Please give me advice on straight line backing.

I have been driving tractor trailers for about 3 month, straight trucks of all sizes for over 8 years. No trucking school, studied the CDL book, took a few driving lessons and passed the test. Could not back for ##### during the test, but was able to pass it and get class A.
Later on it occured to me that this license is useless unless I understand how to back up.
When I was driving straight trucks (in NYC) I had a pride in my ability to back it in any situation possible. Now I believe that anyone who is good at backing straight vehicles will be able to learn backing trailes fairly easy.
Why?
What is the difference between steering straight truck and tractor trailer?
In a straight truck your steer axle steers the truck - duh.
In a tractor trailer combination you steer the trailer with the DRIVE axle(s), NOT your steering wheels.
Remember this ALWAYS. Going forward or backing up.

What I did before applying for a new job, is to download an iPhone game where I was able to drive combination vehicles in reverse. Whenever I had free time I would practice all kinds of backing manuevers untill steering became intuitive. The way I did in a game was to drive the course forward, and then try to back up all the way back. Why did I not think about it before CDL test!
I know, visibility from a cab is very different from top view on a computer or phone. But at least I knew which way to steer and it cost me nothing!

In my 3 month driving I have done alley docking where there is only enough space for the trailer and tractor has to be jacked 90 degrees or so. Workers tell me drivers with years of experiene struggle there. I have drove into wrong yard at night and had to back out, making several turns, on my own, in the dark.

So, I strongly recommend virtual trainig to develop intuition as to which way to steer.
... and unlike straight truck its a two step process.

The other option is to buy radio controlled tractor trailer toy, you find then at truck stops for $30. And practice.

 

Whats the name of the app ?

 

For iPhone I found 2 versions of (same) game, called Parking mania Free and Parking mania Lite, both free.
They have many levels mostly with straight vehicles, but a few levels (here and there) have tractor trailers (and you can skip to them) where you pick a trailer and then dliver it. They want you to drive forward, but i would stop just before delivering trailer and then drive in reverse all the way back. It gets tricky and you have to think a step ahead.

What I like about this game is the controls, there is option for round steering wheel, where you can "dial" your turns with precision and fast.

Play the game for a few hours untill it is no longer challenging or difficult, and you will get used to real backing manuevers much faster.

PS. If only you could learn to float gears on a smart phone. LOL

 

I didn't read every comment on this thread but will throw in my 2 cents anyways.

A friend of mine has driven a lot a trucks with trailers. Nothing that requires a CDL. He just knows how to do it.

I'v ridden with him many times. He's good and very careful.

He showed me a trick one time that helped me out.

He said, when learning, to put my hand, face down on the bottom of the steering wheel.

If I want to make the trailer turn left, move my hand to the left. Same with going right.

Less to think about until it becomes natural and can be done every time no matter where a persons hands are on the wheel.

Made a huge difference for me years ago when my brain cell couldn't comprehend the maneuver.

 

From a teaching point of view I just feel that telling to SIMPLY steer in the OPPOSITE direction (as opposed to straight truck) is a BAD teaching method. It gets more confusing when (unlike straight truck) trailer doesnot stop turning when steering wheel is brought back to straight position. No does it explain why (unlike staight truck) trailer will keep turning faster and faster the longer you hold that steering wheel turned.

Schools want to make it look like this is magic that needs to be learned on expensive equipment in huge parking lots. Also braking down different manuevers into steps WITHOUT understanding WHY COMBINATION vehicles behave that way is a longer learning curve.

 

Know where the back of the trailer is at all times....BUT....it's the tandems that dictate the direction. I was surprised how much difference it made just getting this through my thick skull.

 

Hard headed are ya?lol

 

Gotta be. Jammed the top of my pointy little head into the top of the door frame this morning getting into the truck. Just got in a hurry. I do this about once a year just to make sure my skull hasn't gained any elasticity!

 

Didn't read all the comments. Backing= steer the trailer not the truck.

 

Exactly. The guy that taught me that years ago got out of the truck to guide me to the unload area said just do it that way.

He said to watch the trailer and don't worry about the truck (there was nothing the nose was going to hit).

He showed me that so we could get in and out of there without him giving me a lesson on backing with a trailer.

A few times later, I didn't really have to do it that way anymore.

I was trying to show my brother how to fly an RC helicopter the other day and when the chopper is heading back a new flyer usually has a bit of a problem.

I had to tell him that when that thing is coming at you, you have to switch your brain around.

Comes naturally to me. He'll get it eventually I hope.

Edit: Not naturally for me, I've just done it so many times I don't have to think about how to do it now.