Forfeit A Back This Morning

I had no choice. At a Wegmans DC in Rochester NY. Had to go inside a building and perform an extremely tight back. My assigned dock was positioned so that when I did my setup, I had to back halfway through a door way. I had the trailer in the hole, but I was jacknifed and I had no room to pull up, not even an inch, to even attempt to straighten it out. After about 30m of struggling, someone came out and asked if I wanted a yard dog to back it in for me. I wanted to say no and keep trying, but I honestly don't think it was physically possible with a sleeper cab. 5th wheel and tandems were all the way forward.

Only had to give up on a dock twice, first time was at Mazhel Metals in Chicago. I could have done the back if it wasnt for a foodliner trailer dropped in front of the opening to the dock. The important thing is that I tried my best.

Did you happen to watch how the yard jockey approached this?

Did you happen to watch how the yard jockey approached this?

Yes. It seemed like he set up more on the left side of the doorway, but I couldn't exactly tell. My initial setup was more left middle which is probably why I was having issues with the right side. That and there was also a stack of pallets and a forklift in the way and was about to be moved to give me a little more room when I opted for the yard dog.

I do feel like I want to go back and attempt it again in the future just to prove to myself that I can do it, but for right now, as long as the load gets to where it needs to be, I didn't hit anything in or out so I'll leave it at that.

The more difficult the spot is to get into, the more important the setup becomes. In very tight spots you may have very few options for the proper setup, and sometimes the right set up may be far different than you might guess until you've really looked it over for a few minutes.

What helped me out a lot was to take a little toy tractor trailer and work through different scenarios on a table. You wouldn't believe how many tricks I learned that way for getting into difficult or unusual spots. There were a few maneuvers I only used a handful of times and they were so unusual that anyone watching thought I was a lunatic, until suddenly I slid that trailer dead down the middle the first time. Then they'd come over and ask, "What was that???" and we'd laugh about it. "A trick I learned with a toy truck on the kitchen table one day" I'd tell em.

The setup will eliminate more than 50% of the difficulty of getting backed in somewhere, and if it's a really tough spot the setup will be 90% of getting the job done. Without a fantastic setup there are spots you won't get into for all the cussing and wiggling around in the world. You'll swear they need to bring in a helicopter or a crane to get that thing in there.

I also lost count of how many times a place would say, "Put it in that dock over there" and I'd say, "Are you sure a 53 foot trailer can fit there?"

"Oh yeah," they'd say. People do it all the time.

"You're sure they did it with a 53 foot trailer and a sleeper cab? In that spot over there?"

"Oh yeah, they'd say again. They do it."

"Ok" I'd say. "If it can be done, I can do it." And of course it could be done, and I'd do it. But man, even after years and years of driving I'd look at some of these spots and say to the dock guys, "Come on, man! What have I done to you to deserve this? Wouldn't it be easier for you guys to come out here to the parking lot and get this stuff instead of messing with that dock?"

And its always a bad sign when the desk person or yard jockey ask you if you are any gokd at backing once they give you the assigned door. Had that one a couple of times, two were bad and one wasnt so bad. But you gotta learn from your mistakes some way.

The more difficult the spot is to get into, the more important the setup becomes. In very tight spots you may have very few options for the proper setup, and sometimes the right set up may be far different than you might guess until you've really looked it over for a few minutes.

What helped me out a lot was to take a little toy tractor trailer and work through different scenarios on a table. You wouldn't believe how many tricks I learned that way for getting into difficult or unusual spots. There were a few maneuvers I only used a handful of times and they were so unusual that anyone watching thought I was a lunatic, until suddenly I slid that trailer dead down the middle the first time. Then they'd come over and ask, "What was that???" and we'd laugh about it. "A trick I learned with a toy truck on the kitchen table one day" I'd tell em.

The setup will eliminate more than 50% of the difficulty of getting backed in somewhere, and if it's a really tough spot the setup will be 90% of getting the job done. Without a fantastic setup there are spots you won't get into for all the cussing and wiggling around in the world. You'll swear they need to bring in a helicopter or a crane to get that thing in there.

I also lost count of how many times a place would say, "Put it in that dock over there" and I'd say, "Are you sure a 53 foot trailer can fit there?"

"Oh yeah," they'd say. People do it all the time.

"You're sure they did it with a 53 foot trailer and a sleeper cab? In that spot over there?"

"Oh yeah, they'd say again. They do it."

"Ok" I'd say. "If it can be done, I can do it." And of course it could be done, and I'd do it. But man, even after years and years of driving I'd look at some of these spots and say to the dock guys, "Come on, man! What have I done to you to deserve this? Wouldn't it be easier for you guys to come out here to the parking lot and get this stuff instead of messing with that dock?"

Brett, you always have the BEST advice ever! I have struggled with that dreaded 90 here in school and its nuts. Thanks for this. NADTA uses a model tractor-trailer to help demonstrate backing when they first teach it in the classroom also. I also have a request: Would you want to come back OTR and be my Co Driver here at CRST? I would be EXTREMELY HONORED to team with you. I could learn so much more from you than ANY school could teach me.

Forgot to subscribe to this topic. Anyway, I really believe that anyone that can back one of these big beasts successfully is a hero in my book.

also. I also have a request: Would you want to come back OTR and be my Co Driver here at CRST?

Oh man, running team? In a big rig? I've gotten spoiled over the years with my new setup. Look at the custom sleeper I have now!

It has a bathroom and a shower and running water and a German Shepherd! I actually brought my own German Shepherd. He didn't come with it.

I can't haul anything behind it but man do I have it made!

also. I also have a request: Would you want to come back OTR and be my Co Driver here at CRST?

Oh man, running team? In a big rig? I've gotten spoiled over the years with my new setup. Look at the custom sleeper I have now!

It has a bathroom and a shower and running water and a German Shepherd! I actually brought my own German Shepherd. He didn't come with it.

I can't haul anything behind it but man do I have it made!

Thats a super sweet setup you got there. I wouldn't mind getting myself one of those when I retire from trucking SEVERAL YEARS from now.

Lots of good back advice here but if you've tried and you really can't do it, it's best to know your limits and let them know you can't do it that day. My ego doesn't like to give up on a back, especially when I've been trying for a long time but it's the responsible thing to do if it's just not going to happen.