I AM AMAZED.....

I just finished my third week of school. I'm a weekend student. I am amazed at the number of weekday students that come in on the weekends for extra time in the trucks on the backing range....Most of these are students that have completed their 160 hours of training and are trying to test out... they have passed their driving skills and the pre trip but have failed on numerous attempts at backing. These people have no clue how to back a truck, they cannot straight line, offset and trust me 90's are completely out of the question... As long as the instructor is walking beside the truck telling them, turn left, turn right, they can put the trailer into any hole. When the instructor steps away and they try it themselves, I have witnessed them completely jackknife a truck while trying to straight back... and no I'm not blaming the instructors, I have been very satisfied with the instructors at the school, they are very knowledgeable and more than willing to help. It bothers me a little that management allows these students to come on the weekends and take up my time that I paid for, when it's clear they are never going to get it. It also scares me to think that these could be future truckers of America. Sorry to complain, just needed to get that off my chest...

Rick, I love backing my rig, in fact I will go in truck stops and just practice it at different angles for the experience and exposure to all the little nuances of it. But I've got to tell you, since you are just starting out, it's a whole new game out there in the field when people are honking at you and flipping you the bird because you are holding them up, or when the super truckers are critiquing your every move at the truck stop on the radio for everyone to hear.

You will find yourself in situations so tight that you'll be sweating bullets trying to get your truck in the available hole. Backing is one of those things that it takes some folks longer to get the hang of than others, but it doesn't make them any less proficient at it than their peers after some time has gone by.

When it comes to backing it's best to always stay humble, because the trucking gods have a way of stripping us of our pride just when we are starting to get confident that we've got the hang of this stuff.

Rick, I love backing my rig, in fact I will go in truck stops and just practice it at different angles for the experience and exposure to all the little nuances of it. But I've got to tell you, since you are just starting out, it's a whole new game out there in the field when people are honking at you and flipping you the bird because you are holding them up, or when the super truckers are critiquing your every move at the truck stop on the radio for everyone to hear.

You will find yourself in situations so tight that you'll be sweating bullets trying to get your truck in the available hole. Backing is one of those things that it takes some folks longer to get the hang of than others, but it doesn't make them any less proficient at it than their peers after some time has gone by.

When it comes to backing it's best to always stay humble, because the trucking gods have a way of stripping us of our pride just when we are starting to get confident that we've got the hang of this stuff.

Don't you love when a van driver with the tandems together starts mocking you on the CB about why don't you cut it sharper. And you're pulling 10'2 splits. I love it.

On the other note. This is how I back. I stop at the spot I want to back into. I visually inspected it over about 10 seconds. Make sure there is enough room first. Now are there any objects that may put a hole in my tire. then I visualize my setup. I mentally set marker points in my route and use them as a guide line on when to turn which way.

Also I drive a flatbed 10'2 split. So my way may not work for other tandem setups. maybe it's just a one man worker kinda of thing. That's just how I do it. and trust me. There WILL be days when you are a one shot wonder. and then you're so mentally exhausted that you can back up a four wheeler into a football field sized hole. Be patient, don't get frustrated or angry. stay calm and focused, Turn off your CB. set goals and over come them. It doesn't matter if it takes you 10 seconds or 10 minutes. If you got into that hole without hitting anything or losing your cool. You win. Let the CB God fresh out of CDL school try and be super trucker. remember, they don't last long in this industry.

Guys, I know everyone learns at their own pace. It's always been easy for me to pick things up. I have previous driving experience, I went to truck driving school back in the early 80's, then a DWI in my personal vehicle put an end to my driving career. Now my driving record is clean for 20+ years I'm ready to go at it again. I guess I just get aggravated when they seem to not care if they learn it or not. One of them made the comment to me, I just want to pass, the Trucking Co. I go to work for will train me. I sincerely hope he paid attention to me when I told him, if you get invited to orientation and you can't straight back a truck, you are done, you're going home...Simple as that, end of story...