How hard is Offset backing?

I remember the term.

Offset backing would be something like backing the truck off of the highway onto the shoulder. That is what I had to some for the dot test.

Same thing as parallel parking.

 

Offset.

We did that in school forward. Also Parallel Parking (Which was not required but a most valued skill)

Our offset was forwards You have to think of the trailer as a car with a front end wheels made of the entire tractor. Does that make sense? You are going to get to a certain point you swing it over but not early and not late to make it. If I remember the time to swing was when the trailer was right about the reefer fuel tank coming out of the first alley rails and just before the turning radius of the tractor hit the offset alley rails in front.

We did not do that backwards. What we DID do backwards was a set of 4 barrels in a diamond. We did rodeos around them sometimes between them. 3 barrels spaced apart to weave backwards that was tricky.

It was such a long time ago the skills gained was worth learning because you might be up a narrow school street that winds trapped while lost and have to back down a few miles between cars as happened to me on that winding road once. Folded every mirrior (And unfolded same) all the way.

We did not bother too much with blind side, there was a 1958ish white tractor with a 20 foot pup on it three axles total that we did backing. Then got a KW Cabover sleeper truck to back the then big 40 footer. That is not really a problem. Id give anything to drive that old white one more time... whoo.

 

Ah, the "school" back. I'm not sure why that one is the one they teach and require for the license test. I have maybe encountered that once in my last year and a half. Maybe van drivers see it more.

 

Have you ever had to parallel park? We were tested on that as well, but I doubt it's common.

 

The only time I ever did it was this past winter when I was presented with an opportunity to do it and wanted to try it (they talked about it in school, but we never did it). Did it with a single pullup and two GOALs.



I don't see it being very common. Alley-docking and blind-side backing should be the most important thing they teach in school for backing (truck stops are not friendly for space).

As a flatbedder, I've done more blind-side backing than they said would be necessary (they told me to "avoid it at all costs"). "Going around the block" to get on the driver's side isn't possible in many situations (here in Manitoba, we don't have "blocks" and sometimes highways go on for miles before offering a place to even turn around), and you have to know how to properly blind-side onto a customer's property because backing into traffic should never be an option (without help to stop traffic).

I've had to blind-side empty B-trains out of a customer's yard onto a two-lane road through a 16' wide gate. Backing them in puts too much strain on the clutch and I had to half drop the pup trailer into the ditch to get it out properly. Even with help it was way too much work. A few more minutes and it would have been easier to detach the trailers and back them out individually and hook them back up together on the road.

Backing to me is an artform. I have never understood the science/math of it. Some people learn different ways and I wish schools would teach both.

 

The backing by "formula" always makes my hair hurt. They make it so confusing with the formulas. I dunno, backing is one of those things- just get it done.

Every now and then I have to train a new guy (already a driver, just train him on our job procedures, not driving- thank god) and I always pray they understand the concepts of backing. It's just something I do- if I think about it it gets confusing.

Not much help I know. Sorry. Lol

 

Parallel parked twice this month. So when you run belly dumps there are times it comes in handy. Just like dumping a truck and pup. That would be an off set backing. So many basic skills come into play over your entire carrer. Get a good foundation your going to need them.

 

I actually agree with the parallel parking thing. I thought it was silly- then I started driving in the city and getting off loaded from the street with a fork lift. It's a pretty valuable skill. At least for what I do. Worth learning, IMO

 

If you can't manuver a truck like a boss then you haven't been driving long enough.

 

Some rest areas only have parallel parking.

 

Offset backing

Offset backing, think of being parked in one dock door location and the shipper tells you to move over one door to the left or one door to the right. Look on YouTube, I've never offset in 20 years of driving.