New Driver messed up, any ideas?

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I think your taking it the wrong way ,As your trainer was doing his job...You see on the job you will need to back..He teaches this...Read a map...he teaches this...shift ...He teaches this...Getting shafted by company from various positions and places ...He attempted to teach this ...But you were not willing to learn... Which is common with to-days young super trucker mentality ... :shock:

Now that is the funniest post i've ever read on here

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This is for newer drivers.

Going under the fifth wheel and hitting the trailer with the cab is a big no-no. You have two big chances to stop it from happening. If your going to couple the trailer and your backing under the trailer and you don't feel the tractor's fifth wheel plate hitting and going under the trailer....STOP. Get out and make sure the fifth wheel sits slightly above the trailer so when you back under the trailer the trailers weight is pushing down on the tractors rear suspension.
If you keep backing and the fifth wheel does not hit the king pin to stop tractor from going back any more and it looks like the rear of the tractor cab is getting close to the trailer STOP and get out and look. Just like backing a trailer to a dock. G.O.A.L. get out and look. Getting out and looking is not the sign of a rookie, it's a sign of a professional. After you couple the trailer put it in low and give the trailer a good pull to make sure it's coupled correctly.

There is no reason for a driver to hit the trailer while coupling.

I agree 100% and she said she has learned from this incident. Also KatiD, get a copy of your DAC these incidents may not be on there, since you are so junior that may be why your phone is not ringing off the hook.

[nrvsreck]

I always back up to the trailer, stop, get out and look at the height, make sure they line up, and if everything's good get back in and hook up. After that, tug on it a couple times, then get out with a flashlight and check the fifthwheel lever and get under the trailer and check that the jaw closed properly. There was one time a few years ago when I did all that and I still dropped the trailer, so I never take it for granted. Even upon pulling out I'll drive slow and turn the wheel a bit to make d*mn sure that trailer is going to stay put. Just don't ever take anything for granted or get over-confident.

[traveler15301]

This is for newer drivers.

Going under the fifth wheel and hitting the trailer with the cab is a big no-no. You have two big chances to stop it from happening. If your going to couple the trailer and your backing under the trailer and you don't feel the tractor's fifth wheel plate hitting and going under the trailer....STOP. Get out and make sure the fifth wheel sits slightly above the trailer so when you back under the trailer the trailers weight is pushing down on the tractors rear suspension.
If you keep backing and the fifth wheel does not hit the king pin to stop tractor from going back any more and it looks like the rear of the tractor cab is getting close to the trailer STOP and get out and look. Just like backing a trailer to a dock. G.O.A.L. get out and look. Getting out and looking is not the sign of a rookie, it's a sign of a professional. After you couple the trailer put it in low and give the trailer a good pull to make sure it's coupled correctly.

There is no reason for a driver to hit the trailer while coupling.

Amen Ben...
been doing this for years...but never drop and hook...almost always with just one trailer....I make it a point to un hook and bobtail every so often(at least monthly) just to make sure there is enough grease on the fifth andto visually check other things that are more easily and thoroughly done when bobtail.....

Even if I hook up to a "strange" or new trailer I can USUALLY tell if it is the right height..but I ALWAYS G.O.A.L. anyway......even if I am hooking back up to my own trailer that I just unhooked from last night.....who knows the landing gear may have sunk in the soft asphalt making the trailer too low and damaging the nose, or some jerk might come by and give the landing gear handle a few extra turns while I'm gone.....

Either way...better safe than sorry....

And like the other poster said......ALWAYS get out and look...
When backing I ALWAYS hit my mark...PERFECTLY......how???

I am not afraidto pull up and reposition if necessary and I might GOAL several times if need be.....just to be sure its perfect and, especially on blind siding....to make sure no one or no thing has snuck in to my blind spot when I wasn't looking....the extra time is well worth it to avoid f#%#ing something up. Like they say in the medical professions the first rule is "do no harm"....

oh, btw...I also ALWAYS put down my crack pipe before backing or getting out....you might drop it and lose your rock!!! :shock:

[ben45750]

oh, btw...I also ALWAYS put down my crack pipe before backing or getting out....you might drop it and lose your rock!!! :shock:

Talk about getting a bad start on the day!

[ben45750]

and she said she has learned from this incident.

It's shame though she had to learn the hard way. I would also put some fault on the trainer, he should have been out of the truck watching what she was doing (Any "real" trainer would have done that).

It sucks when the Government gets involved in things but, something should really be done about training new CDL drivers. The company's won't do it (maybe the better ones are more involved in the training process) but the trainer should have some responsibility for the trainee in his truck, maybe that would wake these second rate trainers up.

[terrylamar]

"Like they say in the medical professions the first rule is "do no harm".... "

In machining it is: Measure twice, cut once. I suppose all professions have something to remind you to double check your work.

[Soladad]

KatiD...please send me a PM and I will give you the scoop on what Roehl has to offer the lady driver. Been with them 11 months now and went through their Driver Finishing Program for women (not the CDL school). I can tell you good experiences and also some of the bad experiences from other ladies that have gone through the program. If I don't respond quickly it is because I am back out running 11 days now so don't always have time in a day to check emails. Have patience and I will answer you.

Soladad