I agree with most of the above poster except the short pull ups. If your trailer is off track with the dock you're going to need more than a short pull up to correct it. I see a lot of drivers do short pull ups and it takes more "jiggling" than you'd need to do. Pull forward and take note of the trailer tandems and get them in line as you pull forward with the dock, while keeping the rig as straight as possible and then back it in. Much easier than trying to do massive corrections in a short distance.

 

couple things i picked up too
1. like you said use all the space you have to pull up. my trainer used to tell me if you got use it.
2. for me i noticed I had to get back under before I felt I needed to. if you wait untill it looks right its to late. the trailer keeps pushing untill your strait with it.
3. sometimes you just have to pull out and start again. its better to correct a bad set up with a pull up then to try to wrestle it in.

 

Sure, there are times when you need to pull up more than others. But what I'm saying is all things being equal, a short pull up is better than a long one, and never go farther than you have to i.e. make any forward-motion steering severe to minimize the distance you have to travel to get the desired effect.

I used to see this all the time at our campus in Phoenixville,PA. The practice range was huge there. So a guy sets out to practice his alley dock, and he kind of gets it in but but no quite, so then he makes a long pull up to try to align himself and he goes pretty far. Then he starts his straight line back and goes off line (because there's no line to follow) so he pulls up. And again, and again, next thing he's all the way over there- by the picnic benches! He's way farther away than he was before he started.



In that situation, I would not pull up like that, I don't care how much room is available. I would pull ahead, turn slightly to put an angle betreen my trailer and the space, then get rid of any jack before stopping, then back straight up, jacking and turning ever so slightly to straighten the rig up as the trailer wheels neared the center of the space.

^^I don't know if that's clear, but in other words, I'm going to adjust the angle of the trailer so it DOES land at the door, rather than driving away while trying to find the dock in the mirror.

You know what's funny, here we are discussing the fine points of backing up when anybody can tell you "it's easy! All ya gotta' do is steer the opposite way you want the trailer to go!"

 

I have seen different drivers use space differently. It really is preference and or skill. I know at school I was very comfortable in using less space as possible. I seemed not to get disorientated in making quick and sharp corrective moves.

This paid off as my first gig was more of a shuttling service where I was backing up 20 times a day. The more room I had the more difficult it seemed. Now that I am working in larger yards I have adjusted to using more space. Hopefully, I don't lose the balance, as I really enjoy the challenge of backing up. It gives me a rush. I am not even concerned in nailing it in one go. However I do get pissed when I lose it altogether by getting too cute. It still happens on rare occasions. We all have our good days and bad days.

I enjoy reading some of the different strategies that you folks are posting!

 

I think I see what JoeyB is saying. If your tandems are ON the yellow line, and you need them 6 inches INSIDE the line, don't pull completely OUT of the slot and start over!

Just pull up enough to "neutralize" the cab, then correct a small bit. Then continue backing up and you can push the tandems JUST off the line!

We ALL know the rule.... SMALL corrections of the wheel!

If you're CLOSE? Why ruin it! Just give yourself 10 feet to make a SMALL correction.

It's easier to FIND the line, when your tandems are ON it! Now.... when you get to this point.... take your eyes OFF the line, and look back at the dock! That IS where you're going.... right?

 

I found that by watching where the wheels are as opposed to where the rear of the trailer is helps me line up better. Keeping in mind to make sure you dont hit anything with the rear of the trailer while youre watching the wheels, of course.
Ive also seen guys that have been on the road for dozens of years have good days & bad days when it comes to backing a trailer.
Youll never get it perfect everytime no matter how long youve been doing it. At least thats what my wife tells me!?

 

Bad idea. Always turn it ON when you are backing. Its your only source of communication with your surroundings. If your about to hit something usually the guy your about to hit (or someone else watching) will let you know... and very quickly. If you dont have your radio on how will you know? Also some of the decent drivers will help you back over the radio.

I've seen it before... someone trying to back into a hole, about to clip another trucks mirror. Everyone screaming on the radio for him to stop... what happends? He keeps on going and rips off the mirror... all because he didnt have his radio on. Not smart trying to manuver a 75 foot vehicle in very tight surroundings with no way of communicating with the other 75 foot vehicles. :wink:

 

I disagree with my friend rigidsporty on this CB thing. But not all the time. There ARE times when you need the help. Lots of them.
But, G.O.A.L.!!! Know where youre at & if youre not 100% sure where you are then dont move. One of the best bits of advice I ever got was, "if it dont look like you belong there, then you probably dont!" I took that to mean parking spots as well as streets.
Ive seen guys hit another truck while others were telling him to stop, but Ive also heard guys telling someone they were clear when they werent. I try not to rely on a voice I dont know to guide me into something Im not sure of. There are alot of mean & stupid people driving trucks.
Ive never had a backing accident in 7 years & I very rarely leave my radio on while Im backing.
But I know there are plenty of others that can say the opposite.
Its your carreer, your license & your job. At the end of the day its your responsibility & nobody is going to give a rats ass if some moron accidently or purposely caused you to have an accident.

 

lol, thats the truth. as someone also mentioned it's all in the setup. when i setup corectly i usualy have no problem and there are other nights like a few nights ago, had an easy back, wide open space in front of me. I foobared the setup and spent a good 5+ minutes corecting myself on what should have been a simple straight line back. The important thing is I didn't hit anything a wasn't suposed to so I was able to go straght to sleep

 

I'll throw my 2 cents in.

90 degree backups are the most common that you are going to get unless you deliver to this one particular Costco in CA then its a s-turn backup and hope they assign you door 2 and not 3 or 4.

This info is based on a 240" wheelbase tractor and a 53' trailer with the tandems set at 40' in a tight distribution center or truckstop.

Find your dock space that you need to back into, keep a distance of 10'-15' from the driverside to the front of the truck or trailer already in a spot depending on your turn space available. Drive past your spot until the rear of your trailer passes your spot plus one spot. Cut your wheels hard right to start your jack, about 1/3 of the way back straighten your steers out, 2/3 start chasing your trailer to straighten out. Remember G.O.A.L. you have 13' of overhang. Practice makes it easier the more you do it.

Blindside backups in tight areas with a condo unit are very hard, if you have to go around a couple blocks to do a sightside backup, do it. You have 3 blind spots during a blindside backup.

I just love backing into a dock that was built for 45' trailers and a day cabover and that's not the equipment you are driving.