How long did it take for you to learn to back-up a truck & trailor?

Don't think of it as backing. Think of it as that you are trying to steer the trailer where you want it to go with your truck.

This might help you as far as how to position your truck to make the trailer do what you want it to do.

 

Some days your hot some days your not.

 

I forgot how to backup last night.

 

Determine which way the nose of the trailer needs to go. If the nose needs to go to the RIGHT turn the wheel to the RIGHT and back up. If the nose needs to go LEFT the turn the wheel to the LEFT.


At some point you will want to “TAKE THE KINK OUT” so pull forward to remove the kink.


80% of what I do came from my trainer and 20% from school. Going to a good school allows you to apply with a good training company.

 

That was back in the day.After 11 yrs in this profession I know alittle bit about backing but of course I still have my days.I agree with you about Walmart,id much rather stay there even do a 34 at a walmart rather then a trkstop.

 

Once you get the hang of it its not bad.Just don't overthink it.

 

One instructor in school tried to teach that method, and it broke my brain. I feel it only sorta works on a straight back. I prefer the concept to steering towards your trouble when I'm straight backing. On angle backing the hand on the bottom thing goes out the window. Move left to move your tail left and you end up coming around the nose of the trailer and then you're all screwed up haha

Forgot to mention tandems. Slid forward they can help you get around tight corners, but they can hinder you in backing. I had to learn to look at the tires on the ground themselves when aiming to the slot, and the tail doesn't get so squirrelly. I have slide the tandems back on a bad day - even when the shipper didn't ask me to - just to get it into the spot.

 

almost 19 years and I still have my moments if super truckers are watching. When nervous stop close your eyes gently rub your ear lobes whiles softly repeating wa-shaw wa-shaw. Pull up and it will go lol.

Seriously pay attention to the trailer tandems, if they are slideable the instructors may be moving them day to day to teach you to watch their position in relation to starting the cut.

 

Jerry Reed....