Although I'm sure you mean no harm, you should consider how you word things in your post. Someone here may be or have disabled loved ones who may take offense to this post just sayin
I can't imagine trying to back something that short. When I first started pulling these 42' tankers with tandems , it was strange. They turn so fast compared to a 48' flatbed or 53' stepdeck with spread axles. I was over correcting all the time. Now I love them, easiest thing in the world to put into a hole.
In fact, I just realized that I finally have no fear of parking at a truck stop. It took 2 1/2 years, but I'm finally there. So for you folks just starting out, there's your answer: it will take a little more than two years before you are no longer at all afraid to park in a truck stop. Hope that helps.
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
A stepdeck , also referred to as "dropdeck", is a type of flatbed trailer that has one built in step to the deck to provide the capabilities of loading higher dimensional freight on the lower deck.
I have a harder time backing the bobtail. I get all kinds of confused!
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Ever try backing up a short trailer after years of pulling 53 footers, I look like I should be riding the short bus if you saw me back this up for the first time. It turns so fast!
https://goo.gl/photos/iekr28ZdX8mp2gA77
Having trouble posting the picture, hope this link even works.