how hard is it?

It's no different than learning to ride a bike of drive a car. It takes a little time and coordination but eventually it's second nature. My wife does it and she has no troubles.

 

It's the lifestyle itself that is hard to get used too! Driving the truck is easy.

 

Backing was definitely the hardest thing to get the hang of. After a while, the spaces where I had all kinds of room were actually harder than the tricky or tight ones.

 

I really feel bad for these guys who have never driven anything larger than a car before, they train them for a couple of weeks or however long training is, and then put them out on the road, I see these guys trying to back up onto a dock and I feel so bad for them because they ahve such a hard time, I have helped out many people this way.

It really takes years of practice to get really good at it. I've been backing up wagons since I was a kid and had five years experience shunting trailers before I ever went on the road, everyone should have a few months of shunting experience before going on the road, it really is a good way to learn how to back up

 

The hardest thing about it, is getting over your initial fear/nervousness. Sure, it is a big truck. But you can back your own car. You can also learn to back your truck.

As far as blind spots, well a lot of that will depend on the setup of your tractor. Placement of mirrors, day cab or sleeper etc. The most dangerous is "blind side" backing. This is backing to the right. You need to have good visibility here, and remember to take your time. "GOAL" is something you see engraved on a lot of truck mirrors. It means "GET OUT AND LOOK!"

Stop and GOAL as many times as you need to. It takes a lot less time than filling out an accident report.

 

To really ##### and explain your answer would take into consideration a couple of facettes.

In comparison with my experience and from training others, driving is the easier part. Parking/backing however, is the most difficult. To give you an answer as to your direct question as to how long and difficult is completely and individual case-by-case situation. You and only you can begin to determine this from your own driving experiences in life.

Have you ever towed a boat, u-haul or any kind of trailer before? If so, how easy/difficult was it for you manuevering? When you first learned how to drive, was it easy/difficult for you to learn how to parallel park?
Are you mechanically inclined? (the reason for this question is the mental aptitude for angles and degrees) Making judgments for swing manuevers to place a trailer in a particular position.

If you can answer these questions with a yes or comfort and experience then just on the surface you should not have much difficulty.

But again this is all based on your individual aptitude for learning.

And PS. to explain what BIG DON said above......STOP and GOAL
GOAL is an acromin for

Get
Out
And
Look

Whenever unsure and without a ground guide ( AND IN SOME CASES EVEN WITH A GROUND GUIDE) ENGAGE BRAKES GET OUT AND LOOK FOR YOUR OWN PERCEPTION.

Good Luck to you.................

 

I found it to be way easier than I expected it to be.

It does help if you have good instruction from someone who is patient and treats you with respect. The biggest thing is to relax, focus and dismiss fear and anxiety. And as was stated earlier G.O.A.L. is very important especially for newbies.

The key to backing is a good set up. If you set up correctly it makes the back rather easy, if you're not positioned properly before you put it in reverse it will cause you to do a great deal more corrections.

Always set up for a sight side back, meaning the space you're backing into is on the driver's side. Blind side backs are extremely difficult with a sleeper cab and 53' trailer. I see guys set up for a blind side back and it always take them forever and usually requires the assistance of a spotter.

 

I did heavy duty towing for many years and you think backing a big truck is hard try backing a big truck in a hole that is hooked to a 48' heavy duty wrecker

 

No thanks! You can keep that job!