you will get it down just takes practice like everything else

 

Go slow and get out and look if you have to, and really don't be shy about asking for a spotter. Some times a situation might be so tight you *have to*. I drive a straight truck one day a week and there is a dumpster in this underground dock that makes it impossible to make the turn wide enough back up to this dock without wiggling around, you lose view of all sorts of objects in the process. I always ask the dock master to spot me when they have the dumpster in this spot. He is always more than happy. I don't hit anything and everyone is happy.

Oh and if it isn't another truck driver make sure they know how spotting works. A lot of people fail to realize as the tractor changes direction so do the mirrors as does the driver's view of the spotter. Running over people is something you want to avoid even more than fixed objects :lol:

 

First, please understand that I don't have a CDL yet so I'm not responding as a "driver" . . . but I can respond from another perspective.

Try "visualization."

This means putting yourself into a deliberate state of relaxation through meditation or deep breathing. Then see yourself doing whatever the activity is. Do it over and over and repeat the exercise often. Make it part of your daily ritual until backing is no longer a concern.

Visualization just means seeing yourself doing the activity. What you're trying to do is fill your brain with a large number of highly successful and highly positive "memories." These will eventually replace any bad feelings and/or anxiety you have right now.

One of the tricks you need to learn is to add action and realism to the visualization . . . so for example, you might practice "turning the wheel" or "stepping on the gas" and "stepping on the brake." This reinforces the visual imagery.

Another is to add positive emotion. This is a little tricky but basically, what I'm talking about is this. Think of a time when you were really happy, grab the "happy feeling," and replay it.

Break your visual backing exercise into phases. Let's say phase one is getting out to inspect the dock. What you want to do is see yourself inspecting the dock and then immediately recall the happy sensation.

Phase two might be the initial backing movement. See yourself doing it and again, replay the happy feeling. Inject that happy feeling several times during the exercise. It needs to be strong and powerful. The happiest and most positive you've ever been . . . even if it's fake.

Still a third technique is to anchor the "happy feeling" to a specific physical movement. Make one up, but for now, let's say it will be touching yourself lightly on the chin with your right thumb nail. You can practice just that . . . touch your chin with your thumb nail and replay the "happy feeling." Practice just that exercise hundreds of times. Then, while in your visualization, trigger your anchor. It will make the positive emotions even stronger.

The anchor is also valuable because you can use it in real life.

So then when you really are in your truck and about to do a backing maneuver, start by triggering the happy feeling (touch thumb nail to chin).

All this has been around for years but unfortunately is still not well understood or accepted. Let me give you some examples of military utilization:

1) The Blue Angels will rehearse their entire performance as a group in one big visualization exercise. They all sit around a table, close their eyes and the lead guy will talk through literally every single moment of the demonstration.

2) West Point has an office who works with student athletes and helps them with their visualization and relaxation techniques.

3) Snipers routinely use visualization exercises.

4) Special operators will rehearse and visualize every part of a complicated operations.

5) Tanks crews will mentally rehearse and visualize qualification runs. The driver will "push pedals" . . . the loader will literally simulate loading a round and throwing the safety switch . . . the gunner will "throw switches and turn knobs" . . .

6) HALO GUYS (High Altitude Low Opening) routinely visualize and rehearse exit, free fall, pulling the ripcord and safety procedures.

I'm really only familiar with military uses . . . but visualization is widely used in sports . . . golfers, quarterbacks, divers, etc.

Again :roll: . . . it may sound goofy but this is a powerful and well accepted technique of preparing for any activity. Try it and you'll be amazed.

 

Everytime you lose track of where things are, get out and look.
Tight places are often easier than they look, because there's not a lot of room to get too far off track. Don't sweat small spaces.

And it helps to remember that nobody standing around on the dock watching you can do it any better than you can.

You'll feel great when you get it in there.

 

In my freight hauling days, I was trying to hit a dock in LA, and I couldn't get around and at the angle I had to be at due to large dumpsters and other trailers parked around me. I didn't have enough room for my w900 to get back under the 53' trailer. I gave it a few shots and actually dropped my trailer right there and had a guy with a single axle cabover back it into the spot...even then it took hm a couple of attempts

 

Don't believe I'd let another driver back my rig in, I can hit something as good as anyone :shock: . "Fears" are usually a lot worse in you mind, don't worry. Just deal with "what is" when it comes up.
Have someone stand where you can see them and they can see the "tight spots". Besure you both understand the STOP signal.

