Night shift sucks...I'm too tired to even back straight..finally got the 90 down..offset is down pretty well too..sucks trying to do this in the dark though..anyone coming down.bring warm clothes.
It's a good thing they are having you do this at night if you ask me. Some of the hardest backs you will do in the real world are the ones where you run until 1am and then need to get it in the last parking spot at the truck stop that everyone else passed on. As far as a 90 goes I second the start turning when the back of the truck is even with the truck next to where you want to go. You will use this way more than you think. Many truck stops out east its the only way you can get in. A lot of time you will not have the room to get to 45deg so you end up starting somewhere between a 45 and 90. Just yesterday I had to do a 90 blindside, there simply was not room to get the tractor back in from coming the other way because of a curb and light pole sticking out. Not very common but you need to be able to do it when it's called for. Your 1/2 done with the hard part of Millington, once you get to Gary it gets easier, you start later, finish sooner and it mostly just cruising around on 2 lane back roads.
Well...tried to test out tonight..didn't even get off the 90..which was the first one..came up 3 foot short on the bumper box...feeling pretty low right now..I got so much riding on this I feel like I'm letting myself and family down...beginning to doubt whether I made the right choice in doing this..I have to get this on Friday..I cannot afford to spend an extra week here..then still have to do a week of road training...yep..I have to say I'm pretty low right now..
Brother, I spent the extra week at Millington because of the very same issue. I was encouraged to take that extra week by one of my instructors. They had me backing like there was no tomorrow during that extra week. It made all the difference. I passed the CDL test first try, even though I set up my 90 completely wrong during the skills test, the extra help taught me how to fix my mistake and I passed. Don't get down on yourself. If you pass on Friday, great. If you don't...do not give up. The extra week will help out tremendously. You have a bunch of folks on this forum cheering you on.
Thanks for all the support guys, things seem better today, I have a better attitude, last night was just a bad night, I'm pretty sure I can nail this on Friday, and if not it will suck to stay but if I need it, I will do it. Ill keep you posted.
