Parallel Parking a Semi
 

I have been practicing for the skills test here in Georgia. I have a handle on straight line backing and off set backing...I am picking up the sight side 90 degree alley dock BUT I cannot get a handle on the parallel parking. Either blind or sight side I can do it about 1 out of every 10 attempts. Do you veteran drivers have any tips and tricks for parallel parking? I would greatly appreciate whatever information you can supply. My skills test is on December 14 in the morning and I want to be really proficient by that time.

According to what I know about Georgia, I have a space the length of the truck plus 15 feet to park the truck and trailer in.

treat like an angle back(offset).

OK here is the "low-down" on this. Set up with the trailer wheels about 5 feet off the foward cone and even with it. If it is to the drivers side turn the wheel ALL the way to the right. Start the turn and go til you see the corner tip of the left sand shoe in your right mirror. STOP!!! Turn your wheel ALL the way to the left. Back up until you see the tip of the right sand shoe in your left miror. STOP!!! Now turn it all the way back to the right and follow the trailer the rest of the way in. It will take a little time but you will learn to guage where you are to do it right. To do the blind side just do it the other way. There are tricks like this to doing the off-set too.

:wink: ,


Ridge

Thanks for the input. RR, I am going outside to try what you describe. I'll let you know how it turns out. If you could put up the tips and tricks for the off sets that would be great also.

Thanks again.

I'll do that tonight. Got to get to bed. Been up all night at work.

I think you have your mirrors backwards?

It took me a few tries....ok about a dozen.....but I started getting the hang of it. I used the left mirror for the left sand cap and the right mirror for the right one. After a while I started getting the hang of it. I'll keep trying and practicing it.

what's a sand cap???? :oops: .....(is it the fish eye lens??)
also....... any tips on off set (alley dock)** backing......and down shifting????

** these are what i'm having trouble with....i know.....take it slow and correct.....but i either over shoot or under shoot.

thanks........ 8) 8)

sorry sand shoe.... :oops: mud flap?

Why would mud flaps ever change positions when you look in the mirror?

geez.....your right!!!!!!!!..................so farder what's a sand shoe????? :?

A sand shoe is the flat plate on the bottom of the landing gear.

Yeah, I figured that's what he meant. Of course those would move, duh.

""any tips on off set (alley dock)** backing......and down shifting????

** these are what i'm having trouble with....i know.....take it slow and correct.....but i either over shoot or under shoot.

thanks........ 8) 8)[/quote]""

thanks ridge........... any tips on the above???? 8)

Ah, OK. The rest of it sounds right to me. Just wasn't sure of the mirror thing without jumping in the truck. You explained it well Ridge IMO.

This is one of those: Easier done than said! :lol:

kinda what i was looking for..........


http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...s.htm#QD_AnswC

For the off-set look here: http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=30858

Thank You RR for the information! :D :D :D :D :D

wouldn't it just be simplier to park 3 tractor/trailers in a neat line- pull the center one out-circle the lot and then tell all the students to take turns putting
it back in the hole.

Maybe that's why that guy the other night in the rest area..set out a traffic cone before he tried backing in. :roll:

It would be IF we had extra trailers and IF that was the skills test the state requires to get a CDL.

I bet he was wearing an orange safety vest, had black horn-rimmed glasses, and wore a hat with ear flaps on it!! :roll:

Fact is.... it is MUCH easier to learn to parallel park between TRUCKS than with cones! But, Ridge is right..... they use cones for the test! If you have the option, though.... learn to park between trailers (or trucks) and THEN.... fine tune your skills to adapt to CONES! [This applies to ALL forms of backing!]

I couldn't help it!
 

I'm sorry, but I could not help myself.

I was in the TA lot watching a Swift truck trying to back into a hole for the night when after quite a bit of time, the Swift driver got on the radio for help; I helped him back in and he wanted to give me 10 dollars, I replied "No keep your weeks pay, but if your truck had a trailer on it I would accept it." :lol:

or how about,,,,,,,,,,,,

How do you know when your wife is messing with a Swift Driver?

When you come back after a week on the road and he is still trying to back out of the driveway. :shock:


Nothing against Swift personally, it seems they have been selected to be the butt of many trucking jokes. 8)

Creek