If you look as far as you can see, 1/4mile or so, you will stay centered in your lane even through curves. Your eyes and brain work together, and you will stay centered in your lane. You do need to check your mirrors, gauges, etc., but don't focus on the hood-look as far ahead as possible.
I agree with what you're saying here 100% - aim high in steering. To the initial poster, it will all come with time but you don't want to keep your eyes fixed on one focal point. You'll notice that when you do mirror checks on either side, you'll be able to see exactly where you are in the lane by glancing at where your trailer tires are in relation to the solid line or zipper. Over time and miles, you'll be looking straight ahead 1/4 mile in front of you and know you'll be an inch off the white line when you glance in your passenger side mirror even on a curve. When I first started I was told that I was riding too close to the center line on two lane highway - when I moved over to where the trainer wanted me it felt like I was gonna run off the road. Now I know where I am on the road just because of windshield time. It will come..
Old MX trick... See the rock ? Watch the rock. Hit the rock...bust your ###. Commonly referred to as target fixation. Keep your eyes on where you want to be (down the road), checking yourself from time to time. Make the corrections without focusing on a single area. People tend to steer/drift toward an area of focus.
Very true and good post. The one thing I forgot to mention and have not seen yet is if you do drift don't jerk it back. Just kinda ride it and smoothly bring it back where you should be. I mentioned it a while back in a post but I dropped off the road onto a soft shoulder that was a few inches lower than the road surface while passing a few months ago. As it was, I gently let it come back up on the road and thought my back box was going over when I caught the road again - fortunately it only kicked up dirt and grass but stayed upright. Had I over-corrected and jerked the wheel to get back on the road there is no doubt I would have lost the back box probably taking the entire combination with it. I guess what I'm saying is if you do stray from where you wanna be don't panic and jerk the wheel - just let it ride and smoothly bring it back. The best driving advice I've received from our senior drivers here is to develop a smooth driving style - it really works and can save your butt..
That's exactly how I feel too, It's hard to believe my mirrors telling me I'm still on pavement when it seems like half of the truck is off on the shoulder about to clip off all the mailboxes! I've been trying that too, some times I've noticed my hands going numb from gripping it too hard for too long My trainer said the same thing to me, I steeled my nerves, resisted the urge to snap the wheel back when I felt the truck drift and slowly and gently tried easing it back. I ended up nearly drifting into the other lane, that's easier said than done, I've found, but hopefully with practice it'll come easier. I thank you all again for your time and responses, I shall take your advice and try to let it sink it, On Tuesday we go back and drive again, hopefully this time we get to play "Spot the blond" more than "correct the student"
Tuesday's come, and gone, And with quite a bit of improvement, I'd like to think, Still rough around the edges I'd say though. We came to class today to the horror of meeting the instructor there, who was in the process of uncoupling the 27ft trailer and coupling up the 53ft, After my emotional break down at being chosen as the first to drive the big boy trailer we set out, Kept a nice relaxed grip on the wheel and the only times I felt the truck drifting was when I took my eyes off the long road to check my mirrors. My shifting is a bit on the rough side as well, but as long as I don't forget where I'm at, or forget the splitter, I can get it in with minimal grinding. Apparently my main area of focus now is my trucker wave, for apparently lifting my hand and waggling my fingers is no way to greet another truck on the road, for it was met with much chagrin when my instructor suddenly stopped going over the steps for the pre-trip with other classmates and stopped to ask me 'What the hell was that?'