 

like everyone said here it just takes time and it is everyones fear. I have 3 months solo under my belt now. its funny i dont remember the day i stop thinking about what i was doing and just started doing it but it took a lot of practice. I had one dock that took me 40 min to get into and i was drenched in sweat and my left leg was shaking from holding the clutch so long. at one point i just stopped got out smoked a cig and was ready to give up but i tried one more time and it slipped right in. like someone said follow your gut and as soon as your not sure where that trailer is GAOL. if I get to a reciever or shipper and no one is around i will practice in their docks. take pride in learning to back well cause it trully is an art when done well and not everyone can do it

 

Okay, number 1 is, you haven't been to orientation yet, so I suppose you STILL have training ahead of you. Hopefully, your trainer will help you to learn and practice this maneuver.

Second, if you can, go to a Love's t/s and spend $15 bucks for a toy truck! (when you're done practicing with it, you can give it to a nephew as a present.) Line up two shoeboxes as trucks with a space between them, and practice backing the truck in between them.

Third, remember to Get Out And Look, (GOAL) if you need to. After awhile, this will only be necessary in the worst case scenarios.

Fourth, Think of your position and maneuver as a QUESTION MARK. Postition the back of your trailer near (but at least 20 feet away from) the "opening." Then back your cab in a question mark to "push" your trailer into the slot.

Fifth, Always come in close on your left side to the front of the other trucks, then turn sharply to the right to "set" the back of your trailer near the opening. Then turn BACK to your left, so you can see the back end of your trailer, and the truck to your left (out your left window and mirror.) Then, pull up ten more feet, to keep from "undoing" what you just did. Then, let the idle take you back in reverse, towards the fender of the truck you are guiding by. When your tandems clear the fender, you should be steering in the opposite direction (left wheel) to "guide" your trailer right down beside him.

Start turning OUT of your angle (left wheel) WAY before you think you NEED to, to undo the trailer swing, (this is the top of the question mark.) and try to make the trailer go STRAIGHT down beside HIS! If you wait too late, your trailer tail will be angling too sharply TOWARDS his. This is when you must pull up!

As long as you can "curve" around his fender, and straigten up in time to go right down beside him, YOU CANNOT HIT THE TRUCK on the blind side! But.... it doesn't hurt to G.O.A. L. just to make sure!

Think of it THIS way. Start in the parking spot between two trucks, with a line of trucks in front of you. To get OUT of there, you must pull straight up close to them, and then turn to the left. When you look BACK to see if you've cleared the front of the truck to your left. STOP!!!

Look at where you are, and how you got there! Now "visualize" this as the way you MUST be to back INTO that slot!

To practice, you might just put it into reverse, and go right back INTO the slot! Do this several times.... and you'll know the feeling you MUST have when backing in! Docks are NO DIFFERENT than parking spaces!

One last caveat: When setting up.... leave at least the room of your cab width between you and the trucks in FRONT of you, as you will need to swing your cab CLOSER to them in order to complete the top part of the Question Mark! (OH... and DON'T forget to look out your RIGHT window while doing this.... so you don't HIT the trucks in front of you!)

See?? It's really EASY! :lol:

Also.... it IS harder to back around CONES than it is between two ACTUAL trailers! And, a wide open area with only lines is even harder! When I was in school... the day they told me I had to back into a slot between two trailers :shock: it was EASIER than anything I'd ever done! Went in slick as a whistle!

Don't sweat it so much! You WILL learn.... like ALL of us had to! Good luck! Congratulations! And.... we'll see you on the Big Road!

Hobo

P.S: Sorry... don't know of a book! Thought you might just settle for tips instead!! :lol:

 

I used to work city for Yellow back in the late '80s. I was at this place that had a chain-link fence that was a little close but not too bad. So one day I watched this guy with a huge double bunk KW going in and out back and forth always landing the same place, and sure enough he eventually asked me if I would but this thing in for him with my little single axle Brigadere. So I said "sure, but can I try with yours first, I think I can do it" to which he agreed- anything- just get it in there. Well, remember, this was tha late 80's. There wheren't many double bunks around- this was a sight. So I crawled into this truck and there was velour, stero, 2 air rides, bla, bla, this was really something. So I put it in gear and started backing up and MANUAL STEERING! No wonder he couldn't get it in... I got it in, but I had to just creep back and forth to give myself plenty of time to steer.

 

My friend, DD60 hit the nail smack-dab on the head!!

You are the victim of disorganized thinking.

Starting out, fear is not only normal, it can be one of your greatest assets.
Fear is what will force you to Get Out And Look!! (G.O.A.L.) Fear is what will force you to do a pull-up, rather than try to back yourself out of trouble.

Throughout your driving career, fear is not what will get you into trouble.

COMPLACENCY is what will get you into trouble in a hurry.

Fear is not your enemy. Learn to embrace it, and use it as an asset!!