How To Master Backing Up?

I thought about this thread the other night when I backed into the only spot left at the TA in Antioch, TN, just south of Nashville. Took me over 5 minutes and about I GOALed about 3-4 times. But I got it in without hitting anything. I've backed into tighter spots with less effort, but the difference here was that I was tired--that always makes things more difficult.

The important part--I didn't hit anything--so it was a success. Remember that when you start learning how to back.

Also alot of new drivers over steer. Try not to turn the steering wheel so much. Yeah I know easier said then done.

I thought about this thread the other night when I backed into the only spot left at the TA in Antioch, TN, just south of Nashville. Took me over 5 minutes and about I GOALed about 3-4 times. But I got it in without hitting anything. I've backed into tighter spots with less effort, but the difference here was that I was tired--that always makes things more difficult.

The important part--I didn't hit anything--so it was a success. Remember that when you start learning how to back.

Yeah when you're tired the night vision and depth perception go all wonky n stuff. LOL

JJ

I slid into the last spot at the TA in Nashville around 0100 one morning. Tight as heck. I set up and took a stab at it, I was a little off, pulled forward and made one correction and it slid right in. The next morning both drivers on either side came over and actually congratulated me. Heck I thought everybody else was sleeping. LOL!

JJ

I slid into the last spot at the TA in Nashville around 0100 one morning. Tight as heck. I set up and took a stab at it, I was a little off, pulled forward and made one correction and it slid right in. The next morning both drivers on either side came over and actually congratulated me. Heck I thought everybody else was sleeping. LOL!

JJ

Haha wow. You're a bolder driver than me. I probably wouldn't try for the TA in Nashville in the middle of the night.

I actually decided I'm not going to park at that particular TA ever, because they apparently have a habit of kicking drivers out of truck spots to make extra parking for football games. I know, it's their business and they have the right to do that...and I have the right to park somewhere else if I damn well please lol.

Yup! I positively dislike the TA Nashville.

When I started 7 months ago as a Pumpkin Driver I was a decent backer but I still stressed over it; especially if I had to stop at a truck stop for the night. I tried to find local rest areas/travel plazas on the highway because most of the time they're pull through spots. I always check out the shipper/receiver on Google Earth to get an idea of where I'm going and what the dock situation looks like. It could be a brand new DC with tons of room right off the Interstate or an old warehouse on 21st Street in Chicago where I had to back in off the street with a line of impatient Chicago drivers glaring at me (as I did about 8 pull ups!).

Take your time, don't over steer, don't be concerned with what other drivers may or may not be thinking, GOAL, do as many pull ups as you need and don't hit anything. It just occurred to me the other day I'm not nearly as stressed as I used to get over backing. Time and practice has taken care of that but I still have days where you'd think I was an old veteran and back in like a pro and then another day where I look like I just started yesterday. You'll find with practice, your backing will become more intuitive and you'll know just how much you need to steer to get the trailer to go where you want it to go.