Just went straight back letting trailer fall off, just a few corrections. Then got behind it and staight back. Once on the hat I did the offset from school. It went straight in.

    Doesnt seem like much but for me seriously id be out there 30 minutes or maybe longer backing in and out and driving around like a clueless noob. Wide open dock and couldn't hit it.
     
  6. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    Curse loudly has been my approach up to this morning.

    Codriver: are you alright up there?
    Yeah, I'm just at my favorite dock.
    Him: Ah, ok. Makes sense.
     
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  7. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    I was in the country on a gravel lot and nothing around me. 8 bays and I couldn't hit the freaking dock straight to save my life. I could picture the guys inside having a great laugh.
     
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  8. WesternPlains

    WesternPlains Road Train Member

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  9. mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

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    The unmarked ones are the hardest it seems.
     
  10. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

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    Exactly. I finally thought about it even though I was tired and realized there are no lines, thats whats different, so maybe I can make a line. From the tractor looking out your window the building is crooked from my perspective. Dropping my hat gave me something to aim for before doing the final maneuver. Sort of like with math you do an equation in sets, you don't just calculate something straight up without a calculator.
     
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  11. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Better still is if you have 2 things to drop. One bout your tandems the other 10 feet up in a straight line. Gives you a square up line so your not crooked
     
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