Thanks for everybodys help in giving me backing tips. It helped big time. Here is my trouble though, backing in from a 45 degree agle. I'm about 50/50 in making it. I end up turning the wheels too early or too late. I've looked at threads and some Youtube videos but am still struggling. Is there a secret in knowing when to turn the wheels to start the turn when backing up from those angles? and do I turn it hard or not? When I'm on my own if I have to pulll up few times until I get the hang of it I will (being a newbie I'm not too proud to do that), but when I go for the skills test for my CDL, I'm only allowed one pull up (15-20ft max). Right now I'm basically just aiming and turning the back of the trailer and like I said sometimes I end up ok and sometimes way off from where I want the trailer to be and I start to get frustrated. You guys gave me great tips so far about backing in general, any tips for this one? Any secret or tips on when to start the turn as I'm backing up? Thanks for taking the time to help a newbie out with these basic trucking questions. I figured I'd ask the skilled professionals ( you guys).

It takes time to gain experience.

As for when to start getting back under the trailer, I always watch the angle of the trailer axles, to the mark I pick on the ground to back to. I try not to lose sight of that mark. Who told you that you will only be allowed one pull up during the skills test?

Try holing off your initial turn until the corner of your trailer is about 5 feet past the left hand edge of the slot you are trying to back into.

In the real world when you need to start your turn will depend on where your trailer tandems are located at.

Since odds are, while in school, your tandems are set in the same place each time you do a back start at the 5 foot mark and then adjust it as needed. Just make a mental note at what point on the trailer you start your turn and how that effects things.

Also always remember that it takes a little bit for the trailer to respond to you turning the wheel. Many drivers get too impaitent and start steering more and wind up over steering.

You initial goal, especially backing in between cones, is to get the trailer into the slot. Don't worry too much about being in their straight at the start. Get it in there and then do your pull up to straighten out as much as possible so your "final" back into the hole is as much as a straight back as you can make it.

I can say this, as a recent trucking school graduate, the stuff they show you on th erange is kindergarden compared to what you do in the real world, I am leaning that i suck at backing in a bad way. Cones are a cakewalk

It gets easier every time you do it. It'll come to you soon.
Good Luck out there.

You shouldn't have to turn the wheel all the way for any of the exercises your doing. If you set yourself up properly the most you should need is a 3/4 turn of the steering wheel and then straighten the wheel up again after a few seconds. If you need to turn the trailer in even more then use quarter turns for a couple of seconds then straighten up again.

Cones are so B.S. in the 'real world' out here...at least for freight haulers that have to back into docks....there's no looking down for little orange cones..most objects have Vertical height....I wish these schools would start using something like bails of hay. and stack 'em up.

During the test- will you be allowed to 'walk' the exercise...and do they allow you to 'drop a glove' placing an item like this to give you a reference point can be helpful.

If so, place a glove about 8-10 forward in line with the left(sight-side) of the slot....
sorry it's been a long time since I've been on a range....they might already have a 'cone' there marking that point(corner- where your tandems are suppose to turn/ where the trailer should be straight with the hole....from
that point pace off 12 feet in a 45 degree angle from that point and 'drop a glove or something...this is where you want to pull the tractor trailer up to( stopping your rear trailer axle beside that 'glove/marker'---this will give
you the right travel distance---now assuming your tractor/trailer is straight and you've stopped the rig with the steers in the straight position....you can now give the wheel a 1/4 turn( these numbers are aprox-u realise) allow the trailer to 'walk' and adjust the steer only to make sure you don't run over the 1st glove you laid down marking(the pivot point)...if it looks like your going to run over it- you've given the wheel too much-make an adjustment.....when your tandems reach the half-way point(6-feet) between the two markers--you need to start 'getting back under it' which should require
no more that 1/4 turn the other direction past 12-clock.---remember your trailer will continue to "corner' as long as you're rolling backward up until you're tractor/trailer are straight again.


you can watch the "whole angle/side of your trailer..not just the tandems/markers/the slot.

if you can get the "swing" down...( like proper golf swing or pitch or "form/manor" then it's just a matter of timing/aim.

If you then are just overshooting the slot (long)...you're working too slow, if you continue to undershoot(short) you're going too fast/ steering too sharp.
The 45back is about "less" steering not "more" ....

Thanks for your tips. I'm headed out to the range now. lets see what happens. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out.

First off it's taugh to understand backing from Text. I think your not getting the big picture about your wheel(s); forget them you need to understand setup. Whats your set up like, what kind of tractor 'wheel base', Is your seat ajusted properly with your mirrors? I've train to many student that never got the basic understanding of setup-from the seat to the 45deg.

Also what's your handy cap? Let me know

Old post blah

can you link those youtube vids?