Set Up !

So my mentor said I have been doing extremely well he’s just been chilling until the first 50 hrs are up. He said my backing is impressive. But I do tend to steer too much. How do I correct myself with this ? Once I see my trailer I tend to steer hard to try to get it in the slot. So how can I correct myself with this issue ?

You correct it with experience. A lot of us in the beginning turn too much, heck even after 2 years i overturn sometime. Nothing to lose sleep over. All i can say is to dont get overconfident, if you are not sure, get out and look!

That will come with more practice. As you learn how the truck responds and handles better, you will get better. And then you will learn all over again once you upgrade. But will have a better feel for it. I think it is safe to say, that we all will sometimes have over stearing problems at times. I know I still do. But just know that as you progress, it will become easier to do. Backing takes up less than 3% of most driver's experience. So sometimes it can be difficult.

Thanks guys ! It’s like I see my trailer and I know what I want it to do. But when it’s time to do it. It’s like oops hahaha. But. There’s always tomorrow ! Missed out on a amazon load today :(

I completely agree with the others. Oversteering is really common with new drivers. If you ever have the chance to sit at a truck stop and watch people backing their rigs into parking spots, you'll be able to identify the ones who are experienced by the remarkable way the seem to barely need to turn the steering wheel to get the trailer where it needs to be.

It just takes time and exposure. Learning how to set the truck up in the most efficient position for each individual backing situation will come with experience also. When you can set it up properly you will find you have to steer less to get it where you want it.

Don't sweat it for now. You're going to be oversteering at times. As long as you don't scrape or hit anything, you made a successful backing maneuver.

One thing to keep in mind is that a small adjustment at the wheel results in a big movement of the trailer. Typically if you set up properly, once you see the trailer make the turn straighten the wheels and the trailer will continue on it’s curved path. Once you’re on target counter steer until the trailer lines up with the tractor.

Please take note that I’m not a trucker but trailers are a specialty of mine. Used to work for a highway maintenance company and a lot of the younger workers didn’t have the first clue on how to park a trailer. So at the end of the day there I am re-arranging them all so I can fit mine. I was a pesticide applicator so my truck was a ford 250 flatbed with a 500 gallon tank. Everyone else got a standard ford 150.

The only thing I can add is look ten feet behind your trailer. That is where it will be from any input. Also, GOAL as much as you need. If you ever have time go to a truck stop around 10 am and find at least 3 spots next to each other. Practice getting into the one in the middle without crossing the lines. Good luck.

One thing to keep in mind is that a small adjustment at the wheel results in a big movement of the trailer

That's true for very short trailers like you were backing. That's not the case with 53' trailers. They react very slowly to steering inputs and move very little for quite a long time relatively speaking.