"Okay, Let's Back Up" - The Ultimate Backing Thread

Definitely plus one for setup. The thought process of Ill fix a bad setup with maneuvering is a fail most of the time and at a minimum is risky. I dont have to be married to a bad setup.

Situations that allow only one attempt at a setup need to be well planned out ahead of time. I personally do it during my trip planning before I ever release the brakes. There is no subsitute for pre planning. Lots of street view and sat imaging recon. Especially if its somewhere Ive never been before. Ill go into it knowing the following: Route in, setup, type of back(s), waiting area, egress (exit plans) and alternative routes in and out and if possible how to come back around if I miss the setup.

I will take this advice for sure...I think calling the supplier is the key because the last dock I went to had so many danger zones (e.g. parked cars near the dock, poles, a telephone pole near the dock). I went into the situation blind. Sadly, Google Earth could not show the dock.

Call them for what? If there are poles, fences, hydrants, etc. in the way as obstacles, these will still be there along with the dock you need to get the trailer aligned with. The biggest thing is situational awareness for these places. The shipping clerk on the other end of the phone is not going to magically save some driver from a nightmare backing evolution. Training, experience, patience, and common sense will rule the day.

One little tip I'd like to add to this thread is to encourage everyone to have a magnetic flashlight in their truck....

Sooner or later you will need to either back into a dock in the dark where the yard and building are poorly lit AND/OR back into a garage door sized opening into a very dark building with an indoor dock.

Pretty much every dock has iron on it. By placing the magnetic flashlight on the iron plate right by the driver's side edge of the dock door you will have a point to navigate to safely and and line up correctly to the dock.

Biggest thing I had to learn as a new driver is don't be afraid to get out and look.

I used to be hesitant to do that for some reason. Now i do it every single time. Usually multiple times. I was backing into a truck stop spot earlier today. Got out 3 times to see where I was on my blind side. Sometimes you're great on your driver side but you're about to hit the truck on your blindside. I always check for that.

Speed isn't important. Any time you get it on the dock and don't hit anything is a successful back. That's the most important thing, don't hit anything. Not speed or anything else.

New drivers need to let go of this idea of what a "perfect back-up" is.

A backing is successful if the following has happened:

You put the trailer where you needed it.

You didn't hit any people walking.

You didn't hit the trucks on either side of you.

You didn't tear up your own equipment.

It doesn't matter how many times you set your breaks and GOAL. It doesn't matter how many times you have to pull up. It DOES NOT MATTER if you have to go back and start again after a lousy set up.

A successful backing maneuver is one in which the truck and trailer are where you intended and needed it to be, with zero equipment damage. Period.

A successful backing maneuver is one in which the truck and trailer are where you intended and needed it to be, with zero equipment damage. Period.

Naenae couldn’t have said it better my self. Awareness of surroundings, GOAL as much as needed and more. Patience. I’m training new cdl holders in backing a 10 ft spread axle in an extended kenworth. Davey uses one of tricks I do which is always look at the location in Google maps and street view. You can get a lot of information from that.

A successful backing maneuver is one in which the truck and trailer are where you intended and needed it to be, with zero equipment damage. Period.

Naenae couldn’t have said it better my self. Awareness of surroundings, GOAL as much as needed and more. Patience. I’m training new cdl holders in backing a 10 ft spread axle in an extended kenworth. Davey uses one of tricks I do which is always look at the location in Google maps and street view. You can get a lot of information from that.

Sadly there are some docks you can't see with Google street view...I experienced that last week.

Sadly there are some docks you can't see with Google street view...I experienced that last week.

You may want to try using Google Earth to see if that offers a solution.

Sadly there are some docks you can't see with Google street view...I experienced that last week.

You may want to try using Google Earth to see if that offers a solution.

I did...no dice. :(

I did...no dice. :(

Have you tried Google Street view? Sometime you can see more with that, or try checking the "reviews" of the company on Google. Some drivers will post photos and what to expect at the place.

Google Earth is another app that works well. I use it daily to take a look at where I’m going beforehand.