Most difficult backing.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by CaliTrucker82, Mar 8, 2019.

  1. CaliTrucker82

    CaliTrucker82 Bobtail Member

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    I’m picking up the backing concepts pretty well except of this alley dock is just a pain.

    No reference points seems working either.

    Any tips or ways to improve it?
     
  2. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Follow the trailer.

    If trailer gets out of line, push it back to where you want it with steering wheel.

    Don't hit anything.
     
  3. thaistick

    thaistick Road Train Member

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    Look at your tandems rather than the tail of your trailer.
     
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  4. bigcountrync89

    bigcountrync89 Bobtail Member

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    The biggest thing is practice! If you get to a truck stop early enough just move around and practice different situations. I recently switched to flatbed as an experienced driver. So now I'm practicing with a spread axle, you never stop learning. The biggest thing is practice like I mentioned. But like x1heavy said, follow the trailer. And if in doubt get out and look, many companies preach this for good reason.
     
  5. Kshaw0960

    Kshaw0960 Road Train Member

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    Bingo. Pretend the tail of the trailer doesn’t even exist.
     
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  6. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    These kinds of questions frustrate me. No, your question is OK, the frustration is this is something that is somewhat like shifting. Hard to teach by writing directions. It is somewhat like the airplane analogy I have used. All a flight instructor can do is teach you the basics and stay in the aircraft to protect you and said aircraft while you master flying and the landings. To be honest I have stopped doing so. You really need to go find an old abandoned dock somewhere take some cones and practice. Some drivers have bought RC trucks and use them to practice. This is honestly a doing thing. Other than offering to actually help show you these things I can't help you. You might find some youtube videos, but at some point, you got to just do it. Oh and don't let any of these people in these forums fool you. ALL of us had to learn these backs! Most if not all did so by burning diesel!
     
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  7. CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

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    Get out and look. Make sure you know where your trailer is at all times.
     
  8. thaistick

    thaistick Road Train Member

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    Practice, practice, practice.... Instead of sliding into that pull thru, go around back and do a couple backs, a couple times per day for a couple weeks and you'll forget that you ever struggled with it.
     
  9. CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

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    Thats how my trainer had me practice. Wait till everyone cleared out then start backing.
     
  10. thaistick

    thaistick Road Train Member

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    After I got out on my own, I had very little confidence in backing....so I decided that on my 30 and 10 hr breaks, I would back into the first available (not blindside). And it didn't take long to conquer my fear and drastically improve my skillset.