I started backing a dolly out of necessity when I was on a team run and I was trying to keep the guy in the bunk asleep. We dropped one trailer every week and hooked to another so it really made it easier by backing the dolly with the lead trailer.
Until you get good at it you really have to be careful not to back the dolly into the front of the trailer. It pays you to get out and verify your rear trailer height when you get the dolly close to the back box.
I found that when backing a dolly with a trailer if I constantly turned the steering wheel I would stay ahead of the dolly and more likely to keep it straight.
I was once on a run where I waited for hours for my loads so I started practicing backing a set. I did this in an empty lot with nobody around and no pressure to hurry up. It took several weeks of practice a couple hours a day, but I did get good eventually. I doubt anyone can teach this skill on the forum as getting good probably just comes with experience. Backing the set was more of a show off factor, but it was impressive when done and the company did not want it done. What they didn't know didn't hurt them at a meet and swap.
I felt the need to do it after a senior driver did it at a meet and swap one night and bragged about his superior backing doubles skills. I got there earlier than him the next night and he found my set backed in a hole. I did have to start out almost perfectly straight to back the set and it probably took 5-10 minutes, but I still did it.
Hooking doubles with dolly attached to lead
Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by 2BucTruck, Dec 20, 2017.
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LtlAnonymous, jungledrums, LoneCowboy and 1 other person Thank this.
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tell yo fleet "manager" about this:
Jazz1 and Shep Shiloh Thank this. -
Trying to back doubles is like playing tic tac toe.. eventually, you realize its a complete waste of time. Besides all of the gear you end up tearing up in the process of "learning".
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It saves one drop and hook.Banker Thanks this. -
I've done it on occasion but I never really made a habit of doing it since it is kind of a hassle.
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Then you see dollys with a bent 5th wheel release handle, bent by someone "practicing backing their dolly".
I've seen dollys with the handle completely broken off.
I can't imagine why the company would not want drivers backing dollys with the lead trailer. -
I don't think there are any companies that officially allow, much less, encourage their drivers to back a con behind a trailer.
I've seen people lose sight of the con only to jacknife it against the vertical bracket that holds the ICC bumper. Sometimes the cons airlines get pinched right in half during the process. -
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