I just practiced parallel parking today, and I didn't do all that well. It was the first time I'd ever tried it, so that might have had something to do with it. My main problem was that I was either not getting over enough (the truck would stick out a bit when I was done), or I would end up backing too far and running over those rear cones. What makes it so bad, is that I was in a short, 6-wheeler dumptruck, one that turns sharp too. I can't even begin to imagine having to parallel park an 18-wheeler, even if I do go to school to learn to do it. ops:

Have you guys ever felt like this?

 

Actually I found it easy just steer to the problem area. LOL

 

We learned to parallel park this week. We are using 48' trailers. I tried on my own during lunch one day, no explanation or anything, I failed. Then the instructor came over and explained the manuever and I have nailed it everytime since. Straight line backing is easy also. Now down shifting a nine speed is giving me problems. I started to get better today.

 

it isnt that bad in a big rig at the dmv.

 

Parallel parking a truck on the right curb, short answer:

L-R-S-R-L

Explanation:

Line up parallel in front of the spot a few feet out. Sit straight up, only move your head.

Left 1 turn of the wheel once the trailer tires reach the front of the spot. This starts the trailer steering into the spot.

Right all the way once about a foot of the trailer is visible/once side mounted gladhands are visible/once you get a one-thousand-five count/once the trailer is about 15-20 degrees to the tractor. This straightens out the tractor/trailer combo.

Straight back until the right trailer tires are about halfway in the spot/until the left tires about touch the left edge of the spot.

Right one turn. This starts the trailer towards parallel.

Left all the way, and fast, as the left trailer landing gear touches the left edge of the spot. This straightens the truck into the spot.


Obviously, different length trailers, different tandem placement, different tractor length, etc will neccesarily alter the timing, but the inputs remain the same:

L-R-S-R-L.

-p.

 

Luckily, DMV comes to our training range. We get to take the straight line backing and parallel parking in the same place we will have been doing it for three weeks.

 

I don't even want to attempt this, I have a method that is working for me and I'll stick to it until I test. I started trying to tweak my technique and it threw me off for a day and a half. I'll stick to success, until I test. Hey, I have a gunshow this weekend at Reliant.

 

A school bus is probably easier than a dump. Because the school buses have a long tail, when training, I always had a good idea of how much tail overhang (hovering over the curb) was necessary before cutting the wheel again. I used that tail as an early warning indicator, since I always approached it from a the same or similar angle. I haven't done it since the road test.


Cut the wheel and reverse it, then straighten out the wheel -- while reversing towards the curb, then cut the wheel again -- bringing the front wheels over to the curb.

 

I think you will be surprised what a difference a day will make, especially if it was your first day.