One month into OTR training and still can't alley dock

10 years driving and i still struggle with backing like that. Dont get over stressed with stuff like that. Just keep practicing everyday as much as you can and focus on improving little by little. Ask your trainer to go to empty parking lot and tell him u wanna try and do some backing by urself

 

One thing you might try doing is ask your trainer to do the docking slowly while you watch from the passenger seat and/or from outside the truck.. Have your trainer explain every move they make, from start to finish, including doing the setup approach (setting up the backing into the dock is a major part of a smooth docking).. Have them stop while you discuss what they are doing when you ask a question so that you can digest what is being said, making sure you understand why something is being done before moving on. You may need to have this done for you as an example several times till the big picture solution clicks in your mind and you feel confident enough to do it yourself.

In the Infantry we were always taught to lead by example.

If your trainer can not or will not lead the way and show you how a docking is properly set up and executed, then it is time for a more competent trainer.

A tip that may or not help you is try cracking the door open a bit to make the mirror move as you back up. Pushing the open door in and out a bit will give you a clear sweep view of what you are doing. Pull the door in as you complete the backing. I sometimes had to do this back when I had a stretched out extended hood Pete and was executing a very tight 90 degree docking..

Another thing about backing is always know your space limits, especially on your blind side. For example, if you are backing into a dock with painted lines, then you know you have maybe a foot or so on either side of the truck/trailer when you are properly docked. Keep this in mind as you back your truck into the dock. If you have more than a foot between your truck and the line, then that means the space on the other side, your blind side, is less than a foot and you are getting yourself into trouble. If you stay tight to the line on your side, then by default you will have plenty of room on your blind side without having to look to check your clearances. After you get the truck squared up to the dock, you can do a simple pull up followed by a straight line backing to get the truck evened out and centered in your lane. You should always go the extra distance and have your truck squared up to the dock and centered in your lane. This not only looks professional but it helps out the driver who may have to dock next to you.

 

Then you need to have a conversation with him.

 

I may be giving more credit than is due your trainer, but maybe, maybe he might be doing a tough love approach by making you do what you have the biggest fear of doing, knowing that if he can get you to do this successfully then the other stuff will be easy peasy.

It might be time to just do it. Then do it again, again, and again. Keep doing it till you get it right. Then do it some more till you have it down pat and have some confidence in your abilities.

Best to make mistakes and push your limits in the safety of the training yard than to have to figure things out at a busy, tight, congested warehouse out on the road.

 

Welcome aboard, you came to the right place. Many will agree, it's very intimidating, but patience is the key. Just the fact you are in a truck and at least trying, is a big plus. Don't put too much on this time period, get through it, and believe me, after a while, you'll have no problems. Many times new drivers focus on the backing in, but really constitutes a small % of driving a truck. Remember, this trainer isn't God, and might not know much more than you. Really, get through the training part, be EXTRA cautious, don't run anything over, get some "seat time", if in doubt, absolutely GOAL( get out and look), nobody is going to rush you, or they better not, and look at the bigger picture, we've all been there.. I think you'll be fine.

 

To put things in more perspective, for you --

When I first started...I spent LESS THAN ONE WEEK with a trainer...at Schneider.

Then...Schneider assigned me to a truck...& cut me loose.

Obviously -- during that time -- I did not become proficient at the fine art of backing a big rig.

In short -- if you stick with it -- that skill set will come.

Maybe not today. Or tomorrow.

Or even next week.

But...it will come.

 

I've been driving 5 years and have never done it. I'm sure it wouldn't be pretty.

 

Some parts of the following video may prove useful to you....it's one of the best that I've seen:



Best tip (in my opinion) from the video: notice how he stops the rig -- JUST BEFORE the trailer enters the opening....& gets out...& does a 360 walk/look around.

That alone will save you later....from many costly mistakes.

 

So here’s my opinion. Most of the time when people try to help you by hand signals when you’re driving a truck they do more harm than good. Probably the best thing would be for the trainer to leave you alone and let you figure it out. Yell if you’re about to hit something maybe. Since he probably won’t do that, I’d try to pay as little attention to him as possible. Watch your mirrors and look out your window. GOAL.

When starting your turn get into it tight right away. It’s much easier to straighten out a bit if you’re turning too tight than it is to tighten up if you’re taking too much room. A short easy pull up will help with that if your turn is too tight, whereas a turn that’s not tight enough is just a fight all the way back.