Company Driver In Training.
Topic 27237 | Page 1
Well, Davantay, with what you gave us, I can only offer general advice. (I teach this stuff at a private trucking school.)
In any backing turn, your trailer will go for the inside cone every time. (On your offset that's the middle one.) If you can, pull out farther in your set up. Also, imagine your target point is about ten feet in front of the entry cones. Aim for that point and you should have enough room to make your final adjustments to get into the real cones.
Lastly, one really big mistake noobs might make is to do a pull up turning the wrong way. Suppose you are moving from the left lane to the right, and the target cone is in your left mirror. The rear of the trailer is heading for the middle cone! Pull up. If you pull up steering to the right (the common mistake) you'll mess up where the trailer is pointing It'll point back to the left lane that you came out of!
So to fix this pull up turn your steering wheel left and the trailer will better point correctly into the target lane. Before you end your pull up, turn the wheel back right still going forward a few more feet. You'll be glad you did.
You can use the Trucking Truth search too. The blank line just under the title up above is the search box. You can search on "offset" for more help.
I had allot of trouble backing when I was in PSD with Prime. For me the only way for me to get better and pass the test was Practice, Practice, Practice! Your trainer should be outside the truck and be able to identify what you are doing and try to change it. I know how frustrating it can be, trust me. Just try to get as much seat time backing as you can before your test. Each truck and trailer is a little different but know your reference points! It will help you a ton to pass the exam.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
See below Turtle's "foolproof" offset back. Harvest can tell us how well it works.
See below Turtle's "foolproof" offset back. Harvest can tell us how well it works.
YUP, though on the actual exam I kinda messed up my starting position 
But it is foolproof!
YUP, though on the actual exam I kinda messed up my starting position. But it is foolproof!
You might have got a little out of shape during the exam, but the "real world" backing we practiced in trucks stops gave you the ability to get yourself out of trouble and pass the test.
Davantay, in addition to the tips above, I'll add this:
Another common mistake that rookies make is they turn their wheel and start to back before they really know what the trailer is going to do.
When backing, STOP and think about which way you want your trailer to go before you roll. If you need your trailer to go to the left, trying to wheel to the right. If you need your trailer to go to the right, turn the wheel to the left. Always think before you move.
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Hello everybody, I’m having a major issue with my offset and alley dock I’m supposed too test Monday. And I havnt even done one of them right.
Offset. Ok my problem with off set is, once I take the trailer over I’m having problems in the cab for a trailer. My trailer always ends up going too the middle cone.
Alley dock. I simple don’t know I’ve only done it like 3 times