i failed the alley dock for the third time! uggggh.....

As a new driver (3mos.), all I can say is get docking down now. When you're out on the road, it gets trickier because instead of running over a cone, it may be someones truck, a car, or a person. I hate to sound discouraging but it's what you should know. The other day I had to get into a dock in downtown Seattle on a dead end street with cars all around. It was tough and I had to get 2 spotters to keep from hitting anything. After about 20 minutes, I made it in. It usually isn't that tight, but expect anything in the city. One other thing, if you take the whole process very slowly and visualize what you want the truck to do, that works well too. I wish you the best!

 

uh, one, you should get all practice you can prior to the exam.....when i was in school i practiced @ lunch & ate my lunch while others were practicing backing.

tell the instructor you are having problems with your reference points

Most of the testing sites will have the cones set up for the "box" & dock & should give you a lil reference point for the test. But you should try your best to get the instructor to explain what you are actually doing instead of just learning the mechanics of how to do it.

I went to a pathetic mill to train, the newest rig was a '90 international DAYCAB & the other one was the red 70 something tractor; but even they let us know how the test sites were set up for backing maneuvers.

HAMADOWN
1 turn to the right as you start, then immediately back to straight steers...wait for the trailer to start to appear as you look out you window....just follow it in from there..if you look like ur long turn more right, if u look short, turn more left....u get three "get outs"? come to Michigan...we dont get any "get outs"!


pretty good directions right there

 

I got my CDL at C1 in Indianapolis. The 45/90 was not required at state testing. I actually did not start doing the docking till I was out with a trainer. I think what makes the 45/90 so hard is it's a bit scarey to do at first. Backing so close to that new Tractor/trailer and being more then 50 feet away can scare the socks off you. My best advice is to relax and dock that truck. Sometimes you can put way too much thought into a problem and psych yourself out.

 

Wait till you do that blindside haha. Even though I've had a few times that blindsiding a back was EASIER then sight side and of course there are places that you have no other choice then to blind side.

 

Ya I've been there when its easier to blindside it in. Although i drive a daycab so i can also look out my back window.

 

What part of Callifornia do you live in? I just tested out 3 times, failed the alley dock twice, and then on my third try I didn't even get past the straight line backing! I knew how to do it, it's just every time I go to the DMV I freeze up! Did it perfect in the school yard, and then darn it freeze up! I was all ready to quit because they told me that I would have to start the process all over again. Take all the written tests, get all my endorsements AGAIN, which I had already passed them all! My husband went in and talked to the supervisor and he let me permit out again, which means I got to keep all my endorsements, and didn't have to take the tests again! So.... now I have to "get er done"! One of the DMV examiners told my husband that they had one guy permit out 4 times, which meant he could test out 12 times, but he finally got it on the 10th try! LOL so I guess there's still hope for me!

 

Yeah, I like having a daycab now haha

 

I failed my alley dock for the third time yesterday also in Mass. My story is the same as the topic starter. I passed everything but alley dock on my first test. I know how to do it. I went 5 for 5 on practice before my test. I got really nervous during the test and straightened out too early which caused me to break the line on the passenger side. The alley dock is my favorite maneuver, but I keep choking on it...

 

I don't know what the req's are where you live, but here in Colorado if you get the truck somewhat in there and you didn't encroach, you pass.

we have

straight backing
offset backing
sight side parallel
blind side parallel
alley docking

now, only 3 of those are chosen for the test and they are at the instructor's discretion.

offset
straight backing
and either parallel or alley dock.

we can miss 12 points total before we fail. encroaching with the truck is 2 points. encroaching with the trailer is 2 points. failure to be in the box is 1 point. each pull-up is 1 point. going beyond the pull up boundary is 1 point.

I screwed my parallel up and my straight backing the first try, had to come back 3 days later and try again. First time, I wasn't used to the truck I tested in. It had a narrower turning radius than our practice trucks. Second time, I nailed my straight backing, got pretty close on my offset but decided to stop and set the brakes, so i only lost a point for not being in the box. I got close on the parallel, and set the brakes, only got 2 points off for not being in the box and for not having my rear trailer in the box. I passed.

 

I guess Mass is the hardest state to test in, if not one of the hardest. Almost everyone fails at least something.