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

It takes practice and there's no one size fits all way to describe it.

There's a lot of threads on here about backing and as many different ways to describe it as there are drivers. Just take your time and find what works for you.

Don't over think it.

Don't ever rush it.

Don't be the guy that always takes the easiest spot. When you get to the truck stop there may be lots of spots to choose from and that pull through spot beckons. When you get to the shipper it doesn't work that way.

 

Work'n two jobs and eat'n Baloney..

 

After you get your CDL and hire on somewhere, you'll go out with a trainer. Make them talk through backing and explain to you WHY you are doing what you're doing, all the way from the set-up to the second you hit the dock. My trainer didn't explain anything. He just stood 30 ft in front of the truck, waving his arms in circles like a traffic cop. 3 months after being on my own, I was practicing in an empty truck stop lot one afternoon and a driver from another company walked over and asked if I minded him critiquing me. My biggest problem was over steering during the back. He explained it very well and helped me more than anyone. The other thing that helped me was I didn't have a radio the first year I was out here, so I couldn't get frustrated listening to everyone laugh and make fun of me.

 

I agree with everything but that last part. At the end of your day you will be exhausted - make your life as easy as possible at that point. Take the easy spot. Plenty of time to practice backing, might as well get to sleep safe and sound.

 

There will be times where the easy spot might be a good idea. Just don't make it a habit.

The more you practice the difficult ones the easier they become.

When you show up at the shipper exhausted and have a difficult one off the street, with impatient traffic, you won't have a choice.

 

Sorry about the dumb question, but how stringent is the CDL driving test? I have been thinking you had to back fairly well in order to just pass it. Are they pretty relaxed and assume you'll learn how once you have the CDL and start working?

 

I've been driving 7 months and I can hit most docks with a few pull ups, but I still have a hard time with tight holes and backing in truck stops, if I get where I need to shut down and I can't find 2 spots next to each other, then I find a driver to spot me in (takes a few tries to find one sometimes, but usually you can) practice, goal, and take you're sweet time, screw the super trucker that dosent want to wait on you, it's your record if you hit another truck, he can wait, or he can back up down the aisle if he is such a good backer

 

Having trouble getting into tight holes you say? Did you make sure you had enough oil on your dipstick? It helps!