A Question About Backing To A Dock

When I am putting a trailer to a dock I consistently do the same thing over and over...I will hit the dock bumper on the driver's side but the right side will be 4-6 inches off the bumper. What am I doing that is causing this? Thanks in advance for the help.

I do the SAME thing. The dock guys told me it is a newbie thing. We see the left side better so we turn more that way. If u turn your wheel to the right a little more... the front if the trailer goes right and the back will line up better. I've had to pull forward then turn right then back in.

The other day I did it and although the trailer was straight in thw end.. the truck wasnt. I actually disconnected thw truck during unload so I wasn't across the other line... but... thw trailer was in hahhah

I have done the same thing where the trailer will be straight but the truck is turned a bit..lol The docks at my place of employment are not well lit and it is difficult to hit it just right at night anyway. They keep telling me not to worry about it as long as it is good enough to out Hendrick plate in and.load the trucks but I would still like it to be spot on.

Right when you have your trailer lined up to go straight in, look for yellow marks. These may be lines on the pavement, on the dock wall, or marks on the dock curtain. They'll be the same in both sides. Aim to be in between these two marks.

Right when you have your trailer lined up to go straight in, look for yellow marks. These may be lines on the pavement, on the dock wall, or marks on the dock curtain. They'll be the same in both sides. Aim to be in between these two marks.

Hahah I've tried that too. Just now I over compensated and am out further in left than right. But I'm in the door. I think it is much harder when there aren't any lines. The place I'm in now is very dark.. the links are very weak and the doors are just black. :(

When I am putting a trailer to a dock I consistently do the same thing over and over...I will hit the dock bumper on the driver's side but the right side will be 4-6 inches off the bumper. What am I doing that is causing this? Thanks in advance for the help.

I use my right side mirror (curb side) to maintain a parallel path with either the painted line or expansion joint on the concrete (which is usually at a 90 degree angle to the dock wall). If neither of those exist, I look for another set of visual marks.

I know it sounds strange but using the left mirror (drivers side) creates the illusion of being "straight" when you are not. So I alternate, looking in the left and right hand mirrors to line up on the door and the left mirror to maintain a more precise straight line.

Again I know it sounds odd, but try it, using the right mirror for maintaining a straight line. No idea why it works, but for me it does every time.

When I am putting a trailer to a dock I consistently do the same thing over and over...I will hit the dock bumper on the driver's side but the right side will be 4-6 inches off the bumper. What am I doing that is causing this? Thanks in advance for the help.

I use my right side mirror (curb side) to maintain a parallel path with either the painted line or expansion joint on the concrete (which is usually at a 90 degree angle to the dock wall). If neither of those exist, I look for another set of visual marks.

I know it sounds strange but using the left mirror (drivers side) creates the illusion of being "straight" when you are not. So I alternate, looking in the left and right hand mirrors to line up on the door and the left mirror to maintain a more precise straight line.

Again I know it sounds odd, but try it, using the right mirror for maintaining a straight line. No idea why it works, but for me it does every time.

Meant right mirror...to maintain the straight line. Sorry to confuse.