here's a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHmA1Mozt2M

45 is what is getting me not the pretrip and that vid is like 3mins long and no way a pretrip is going to be that short.

There is only one solution to this problem: Demand more range time. You are paying this "school" to teach you how to pass the CDL tests. You are having a problem backing because you aren't getting enough time behind the wheel. Once a day? That's outrageous. At Roehl's DTC, we would each get to do the backing exercises at least three times each day for the last two weeks, in addition to about an hour each of road time.

No matter how many people here try to describe the 45 alley dock to you, you won't get it until it finally "clicks" for you -- and that will ONLY happen when you are doing it. You have to connect what you are doing with what you are seeing; with what the trailer and tractor are doing in direct response to your input. Wheel time is the only answer.

BOL to you -- keep at it and you'll succeed.

you didnt listen to the guy. he tells you everything to check and how long it should take

http://www.goldiesplating.com/flatbedfred/pretrip.htm Illustrated pretrip, hope that helps

PRACTICE! Will help with parking. When I was taught, here's how I was told for a 90 degree park (like done in a truck stop). See picture below:

Step 1 pull up perpendicular to the spot and stop.

Step 2 Cut the wheel HARD right and pull forward until your tractor is 90 degrees to the right from where you started and your TRACTOR is parallel w/the spot.

Step 3 Cut the wheel HARD left untill your tractor is again facing perpendicular to the spot and stop.

Get out and look

Step 4 Reverse while turning gently right until trailer looks like its aligned with the spot then "chase" your trailer with your tractor into the spot by turning left again. Adjust lefts/rights as necessary to get in evenly.

Get out OFTEN to look!

These are good pics to go on...you just need to to change those 90 Deg terms to 45 degrees.....after all that's a 45"cheat" or "compound" back...a true 45 back: the tractor/trailer remains straight 45 degrees from the open slot.

and you need to cut out all the HARD wheel turning/ pivoting on the trailer tires.....it's hard on tires/axle/wheel seals.

the only back which uses the term "alley" is the commonly termed "JackBack" which is a 90 Degree Back where you turn wheels hard lock to lock then pivot on the trailer tandoms then chase 'er on in.

Headborg is correct. I had forgotten this was called a 90 degree alley dock back in CDL school.
When I did those "HARD" turns after graduation and working for TMC, it was with a spread axle FLATBED trailer with one of its two axles raised so I only pivoted on one axle and wasn't killing the tires/axle. :wink:

try watching the path of the tandems on the trailer. remember depending on where the tandems are it takes about ten feet of travel for the trailer to start turning. another thing to do is try to chase the trailer (get back under it) before you think you need to. until you get used to it your probably holding your angle (jack, turn etc) to long.

dont over turn the wheel their is no need to go lock to lock! also try not to get to extreme of an angle to the trailer.

you will get it with practice.

ok, so your going to dock your trailer to the driver side.
first of all, theres no exact formula, tractors can turn different.
heres what i learned when i was getting my license.

1. start turning the wheel clockwise NOT TOO MUCH. just get the trailer to drift.
2. straighten the wheel out and push the trailer back. picture where the ass end is going to going, and slowly adjust the wheels back and forth.
NOT TOO MUCH..
3. now turn the wheel counterclockwise to drop it in the hole with the trailer straight. ideally, the tractor should be pretty straight too.

this will take practice. you wiil get it. i think the key is to take it easy, dont over correct.

i was lucky, ive had a boat and a travel trailer before, so i had the concept down.
if you got a buddy or family member with a trailer or something, see if you can take it to a oarking lot and practice at night.

BOL to you, youll get it.