Alley Docking Tips And Tricks

Has to be a few more ways of doing it. If anyone has any to share aside from experience.

I know you can fix "a few feet off" by turning the wheel all the way right and pulling forward that distance, then straighten the wheel pulling forward the same distance , followed up with turning the wheel all the way left and backing up till the truck gets straight with the trailer.

It's pretty fool proof and for all I know it's common knowledge. But aside from school (I wasn't taught the alley dock) I didn't get a whole lot of backing practice and once with my codriver it kinda felt like I was thrown to the wolves so I just wanted to see if others have a better way?

I'm no expert, but what I found helpful when backing up my 40 ft long 8&1/2 wide 10ft tall gooseneck every day for ten years, was fining a mark.

I typically had to pull just past the alley, and back in, UP HILL, to towards the passenger (blind) side. All you have is your mirror, your gut instinct, and a mark.

A "mark" is any fixed point of reference you can use: a rock, a post, a line, another truck, the wall... It helps to have a natural level of space awareness. After a while, you "know" where the arse end of your trailer is, you can "feel it".

Lastly, if you're not familiar with your surroundings, a good idea is to just get out and walk it, if it's safe for you to do so.

Then, ... Go.... Slow.

A soft Ding is easier to repair than a hard crash.