Comments By Bucs/Clips-Nation (aka Nelson)

Thank you Starcar, ill let u guys know how it goes. Appreciate the knowledge

I can't tell if you mean that your losing sight of your reference points or if you are just over steering and can't seem to get it going right after that happens. But here's what helped me when I first started backing big trucks. Try to keep your main focus on your trailer tandems. Of course while backing you have to be aware of all the various spaces around you too so you don't back your tractor into something while focusing on the trailer.

For me, if I focused on the trailer tandems I could see how they were reacting to my steering efforts. If you are watching the side or the back of your trailer you can't really see the response your getting from the steering wheel. But the tandems will "talk to you" and tell you if you're over steering or under steering, plus you can see when they are starting to line up parallel with that stripe on the parking lot so that you know you need to hurry up and get your tractor lined up for a straight back, or you might need to do a short pull up to help you get things set up again for a better angle.

Backing is difficult for most newbies, and there's always some of us that have a more difficult time at it than others. But it's one of those things that just takes some time and practice. Don't let it rattle you so badly that you've got yourself thinking there's just no way your going to get this. You can do it, you just need some more exposure to it. I raised three daughters and one of them started walking about ten months later than the other two, but now that they're all grown none of them walks any better than the other. It's the same way with backing a big rig, six months from now when you're backing into a tight spot at the truck stop no one there is going to know that you could barely get the hang of it while at truck driving school. It's one of those things that usually just start falling into place once your mind starts to recognize that relationship going on between the trailer and the steering wheel. It becomes sort of an eye/hand coordination thing.

Keep at it, try visualizing some perfect back ups in your mind while your laying in bed. That may sound silly to some folks, but I'll bet it just might help you. You can do this!

Keep watching those tandems, and pretty soon you'll see them responding just the way you want.

Sorry for the confusion, yes I'm losing my reference points and getting all confused after that. Backing into docks, or a parking spot with a truck next to it doesn't give me much trouble because I'm always able to keep track of where I want to go. Not so much with a wide out in the open parking spot haha. I'm already out with my trainer on the road, I had to talk to him about allowing me to do more of the backing. Tomorrow will be the start of my third week n were just now really starting to focus on it. Maybe I'm just worrying to much because I have two weeks left before I have to test for the company solo position. Really appreciate it old school, I will try out your advice on the tandems tomorrow

I'm really struggling with backing into open spots without some sort of reference other than the parking spot lines. My initial setup is fine, but after my trailer is set to begin backing I lose track of the initial spot I setup with. I'm really getting discouraged, I know what I need to do, but once I get lost like that it's over from that point.

Bucks, I've been with central for 8 months now and I'm sorry to tell you but there's only a 2% chance you'll get a Peterbilt. They use those trucks for lease operators. It's just another way they rope us into leasing, by holding back peterbilts to company drivers.

I'm driving a Peterbilt right now but it's a recovery and only for 4 days then I get my Freightliner back. It's in the shop for a week and they don't want to pay a hotel for a week. And I got to tell you that a Peterbilt might look awesome, but a Freightliner is a lot easier on you - especially as a rookie.

The turning on the Pete's are awful! The cabs are much smaller than a freightliners. I can do stretches in my frieghtliner but not on this Pete. I'm usually very confident (but careful!!!) when backing up. But with this thing I take every precaution. You just can't see everything as well as you can with other trucks.

You'll probably get a Freightliner that's a 2012. Just pray you don't get a international, Centrals internationals are usually kinda old since they stopped buying them.

The bottom line is, when you're at a shipper or receiver and the dock demands that you maneuver your truck and trailer like a snake just to barely get it in there - it doesn't matter how cool your truck looks. It matters on how well your truck can turn and how well you can back up. Believe me, I'm on the 587 as I type this and the backing is twice harder. You don't want to deal with the added challenges when you're on your first month.

Daniel thanks man, good looking on that info. Drove a Volvo and international during school and I have to say the freightliner felt much easier to drive from the get go. I was at headquarters in Utah a couple days ago and they had a gang of internationals lined upto be taken out of the fleet. I heard we're sticking to volvos, freightliners, n Pete's, heard through the grape vine so who knows. Yeah I'm not even thinking about leasing, so no worries there. As I've been learning more n more about the truck,the comfortability has grown on me above all else. My name is Nelson by the way, hopefully ill be able to catch u face to face sooner or later. Thanks again everybody. Be safe out there

Bucs, which company are you with.

I'm also with Central, out of the Fontana terminal

Not only do Petes and KWs get the worst fuel mileage but they are also a pain to backup and can be very small on the inside. The newer "condo style" pete's and KWs are not bad (KW 700 or Petes 387) but the rest are very small inside.

Yeah I noticed some cabs are pretty narrow up front

I think the freightliners look good in black and grey especially. I'm driving one now with my trainer, I like them but am hoping to get lucky with a peterbilt but any truck will be like a trophy to me. Really appreciate this site, great group of people and perspectives

Let me guess your hoping to get lucky and get one of the old school long nose petes'? Probably not going to happen since they don't make them anymore and since they get some of the worst fuel mileage most companies are turning away from Petes and KWs altogether.

No not the older models, we have the newer models in our fleet. I wouldn't mind a 587 haha, ill happily take whatever I get though

I think the freightliners look good in black and grey especially. I'm driving one now with my trainer, I like them but am hoping to get lucky with a peterbilt but any truck will be like a trophy to me. Really appreciate this site, great group of people and perspectives

Yeah, teaming with someone is brutal. Most people can't stand it, myself included. But before long you'll be on your own and the time spent teaming will simply be memories you'll be working hard to block out of your mind. They'll kinda give ya the shivers...

Haha yes indeed, I could never see myself going team unless I end up marrying someone who could dig that. I say that now as I'm single haha. The thought sounds good

Haha I know how you feel. That last week will be hell for you. Me and my trainer got along fine but that last week we just wanted to fight each other haha!

Haha I believe it! The first two weeks have actually come n gone pretty quickly. But yeah u know what I'm saying haha. Keeping it in constant prayer, I'll have my own truck soon enough. What did they end up issuing u? Most have been getting freightliners after upgrading