Pointers for alleydock backing and blindside parallel backing?

Seen several people shouldering trucks and fixed objects too. The mirrors still work going forward!

 

Blind side paralell aka conventional- best to get as close and as paralell as possible for the entry when setting up...

Don t oversteer and get deep to early...

focus on getting your sight side rear tire only a foot or 2 inside the rear of the box...

Then you can cut the hec out of the tractor to get in when pulling forward...

and done...

alley dock is best to get further away for the set-up and get the truck straightened prior to approaching the entry...

dont be diagonal at least with the trailer on the approach.

it helps to have your best visibility on the sight side of the trailer as your backing...

working with the blind side seems to give more difficult perception when coordinating the move...

 

I havent read this piece of advice yet. GO SLOW!! No reason to be in a rush when trying to back. The slower you go the better off you will be! Less chance of hitting something or someone and if your whipping the truck around goin to fast your gonna stress yourself out to the max trying to correct the trailer swing at Mach 1. I love watching super truckers in the truck stops trying to back in at high rates of speed and they always take more time correcting and pulling up than someone who goes slow and backs in nice and smooth.

And don't be afraid or feel like a "lesser man" to get out and look or pull up. Nothing is more embarrassing than slamming into someone else. When you could have avoided it by getting out quick to look even if there's 6 trucks waiting for you to get out of their way. Avoid blind siding whenever possible but if you have to just go slow and get out and look very often. You can also ask another driver to spot ya if they are walking through the lot. Most drivers will help out no problem. I get out and help guys all the time. No shame in asking for a quick spot.

Another good idea is to get out and survery the area before backing in especially if it's a tight or crowded dock area. If your parked on a side street or out by the gate and they tell you to back into dock 10 then take a quick walk over there and check out what it looks like. Any poles or other things you could hit or may not have seen sitting up high in the truck? Look at how much room in front there is so you know watching your front end will be just as critical as watching your trailer.

And don't be like some drivers, when you hear a air horn blaring..STOP! It may not be directed toward you but find out before going any farther! If someone's blaring their horn it's not for their health there's usually a good reason for it! Day can drivers are notorious for not listening or giving a rats arse about someone blowing the air horn...watched a bunch of them back into things because they didn't stop

 

Careful with the spotters though... I've been guided straight into another truck and my spotter vanished, not his truck, not his problem. I don't trust anybody in a parking lot anymore. They get frustrated watching me get out and make sure I'm as straight as they are saying I am. But I guarantee I won't hit something because I didn't look ever again.