Truck Driving School Question About: Backing

The only person that's going to teach you how to back is you...let me elaborate: trucking school is going to teach you how to do some controlled procedural backing, and your company trainer is going to be telling you "turn left, turn right, you got it" .....as soon as you get your truck, you need to find a nice wide open area with painted lines to practice in. nothing any amount of training you get is going to prepare you for that 4am delivery in an alley that you have to back in blind side from the one way street you have to go down the wrong way to make the turn......after you just drove 11 hrs from the shipper without peeing

 

Practice screwed up backing situations whenever you are in the middle of no where! Set yourself up to fail, and always remember...when in doubt about what to do next, stop the truck and ask yourself "ok, what do I need to do next to fix this" and get out and look for gods sake!

 

the school teaches you the basics the real training starts when you get out there with a mentor.so yes you will get further backing skills

 

I have 2 words for you: Pull up

 

Most schools don't even bother to tech proper backing techniques and I agree that the best way to learn is to practice and then practice some more. If you can learn to pivot a trailer that will help a lot as well. Always remember G.O.A.L (get out and look). don't rely on anyone else but yourself because if you hit something the guy giving you directions is gonna disappear really quick.

 

Yes they will...even if it's your trainer guiding you, it's still your fault

 

I love this, it is so true. Husband had an automatic Volvo that the power steering went out on and we were in Luray, VA at a p/u where the docks had been done for shortbed trucks way back when, and there was a 3 foot drop off into the neighbors yard. That was so much fun and the yard dog just sat there watching.

 

Practice, practice, practice. If your school wont let you do it over and over again until you feel comfortable, your school sucks. But then again, most schools just teach you enough to pass your exam, not how to drive in the real world. And even further, you should never really feel comfortable backing up a semi. That's when accidents occur. Always back as if you are about to hit something. Do a walk-around, do pull-ups to get a better view, and for the live of all things green, keep your foot off the throttle PERIOD.

And don't pay any mind to those of us that laugh at you for taking 20 minutes, and 37 maneuvers, to park in a truckstop.

 

Wow really?

Instead of being a steering wheel puller laughing at other truckers in the truck stop, just an idea here but how about you get out of the truck and help the guy back up since you have nothing better to do anyway.