Having trouble with alley dock

I have seen my fair share especially truck stops they all look at you crazy

 

Says the T&T driver

 

I probably shouldn't jump in here since I'm not a TT driver.
However, my dad taught me how to back trailers 60 yrs ago ......and it has served me well.

I place my hands at the Bottom of the wheel.
If the trailer tail needs to go Left, move the bottom of the wheel Left.
If the trailer tail needs to go Right, move the bottom of the wheel Right.
This eliminates a lot of the confusion working the wheel from the top and thinking "opposites".
Backing with one's hands at 5&7 instead of the common 10 & 2 position feels strange at first,
but I think really speeds the backing-learning process................and I've backed a lot of trailers.

jmho

 

People can talk until their blue in the face about backing. I have rarely seen any amount of BS help someone clean up their backing problems.

Backing is a skill that will only come with practice. Get out and practice, and when you think you got it practice some more.

 

To get straight when pulling up, you perform an "s" turn. You will go to right then back left, then straight to the cone. That will help get your trailer straight.
During your test, and in real world in actuality, you should be at idle speed. Unless you are pushing the trailer up an incline, the truck will put that trailer to the dock without pressing the accelerator.

 

Yeah, that sounds great. But how do expect someone to help? It's a one man job. It's basic technique and it's really not that hard. Once you have the technique down it's cake. But the thing is, the only way to get the technique down is to do it- over and over and over and over.

If you're struggling with backing - embrace it! It's temporary. You'll be laughing at your struggles in no time. Have faith. Just pay attention to how your trailer reacts to the moves you make and you'll have it in no time.

It has nothing to do with other "super truckers" helping or not. You got this. You can do it!!

 

I certainly agree with you but when I wrote the term super trucker I meant the following there are drivers out there who have forgotten that at one point they were new and nervous. I myself was taught by my trainer to offer help to any driver regardless of his skill heck even if he is a veteran you know we all have those days when you struggle to back up. I myself like to help driver's and offer my two cents as we can always learn from each other.

Stay safe

 

How do you help? Sure, spotting is the obvious thing. But people struggling with backing usually aren't struggling with that. They're struggling with getting the trailer to go where they want it to.

Not really sure "helping" them does anything but confuse and fluster them. My experience has been leaving them alone (like really leaving them alone - not filming them lol) and letting them figure it out is what they want, and need

 

I don't volunteer help, If you would like help I would be more than willing to assist when you ask. Backing takes practice, practice, practice. That is why MOST flatbedders can't back up. They had to back up for their CDL and most have not since.