How To Get The Right Mindset?

Like Pianoman said, the set up is very important. How do you determine the right set up? You gotta get out there and practice, man.

Find a lot with open space and nobody watching. For my first year or so, I carried 2 small traffic cones with me. I would use the cones to designate a spot, then practice backing into it. 45 degree back, 90 degree back. The key is to establish “reference points” that make a successful set up “repeatable”. Setting up for a 45, for example, do you want to be 3’ out in front or 6’ out? Do you want to be one space ahead when you start your right turn, or do you want to be two spaces ahead? Each driver has their own criteria. The key is what works for you and what works for you is determined by practice.

In my memory, the most difficult backing situation I have ever encountered was at night, in the rain, and a very tight location all around me. It took me 5 different setups to finally punch it in. Probably an hour in elapsed time. Lucky for me, I wasn’t blocking anyone. But as NaeNae wisely pointed out, I got the job done without any damage to any thing. And just to say, about 20 GOALS.

Practice, practice, practice.

Hell yeah Bruce, I still GOAL too and I’m sure we’re not the only ones

For real. The way you get the trailer in there doesn't have to look pretty as long as the end result is it's in there and nothing is broken. Even now after 13 years of trucking I still have days where I just don't have it backing but I still take my time

We have to shift people out of this mindset of what a "successful" back up looks like as well.

If the trailer is where you intended it, your equipment is undamaged, the equipment next to you is undamaged, and the doc door is intact, I'd say that's a pretty successful backing job.

One of the best comments I have read recently was from (I hope I’ remember correctly) Bill M

He doesn’t say GOAL

He says GOALS

“Get Out And Look, Stupid”

I got the biggest kick out of that!

Also, while on the topic of backing, remember that the dynamics of backing change with the position of the tandems.

But also, those dynamics change if the trailer doors are open or closed. Open trailer doors can increase the trailer width by about a foot. This is why I still prefer to get backed into a door properly and then pull straight up until I can open the doors. And if you are backing in with the doors open and have to do a pull up, you greatly increase your risk of hitting a trailer next to you.

Also, while on the topic of backing, remember that the dynamics of backing change with the position of the tandems.

But also, those dynamics change if the trailer doors are open or closed. Open trailer doors can increase the trailer width by about a foot. This is why I still prefer to get backed into a door properly and then pull straight up until I can open the doors. And if you are backing in with the doors open and have to do a pull up, you greatly increase your risk of hitting a trailer next to you.

I was backing once at a place where there was not much room at all for leeway. I was backing with the trailer doors closed and bending around the nose of a truck. Another driver wanted to get my attention, but I ignored him while I did my thing. As I do a GOAL, he is telling me that doors have to be opened at this facility. I told him that I have more room to get the trailer in the hole with the doors closed. You looked at me perplexed. I went back to getting the trailer in the hole.

BK, I have witnessed trailer doors taking off mirrors because, like you mentioned, it increases the width of the trailer. Some drivers aren't accounting for this and catch a piece of equipment in the process of maneuvering.

GOAL is never a habit to lose.

Oh, I kind of like GOALS. It reminds me of KISS in the military: Keep it simple, stupid.

I have a few places that are so tight when dropping an empty that you can't have the doors open, it won't fit, the trailers are basically touching or within a couple inches.

I'll get it in the hole, back it in to the landing gear, lower them til they are almost on the ground, then back it in the rest of the way, drop my airbags and pull out.

I have a few places that are so tight when dropping an empty that you can't have the doors open, it won't fit, the trailers are basically touching or within a couple inches.

I'll get it in the hole, back it in to the landing gear, lower them til they are almost on the ground, then back it in the rest of the way, drop my airbags and pull out.

That's tight, like really, REALLY tight.

I have seen several drivers on this forum really go through the process of developing a great “mindset”. The two who come to my mind are Davy and Ryan.

Anyone would benefit from reading through their comments to see how the progression should work.

I have a few places that are so tight when dropping an empty that you can't have the doors open, it won't fit, the trailers are basically touching or within a couple inches.

I'll get it in the hole, back it in to the landing gear, lower them til they are almost on the ground, then back it in the rest of the way, drop my airbags and pull out.

That's tight, like really, REALLY tight.

Warner ladders in Socorro Texas, occasionally for some reason the empties lot at church n Dwight south of KC and the home despot rdc in mira loma i think. It's not all the time but occasionally they'll stack the empty rows that tight

I have a few places that are so tight when dropping an empty that you can't have the doors open, it won't fit, the trailers are basically touching or within a couple inches.

I'll get it in the hole, back it in to the landing gear, lower them til they are almost on the ground, then back it in the rest of the way, drop my airbags and pull out.

That's tight, like really, REALLY tight.

Warner ladders in Socorro Texas, occasionally for some reason the empties lot at church n Dwight south of KC and the home despot rdc in mira loma i think. It's not all the time but occasionally they'll stack the empty rows that tight

There is a cardboard box maker that we pick up preloaded trailers from in Arlington, TX. They definitely don’t have enough space at their current location, so their yard drivers park the trailers in like sardines. Normally I have to get the yard driver to pull my designated trailer out so I can crank the landing gear up. The last time I was there the yard drivers were not on duty, so I had to hook up and drag the trailer ahead enough to get access to the landing gear crank (this made me very cranky).

I don’t like to do this because I worry about the landing gear legs getting damaged,.