Taking CDL and pretty nervous about backing

My take on it is to drive the trailer while backing, not the truck. Also, turn the wheel toward the problem, IE: too much trailer on the left, turn wheel left. Remember that it's better to lose a point for a pull up than to fail by crushing the cones. If you want, run down to Walmart or such and grab a toy tractor/trailer. You laugh at me, but it does help a lot of folks to visualize how the backing maneuver takes place.

I'm sure all this advice has been given to you by your school so relax and take a deep breath.

I failed my road test twice before passing on the 3rd attempt. Both times I clipped a curb on a right hand turn. It's not the end of the world. 3 years later I have a local job earning 1000/wk for 40 hours. You can succeed.

Let us know how it goes.

Pal

 

I dont know how well you have control of the truck, but I agree with the toy tractor trailer Palazon mentioned. Although, your time is somewhat limited. You may be rushing.

However, I want to correct him by saying if you have to sacrifice a cone in the maneuver, do it! dont waste your points by doing pull ups if you can get away with just hitting that one cone. You get free pull ups but I have seen people royally screw up what they could have had if they just took out the one cone. The goal is not to hit anything, but they give it to you anyway.

 

Our states may differ on the cone thing, sir. WA failed you if you clipped a cone.

Your mileage may vary..

 

Yes the toy-truck idea is a good idea. It shows you what the truck actually does when your going back. The first day of CDL school "backing" in the yard always seems tough. My friend told me to "follow the trailer" into the spot. Sounds like a stupid comment but it really does work. I saw a lot of other students turning the steering wheel every which-way just hoping for the best result and obviously that method doesn't work. You have to know which way to turn the wheel and why. Most people pick it up, some sooner than later.

I thought it was funny that they make you "alley dock" the truck for the CDL test and you aren't allowed to pull forward to straighten out. However in the real world just pulling up a couple of feet to re-adjust makes all the difference in the world. Keep at it and you'll get the hang of it. I'd have to agree with the Instructors I had, Backing a truck is 10% theory and 90% "Art form". Good luck with the test!

 

If so, I do apologize. Here in Ohio you can clip cones but each is only 1 point. You get 15 points total before you fail.

Either way, if a student is not ready they can either chance it and take it and if anything they see what it is all about or they can hold off until they are ready.

 

You'd be amazed at where you'll use that "alley dock"...







...gotta be able to park that truck at the end of the day, even if there isn't a whole lot of space to do it.:smt023

 

Love those pictures!!, And you're right. Towards the end of the day parking spaces get slim. I try to get up early so I can also PARK early. At 6pm truckstop parking isn't bad, at 11pm good luck finding an open slot!!

 

In Illinois hitting a cone was an instant fail! Or so we were told... No one hit one so we did not know for sure.

Good luck. Relax and take your time.

Mikeeee