Offset Backing Question

When you backing watch the rear of your trailer. Dont let it track off. Once you see it tracking towards the cones or lines,,whatever they use for you state,,do not wait to correct it. A little turn of the wheel to straighten it again will work. Make sure your mirrors are positioned so you can see down the side of your trailer . Place your hands so they are resting on the wheel ,,remember your only going as fast as idle will allow, make sure your tractor wheels are straight before backing and try not to play with the wheel to much while backing..just enough to keep it straight and away from the cones.

 

Go to the facility where you plan to take the test. take a look at how it's set up and watch some other guys do it. If you can, go early for your test and practice. Also, remember it is not a timed test. So just go slow, idle speed when backing. I think you are allowed up to three pull forwards when backing around a corner so use them wisely if you need too. If I remember correctly, after you get backed around the corner they will have you back up and stop when the back of your trailer is close to a line. you lose a few points if you don't get real close, but you lose a lot more points if you back too far. Do not back too far ! Again, if you get there early and practice you can find a marker of some type next to your cab so you know when you are within a few feet of the line.

 

Best advice I got on backing up was this "steer towards your drift" and it got me immediately backing up 100% better, you see your trailer going left steer left going to much right go right once you get that into your brain as second nature you can back up on a ramp onto a barge with confidence, which I did a few months ago!

 

the one thing i had to get used to was anticipating turning the wheel ahead of where the tandems are
so the overhang on the trailer doesnt get too far over
I like backing with tandems all the way back it just turns as you turn the steering wheel then

 

I don't want to mess you up with any new techniques as I'm sure that your school showed you something that works. My instructor gave instructions that were like instructions on a can of soup. If you followed them, you couldn't screw it up.

However, what really helped me out regardless of the maneuver was to go slow and stop to make any major inputs. I would do minor corrections on the fly, but anything big, I'd stop and turn the wheel. I know some old schoolers don't like that, lol, but it saved me a lot of realestate and allowed me to get squared away before i got FUBAR too close to the cones.