tight lots

Experience, experience, experience ...

 

Some new drivers tend to feel they need to get the trailer "aligned parallel" with the slot BEFORE the rear of the trailer actually enters the slot. With proper setup and approach configuration, you can enter the slot with some angle still left to straighten out. I'm not saying this is what's going on or where you're going off the beam but it's a possibility and a misconception many have to deal with. But there are a lot of other things to consider and each situation is a little different.

Ditto the practice and gain experience post. It's hard to discuss backing concepts and strategy in a message. It's about how well you can visualize how the procedure will play itself out as you back and get under and about where the tractor bumper will be along the way ... beginning from a given setup.

 

Some real tight spots, you can slide your axles. A pain but if you can not get ends to line up move the ends. Axles all way back can really make a difference. All but solves tail swing. Just don't hit anything! And don't let people rush you. Get good then may be fast.?

 

Good advice on not letting people get to you. I don't care how angry other drivers are at how long it takes you to back it in beside another truck. Turn the radio right off if you have to. Just please don't hit my truck. Get out and look 20 times if you feel you need to. Never try to do it fast, that is not showing off or being professional. Taking that extra few minutes can save you a HUGE problem if you hit another truck.

 

you can go into a spot at and angle and then cut the tractor to make it parallel. I have had inches to the truck on my right and when I was done, I was a good 2 feet away from them. It scares the crap out of the driver next to you, but an inch is as good as a mile then.

It's also nice when the guy in the trucks next to the hole also get out and actually help you.

 

X2!! What you said ^^^^^^

We were all rookies at one point in our careers. Heck, I still get stumped trying to back into some tight spots myself.

 

I got the same amount of experience as OP, about 3 months, and backing has been my biggest challenge. Got almost no backing practice in school, had a trainer who would want me to practice backing after driving a 10 hour day, logged as off duty so he could make his training money on my ###, so my ability to back when I went solo was pretty weak. There was more than one time that I ran out of a truck stop after messing up my approach and being unable to correct myself. I am by no means a great backer now, but I have picked up a few things.

First, for me, the tighter the spot, the better I do. I have more reference points and since there is greater danger of hitting something I am more aware of what I am doing. Go slow and don't be afraid to pull up as much as you can. I can get it between 2 tight trucks easier than I can get it between 2 lines in an empty lot.

Second, think about how you are going to get your truck in the hole before you start, look and plan. Every back is different, so you have to be able set it up in your head, and not rely on a set way of doing it.

GOAL, if you think you are going to hit something, you probably will. For all I see people saying to GOAL, in practice, I can probably count the number of times I have seen drivers actually do it on both hands. When I started I needed to see what was going on from the outside, to be able to understand what I was seeing in my mirrors.

Lastly, find an empty place and practice until you can move the truck in reverse the way you want it to go without thinking about it. Most of the backs I blew starting out was because I was turning the wheel the wrong way, then trying to correct it. You need to practice until you don't have to think about it.

I hope this helps, this is just my experience, limited as it is. Good luck and be safe.

 

i have about the same experience level(3months) and i have the same problem as the OP where when im following the trailer around in a tight spot i run out of room messes me up more times than i can count

 

its just matter of practice and patience,takes time but is not really hard,and remember get out and look,be safe.