flunked skills test twice

While it's true that you're never going to have the same back twice, that's not the idea behind a schools training course. The idea is to teach you how to set up for various backing maneuvers, and get a concept on how to perform. You're not going to learn enough to be a pro in 3 weeks anyway. A school just teaches the basics of maneuvering. You don't start learning to be a driver until you have a CDL in hand and you're in a trainers truck.

And as silly as it sounds, a toy truck works well. A computer game works even better.

 

Try applying this to your next practice:

 

To the OP:

Stick with it. It takes practice. I was terrible at backing when I started driving, now I can practically back blindfolded and with one hand tied behind my back.

 

Read,and memorize what Otherhalf just posted. It WILL get you to pass.I'd be willing to bet you are psychologically mindf***ed right now after 2 tries. You'll get it!!

 

otherhalf, the one thing you stated that in the real world is true is the looking and the grip of the wheel. if he does it that way, he will instantly fail. remember, this is the CDL skills test. he is going to have to use his mirrors and the push-pull method of steering. that makes it a whole other ballgame. i never agreed with the testing method, but in this one instance, you are the small fish and have to do it the correct way.

what you do when you are on your own, well stays between you and the cab of that truck.

the biggest error new drivers make is turning the tractor too far. that puts the trailer at the deepest point to start the turn. the aim of the trailer is critical when backing, not only to make it into the dock, but you need to keep your tractor "under" the trailer so you can manipulate the angle.

remember, the drive tires on the tractor become the turning tires for the trailer. start the turn, then angle the trailer and SLOWLY start backing. remember that speed takes away distance. so when you can see both cones in both of your side mirrors, use one of your GET OUT AND LOOKs to make sure you have the correct angle. then it is a matter of starting the correction to straighten the trailer.

when you start to get straight, this is when i would stop and use one of my pullups to fully straighten the trailer. you run less of a change of an encrochment by doing it that way. if you get the trailer in to deep, you will be out of bounds before you realize what you have done and that is where many students/new drivers make the error of trying to chase the trailer. then its downhill from there.

remember, take it slow, use your allowed number of pullups and be sure to get out and look. be sure to exit the tractor correctly and shut the door when you do the GOAL. improper exit of the tractor is an instant fail.

to this day i still get out and look. when i pull up to a receiver, i am pretty close to being set up for a dock. i go in and get the dock number, open the doors and release the tandems (all the way forward makes for much easier turning in tight spaces, just remember to watch the trailer overhang in the rear.) i scope out the distance between the other trucks if there are any on either side and then i stick it in there.

the reason for releasing the tandems is actually two reasons. many shippers/receivers will ask you to slide the tandems to the rear. if you shut the truck off and have the trailer brake pulled, the suspension drops. with the tandems to rear of the trailer, it keeps the height more level with the dock. think of it as a diving board and how they bounce. if the tandems are forward, the forklift driver is bouncing around and those things are heavy.

sorry for the extra rambling. hope it helps. good luck.

 

My school admitted on the second day that what they teach is basic control over the vehicle, and passing the CDL tests...it will only prepare us for what's in the real world...the real training will be when you get your first job...don't be complacent when you graduate, you should be learning and be tested every day of your career in this field...if you don't...then it will be time to step down.

My real training starts monday...and I have it in my minds eye that my training will never end until the day they put me 6 feet under (and I hope that will still be another 40 years down the road)

 

After reading what Otherhalf wrote, visualizing myself doing it..I'm mindf@$%ed! Lmao, I don't believe I could back up right now.

(its right, just not how I do it lol and the visualization twisted my mind)

 

You're going to have to show me where he would fail by maintaining contact with the steering wheel and the window post. There isn't any "law" or regulation that requires the use of "10 and 2"...it is a recommended "safety position" to maintain awareness since that position(s) aren't "normal" for the human frame. Also...you don't have to have your hands in any position on the wheel...just using the "bottom of the wheel" in your thinking, takes away or diminishes a confusion factor when "over thinking" which way to turn the wheel.

Exactly what the reason for keeping the hand at the bottom of the wheel and palm down...it does not allow over steering...you are limited in movement by your own joints.

Your drives are the second turning point, and the point where your "push/pull" aspect is maintained. You have to push or pull the nose of the trailer to create a change of direction...you are actually never "turning" the trailer...it does not bend.

You forgot that when you exit the truck, GOAL, your perspective is completely lost...you are now looking at the unit(s) straight on not through a mirror. The driver needs to be aware of "opposites". Also, you will not see the cone on the "blind side" until the units are almost square, so visualization of placement by the "line" on the drivers side is critical.

Only stop and GOAL if it is absolutely necessary. Why waste an allowed correction is it isn't needed?!

That is the whole point of not over steering and playing catch up! by learning how to visualize the "straight line" and applying the "line of the trailer" to the "line of the dock" on the drivers side, beginning with the tandems, adjusting to the trailer mid point, and finally the drives (nose of trailer) the "straight line dock" remains constant on the blind side.

Why use a pull-up or GOAL if it is not needed?

Glad to hear you are still practicing "safe backing"!

As you cross the set up dock...look at the position of the other trailers already in docks and their position in relation to the line of the door. some docks will have your edge of drive side tires on the line, some will have you centered between the two dock lines. No two warehouses are necessarily the same in trailer position. 6 inches off to either side could mean not being able to lower the dock plate.

Not all trailers are air suspension trailers. Spring suspension doesn't react as much with the fork lift going in and out. Generally, the reason for sliding the tandems to the rear is due to height of the dock. With the tandems full back, can mean 6 inches of height difference from the end of the trailer and the dock plate. Also, not all air ride trailers dump air when the brakes are pulled. You are relating issues that you have with the specific type of trailer you are accustomed to using now as a driver for whatever company you pull for. Most schools don't use air ride trailers....cost is critical...most have older, spring trailers.

Also...if you pull the lock bar on the trailer and don't re-set the pins after sliding...if those brakes aren't equally adjusted, you take the chance of sliding the tandems each time you apply foot brake. It is one thing to get into the dock, slide the tandems, then leave the bar pulled and ease it back into the dock with the bar open...especially if the bar is a pain to pull. But to have the bar open as you are maneuvering forward and back...in essence, you could be creating more tedious work for yourself.

Not extra...well for this specific application maybe...but at some point in the OP's career, this information will be appreciated!

 

I am not sure if this will help you or not, but it helped me. When I started to pay attention to where the wheels of the trailer were and not where the end of the trailer was it was a big help! When I first started to learn to back, I would look at the end of the trailer and I would always end up short. Believe it or not it took me a long time to figure out the trailer pivots on the wheels not the end of the trailer, lol.

 

When I started teaching....fire department 1970's....doing something, then attempting to "describe" or instruct another in "doing" that task was "insane"!

As an instructor...you need to find 5-7 different ways to say the same thing. No two people will "interpret" the same words exactly the same.

Try it sometime...get a few people together, and "teach" them how to do something...watch their faces and expressions...you will see when they "slide off course" in your explanation!