Rookie question: Is this a difficult move for you experienced drivers?

You are going to find gobs of those inside docks in the Chicago area, you'll adapt.

 

I did smth like this on my second week of work. Had to do it from the street with a sleeper and a 53 footer. Only took me 45 min or so ))

 

just watch his cab all the way through as he was always looking at his clearance. He only had a blind spot when he was singing the cab around to line straight up.

 

I have one bad one where I have to alley dock off the road, through the gate, and then s-curve into the dock. With a sleeper and a tri-axle with 53 K in the box......

I'm always happy to do it with less than three pull-ups, and less than 1/32nd rubbed off the tires.....

 

When you back into a site on a regular basis you will start to see visual markers and cues to help you in.

I need my steering tires over this crack on the road to set up and begin my back.
There shouldn't be a car in that parking spot on my blind side, if there is ask them to move it.
Start backing with the steering wheel turn all the way to the right.
Jackknife the trailer until that fire hydrant in the back disappears behind the trailer.
Follow the trailer in and make sure the driver side trailer tires rotate a foot around the yellow post by the mailbox.
Use the old tire marks to help you in.
When the back of the trailer crosses the overhang begin straitening our the trailer slowly and time it just right.
You should be able to see the loading dock window on the passenger side mirror by the time you straighten out the trailer. If not pull up and straiten out until you see it then back in.

When you do this routine every freakin day it becomes boring and you end up dropping your guard. You'll try to do it faster than the last time you did it. That's when accidents happen.