Backing DOES Get Easier

Topic 33445 | Page 1

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Deleted Account's Comment
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As a new or prospective driver many times their biggest worry is backing. This week I hit a dock I was pretty proud of myself for. Several drivers I talked to told me how much of a PITA it is but I managed to hit it on my first shot (then pulled up to open doors). Admittedly, I did get my tandems close to the fire hydrant to make sure I cleared the telephone pole on my blindside.

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Tandems:

Tandem Axles

A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".

Tandem:

Tandem Axles

A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Deleted Account's Comment
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Oops! Submitted that too soon

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I do have over 5 years experience, but when I started it took me a couple days to do a straight back. I couldn't wrap my head around moving the steering wheel the opposite way. I contemplated giving up in school and going back to warehouse work. I'm extremely glad I didn't. Don't be intimidated by backing. It takes time but you will get it.

The owner even told me I did a great job. There's been numerous times (not necessarily our drivers) he's needed to load the pallets on his box truck, go onto the street and back into the back of the semi to get them loaded because they couldn't get it. I'm not perfect and still have days I struggle such as a dock yesterday. I just want to show you that you CAN do this.

BMI:

Body mass index (BMI)

BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:

  • Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
  • Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit

It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.

Banks's Comment
member avatar

You absolutely get better with time, but I still have days where I'm hoping nobody saw that rofl-1.gif

The biggest hurdle I see new drivers having is the idea that pulling up is shameful. It's easier to fix it going forward than it is going backwards. They try to fix it backing up with wild steering and most of the time it ends up bad.

Zen Joker 's Comment
member avatar

Great point guys! I can still remember the incredible amount of anxiety I had going through CDL school for backing. Now it’s not a question of can I do this, it’s how will I get it in there?

Yesterday, on my way back home. I had to blindside back into an angle spot during a downpour and I was like whatever we’ll just take our time and get it done. For all the new drivers and prospective truck drivers this does eventually come with repetition. Repetition is the mother of all skills.

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CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Davy A.'s Comment
member avatar

Nice backs. It definitely does get easier. I still have my days where I sure hope nobody saw it too, I feel as awkward as the first time. I still just laugh it off. Most days though, I can put it right where I want it safely.

This was the pepsi plant in downtown Portland, one of the more difficult places I go, especially in afternoon traffic. Covered dock, staging is in the center lane. Ironically google maps got a knight truck that's a next gen KW, the Google maps screen shot isnt me, but it's the same back.

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Dan67's Comment
member avatar

The more backing you do the easier it gets. Being a local guy, I am on 3~5 trailers a day. While the road drivers use 3~5 a week. I've heard from several of our customers say they see experienced drivers struggle to back and then they see me come by and just back it in. It's a skill, the more you do it the easier it gets. The right setup and tandem position can make or brake a back up too. Still to this day it is important to GOAL. The best backing job is the one you don't hit anything or anyone.

Tandem:

Tandem Axles

A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".

Zen Joker 's Comment
member avatar

Below is the most important comment in this entire post 🥇

Still to this day it is important to GOAL. The best backing job is the one you don't hit anything or anyone.

Pianoman's Comment
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Rob you’ve gotten really good at local and it shows. I remember another thread recently you said you drove over 600 miles and did like 12-15 stops (sorry if it was more than that) in one day and I almost spit my drink out because that’s just insane. I’ve only hit over 600 miles in one day only once doing strictly local work and I only did like 5 stops I want to say. Granted my stops took a while because I have to wait for the trailer to unload but that’s a far cry from how many stops you did.

I know it’s hard because you’re obviously very busy at your job but it would be awesome to see more posts just showing some of the stops you deliver at or just sharing some of your typical days. We have a lot of representation of OTR driving but I think it would be really helpful for new guys and gals seeing what local is really like from someone like you. Even at my current job where we hire only experienced drivers I have to let new hires know just how tough local is during our busy season.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Deleted Account's Comment
member avatar
Rob you’ve gotten really good at local and it shows. I remember another thread recently you said you drove over 600 miles and did like 12-15 stops (sorry if it was more than that) in one day and I almost spit my drink out because that’s just insane. I’ve only hit over 600 miles in one day only once doing strictly local work and I only did like 5 stops I want to say. Granted my stops took a while because I have to wait for the trailer to unload but that’s a far cry from how many stops you did.

We have something like 300 Grocery stores, not Including gas stations, that we deliver to in primarily a 300 mile radius of Des Moines. There's a few outliers but we can easily hit Minneapolis, Madison, Kansas City, Omaha/Lincoln, Bloomington and Springfield Illinois and make it back daily. Last week I drove 2200 miles with 38 stops in 5 days / 60 hours which puts me around $2600 for the week. Tomorrow's a pretty laid back day with 11 stops, 8 of which are gas stations using a liftgate trailer with only 95 miles total. My 2nd trailer is an LTL delivery at Sysco (so probably 3 hours for 1 pallet) and a pickup next door that shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. I'll get to sleep in and start my day around 4am and still be done by 1pm. I planned to take a 13 stop 605 mile flower load tomorrow but someone 3 spots above me in seniority snagged it.

I actually have a diary covering my current gig though i haven't too much lately. Grocery stores and then the other over 5 years ago of Food service when i got started

LTL:

Less Than Truckload

Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.

LTL carriers include:

  • FedEx Freight
  • Con-way
  • YRC Freight
  • UPS
  • Old Dominion
  • Estes
  • Yellow-Roadway
  • ABF Freight
  • R+L Carrier
Bobcat_Bob's Comment
member avatar
Tomorrow's a pretty laid back day with 11 stops

And I get upset when I have to stop at another terminal or two on my way back home.

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

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