Humbled and frustrated already.

The clutch is your friend. Learn to really feather your clutch and you can slow that 80,000-lb. machine down to a walking pace, if you need to. I use NO throttle when I back. All clutch.

 

It's all in the setup. A good setup and she'll slide in like a dream. A bad one will have you whimpering at night. Over correcting is the easiest and worst mistake to make. Small patient turns. As soon as you see the trailer swinging too far, readjust. Use all the room in front of you that you have.

Once you start driving and parking in truck stops or docks, never ever forget your blind side corner. Very easy to take out a mirror or door with it. It doesn't matter how many impatient #######es are yelling at you on the cb, get out and look if you aren't sure. Heck get out and look if you ARE sure!

Some of those guys having an easy go of it with cones will cave when they have to back in at the caves in KC

 

This is sooooooo true..... I taught myself on a 27' pup..... and the first time I drove a 53' (a few weeks ago lol) i had some serious issues at first........ then i just started backing REAL slow, and it kind of masked all my corrections....... I have NO problems backing a pup- i guess because im used to the speed that they come back on you

 

I salute the newbie instructor for allowing you to repeatedly fail. Most folks need an ego check.

 

Yep its clear now that's what he was doing. It definitely seems the more you think you know, the harder its gonna be to learn to properly drive one of these trucks! Like I said very humbling. I love this site. lots of help. I feel way better. Thanks everyone for all the words of help and encouragement!. I'm striving to do this the right way and not just be another steering wheel holding, up on the curb street sign wrecking jack ###.

 

Keep that attitude and you'll do just fine driver.

 

(Unintentional partial thread jack)

Hows the job situation, amigo?

 

about to do a road test for a local LTL tomorrow morning.....so we'll see............

"Now back to your regularly scheduled program" .................. If the OP goes really slow (no gas, no clutch) he should be alright!

 

It's attitudes like this that will almost always keep you out of trouble.... I think you'll be just fine!

 

I'm the definition of its better over time. First started I couldn't for the life of me but got practice in and learned how to control it and can back my split into a spot like butter but still have off days and for some reason I can blindside better then sight side.