My 10 day Orientation Experience with

Way to go, Cage.

 

so whats all involved with the backing evaluation? ive been out here a week, we did some backs into their dock out here, is that all there is to it, or is there more? im hoping its all done because that would mean im pretty much set over here and can rest easy the remaining few days. if i had to do more im sure i would be fine, i got in first try on all my backs without pulling up at all...i just dont WANT to do any more!

i read 3 backing evaluations but i dont know if there will be time for much more for us, we still have a lot of class stuff yet to be covered and only a couple days left of the 10.

 

During my 10 day, we did 3 or 4 backs into the "dock" in Missoula with Mark, and then on another day, we backed in between trailers to simulate a drop and hook, or backing into a spot in a truck stop. We did that one with Kelby...number of pull ups did not matter, and it went better if you actually G.O.A.L.'d

 

im not worried at all about my backing skills, i just want to be done already!

i know they will let you try again, they did for one guy on the city driving...then the mountain...guess how the backing went? lmao...yeah hes on the bus right now

i GOAL at least once if im dropping a trailer, but at the dock i have been in every time without needing to goal or even pull up at all. its super easy as long as you set yourself up well.

 

Do they want us to GOAL? I usally don't need to 99% of the time, but I can if thats what they want me to....



American Trucker

 

YES!! If you GOAL, it shows them you know what you're doing, and not afraid to get out and not be the bestest student there....

I did it once or twice during the alley dock, and 3 or 4 during the tight spot backing.

If you usually don't need to use it, do it at least once. Don't know what type of experience you have, but this orientation is real world, and you are really backing into docks, and in between trailers at the terminal. It's a world of difference from backing between cones at school where it doesn't matter if you run one over. At the terminals, if you do that, you've hit another trailer...

 

Oh yea I get what your saying, I'll definitely GOAL. I've backed 48' and 53' trailers into tons of docks and parking spaces. I went to CDL school when I was 18 and then just finished a refresher at one, and My last job of 2 years 3 months 2 weeks and 1 day (not that I was counting or anything) I had to move quite a few trailers around....But thanks for the heads up, I have no interest in trying to impress them with my backing, I want to show them that I can do the job right and do it safely.


American Trucker

 

in general at least one goal to survey the area before you even setup a back is a good idea. take however many more as you need them, whether it be 0 or 15. if you arent sure, gtfoal!!! haha
if your 90% sure you arent going to hit anything, thats not good enough, goal. the thing with them is not that you HAVE to goal X amount of times, its just that you will if you need to and wont just go around backing blindly.
when your new sometimes you just need a goal to look at the big picture and think about what you need to do to next. thats fine.

do whatever you have to in order to back safely. thats all they are looking for.

 

One day (hopefully in November) when I'm at the WS ten day orientation, I'm gonna make a CD of the mexican soccer announcer yelling "Gooooooooooooal" and play it while im backing the truck up to give me motivation lol.

Chuck