New mentor!

Go find a flatbedder (not Tmc, Melton, Prime, etc), one that you see back their spread axle trailer into a spot with little effort and tell him another flatbedder said to ask them for some pointers. Tell him you're new and you're trainer isnt teaching you any backing skills.

If you watch someone back a spread axle in, you'll see that we dont spin them on a dime and drag our tires. I prefer to line upto a spot at atleast a 45 deg angle so I can guide the trailer right into the spot.

 

Closed tandems will turn, but the front axle on a flatned will usually drag bexthe trailer will pivot on the rear tires. They even make spread axle specific tires to resist scrubbing.

 

^^^^^^ WINNER.^^^^^^

Sorry I've been busy, @Penumbra .. still following, mate. GET THROUGH IT AND GET TO IT as @TripleSix would say, (more eloquently) ....

 

Glad you didn't get fired. You don't deserve it. Certainly not with a company like PAM.

Persevere. Push through. Trucking does have its rewards, and you're almost to that point (after changing companies, of course).

Nobody learned backing overnight. It takes time to perfect this skill. It may be helpful if the 5th wheel on your tractor was set back further. Having the 5th wheel too far forward may not allow for tight turns without damaging the cab extenders.

I can't believe your trainer (alleged) was giving instructions from within the tractor. That's nuttier than a squirrel turd.

In trucking, backing is nearly as important as moving forward. Never quit trying to improve this essential skill.

 

All the truckstops have been so packed I havent been able to do anything.

HM. Try the one in Dyess Texas for a treat. Military after burning on Bombers that are agile as fighters or nearly so when fully loaded.

 

Not all tractors have sliding fifth wheels

 

Boxes don't? I know my tanks did not.. and the occasional lowboys I hauled off season for asphalt.

See.. I'm tired. Driving all night. Was thinking tandems, dang me. NEVER DID have a tractor that didn't haver a sliding 5th either, btw. Sure miss my Petercars.

 

Can getaway with it on a closed tandem, try it on a spread axle , empty u will scrub the tires, loaded u risk pulling that tire off the rim. Not to mention that front axle will stop u dead in ur tracks if ur loaded heavy to max gross. At that point its best to find another spot or reset and take angle out of trailer and try again.... I saw a western xpress driver blow a tire on his spread, flipping a uturn in the truck stop, thinking he was a van driver.. Got about halfway around , once he started dragging that axle, KABOOM!!!!