Tandems position for backing

I'd like to chime in. I have to say it's easier with tandems all the way back whenever the space in front of the dock door (away from the building) is not a lot: with them all the way back there's only one thing to focus on...the rear of the trailer. With them all the way forward there's two things to think about...the rear of the trailer and the tires (they're so far apart that they have to be thought of as two separate things).

Plus, I feel one would need more room in front of the dock door (away from the building) in order to back in with tandems forward...i.e. you need to basically be straight before sneaking in between the two trailers on either side. Whereas with the tandems all the way back you don't need as much room in front of the dock because you can be at an angle while slighy being between both trailers already and not have to worry about that trailer dangling in the rear.

Just the other day I had to park at a TA Express with the truck stop building right in front of the parking spots. I had to back in at a severe angle to an empty spot...if my tandems where forward I would have either had the trailer tail hitting the truck on the passenger side or my tires hitting the truck on the driver side at that severe angle. But, because I had my tandems all the way back I was able to get both my tires AND the rear of the trailer slightly into the spot in between both trucks while still being at that severe angle...all I had to do then was change the angle of the trailer before backing it in.

 

Centered on the 40’ mark, which is hole 9 on my trailer iirc, I almost never move them

sometimes I miss my spread, but I don’t miss changing tires out

 

If you're unable to successfully straight-line back into the dock, request that they send a few workers w/ pallet jacks y' forklifts to unload you outside.

 

Haha, I just spent my first week on the road, I had Punjabi try to fight me at 2 of the 5 docks I backed, screaming "Is this a training store? I'm trying to do business and you are in my way. Why can you not do your job". I had multiple complaints from my first docking attempt called in to my company. "Nobody you are blocking wants you to have a crash sooner" is not true.

 

I was able to thread a needle with them all the way back. Loved it. All the way forward is a joke. If at all possible, even in a tight lot, I'd do it all the way back.
I had a particularly bad one. This is Menards (anything outdoors products) in Minot ND. Walls on both sides about 8 inches clearance. Not enough room out front. They need to move just a little of those outdoor shelves so you can make a good line into the dock. I couldn't do it. That's with the tandems forward or back. Had a local truck show up that came there regularly. So he had practice doing it. He told me the trick is to have the tandems 3 feet forward from all the way back. I asked him to do it. I'm too frustrated and my left knee is shot by now. He did it for me.
Had a guy who wasn't able to back in a tight lot. He asked me to back. He had his tandems all the way forward. I tried and gave up.
Had a particularly tight one at CocaCola in I forget the large city in the NE. Philly? Was an old dock, tight. They'd park the day cabs out front. Very busy place. Front guard shack told me up front. Don't waste time backing. If you have trouble. Just drop it there in the middle of the lot. The Jostler will do it for you. BTW; I did do it. Without using too much time. Did get a couple looks from the Jostler. I was running close to too much time.
As far as waiting. Early on, my first job was pneumatic tanker. So I didn't practice backing much. Company had me bring a dry van load over to this place. I asked inside. Warned them I'm not in practice. Yes was goofy doing it. Got inside. Guy at desk told me he's a CDL holder. Important thing is I didn't hit anything....Good Job!
Had a place in Denver. Wide open, wide open out front, except didn't want to run back and forth over a curb. Guy on left was too uptight about his truck. Took a 45 degree approach. He got out of his truck and started yelling at me. So I cut it towards his truck. He freaked. I pulled forward. Then backed again tight on his right front corner which is proper. He kept yelling. I backed in just fine. Guy on right laughed the whole time. He knew what I did on purpose.
Was backing into a Pilot in Austin. Kid sitting in the truck on left. I did it proper. He got out. I stopped with tandems on both sides of his right front corner. I wanted to check my blind side. There was a truck there. Kid started whining to me. I told him what's the problem. Look at my setup. Everything is perfect according to the book. He shut up and got back in the truck.
Parked in a spot at Pilot in far west Wyo. I80. It was tight. Trucks weren't centered on the lines when I parked. Both sides trucks. Later they left. Had a young new driver goof up and hit my left front wheel. No big deal. But he gave up and headed to another spot. Three guys tried that left of me spot and gave up. Then had a guy back into my right. Two spots open by then there. I unrolled the window. Told him; You're smarter than all four drivers who tried on my left side and gave up. He looks at me confused and asked why? I said: You chose the easy spot!
Most of the time, especially the truck stops. I wouldn't bother moving the tandems from Ca. bridge law distance. Liked running there. If I had any tight ones. I'd move them back. Then last thing before stopping the truck I'd move them back forward.

 

One other thing. Make sure your tandems are all the way back on a dock. Otherwise you'll get cracks near the end of the trailer floor from the forklift bouncing in on the trailer.