parallel parking procedure

I know where you're coming from on the longer you do it in a day the worse you get. I had notes that told me every turn of the wheel when I was at school. I couldnt get it for the longest time then all of a sudden it clicked and I was OK. The school I went to was really strict about touching lines and cones. I pulled up so the corner of my trailer was even with the front line then backed watching the cones disappear but your deal might be different. Also watched the landing gear as a visual.
I have visual problems with the reverse lane change. I'd get half way then would loose concentration on it. OMG did I go nuts on that.
You'll get it, don't worry and we all have days that are better than others in the backing skills. Good luck!

 

Honestly the best way to learn is to practice. Get out there and play around with it and you will figure it out. It took me forever to learn how to do it. But after a lot of practice I finally figured it out. The more you are in the truck and comfortable with it the easier it will get. Good luck to you.

 

Watch everyone else, find someone who's getting it and ask them about it. That's what I did after I THOUGHT I couldn't do it. You'll get it. Believe me, if I can do it anyone can. Like a previous poster said all it takes is practice after you get the idea. Sometimes it's good to get away from it and maybe they'll let you do some straightline or another skill after you get it a few times. Takes your mind off it.

 

Just look at where the trailer tires are and steer those into place....looking at the lines they are following and correcting as needed.

Once the trailer tires are pretty much in place, do a final correction of the tractor to get the trailer parallel and the truck straight with the trailer.

In my opinion if you learn turn by turn, detail by detail you will become a driving robot that can't adapt to anything different.

When I drove with an instructor he had me line up on his course for doing the parking. he told me to pull upto this one line, and then backup slowly. After 5 seconds turn the wheel and he taught me to use the specific landmarks around the parking lot for making the turns.

Well guess what? that exact parking lot doesn't follow me wherever I go! Those landmarks aren't there in another province or state. I don't always count 5 seconds before turning the wheel either! That's the point I'm trying to make. Be cautious about following turn by turn directions on a specific course. Real life aint like that!

 

After driving for 16 years I do a lot of backing and parallel parking with a daycab and different styles of trailers and its not an exact science. I am happy with the results about one out of three times.

I would practice in an open space with out the cones until your relaxed then go for the cones unless you are allowed to run over them then I would smash everyone flat the first time and it will be easier from then on.
With parking (not driving) --
**It is action and anticipation and expected reaction and not reacting to something unexpected.**
That means you plan where the trailer is going to go and when it gets to that point you know what you are going to do next. If it does not do what you expected, unless you are positive you know how to correct it you are better off starting over or at least pulling up to get it where you want it and continue. If you are just practicing with no penalty try to get it out of that bad placement to see what the limits are. In the future where there is a penalty of damage fall back to the above.
Practice and repetition and staying relaxed (rested) are the keys.

 

You made a statement in your post about "oversteering". That is one of the biggest problems you will face. If you make too big a move in the first place it will require an equally large opposite move to cancel it out. Then so will that one. The trick is when you start only move the wheel one to one and a half turns. Then you can make small adjustments from there. Keep the adjustments small and it won't take much to counter them.

 

You're right, real life isn't like that. But when you're in school and learning the backing skills your world is yellow lines and cones. You are taught not to touch a yellow line or knock over a cone. They are teaching you to pass the CDL exam not to do backing in a real life scenerio. It's all about passing the exam and then the school leaves it up to the trainer at your new place of employment to teach you real life.

 

if you are allowed to...
STOP before you make each of your wheel turns.
it gives you a second or 2 to think about it