How To Complete The Offset Backing Maneuver For The CDL Exam (as Done In Missouri)

The set up. You will pull forward to the barrier as instructed by the examiner. He will tell you whether you are starting left and offsetting to the right, or from the right, offsetting to the left. These instructions are for offsetting to the left.

1. Turn the steering wheel hard right. Back up slowly until getting to the center of the "V" (at the edge of the mud flap). STOP.

2. Turn the steering wheel hard left. Back up slowly until the truck is aligned straight with the trailer. STOP.

3. Turn the steering wheel hard right. Back up slowly until getting to the center of the "V" (at the edge of the mud flap). STOP.

4. Turn the steering wheel hard left. Back up slowly until the truck is aligned straight with the trailer. STOP.

5. At this point you will be backing straight, looking for the target cone in your right mirror. The target cone is the front cone on the right side of the opening. Continue to back until the trailer tires are positioned such that you can clear the cone and turn the trailer into the opening. STOP.

6. Turn the steering wheel hard left and slowly push the trailer around to near straight. STOP.

7. Turn the steering wheel hard right and bring the truck around in alignment with the trailer and complete the backing into the opening, adjusting to stay inside the box until the front of the truck gets inside the box. STOP.

Obviously if you get the trailer in a position where you are not sure of how close you are to barriers, a pull up can be used to straighten it out and then have more of a straight line back into the box. And of course you have Get Out And Looks to use if needed.

8. Once you are sure you're inside the box, set the parking brake and honk the horn to let the examiner know you are done.

Just reverse the directions to offset towards the right.

I don't really understand when you say the edge of the mud flap. can you elaborate on this for me?

I don't really understand when you say the edge of the mud flap. can you elaborate on this for me?

I think he means when the outside edge of your mud flaps lines up with the V on the landing gear?

That is what he means. By HARD he means all the way to the stop on the steering. You might need to adjust it slightly for peterbilts due to turning radius differences but I can attest to this method for freightliners. I never did thank you BTW. Thanks Randall!

Youse this is an offset?

if i turn hard right backup stop, left till lined up. hard right again and back up..? I'll be turning a radius instead of offsetting.

The only other thing I can add is that it also depends on which manufacturer of trailer you have. The method he described works on Great Dane but not on Wabash and not sure on the Hyundai trailers. It also depends on where the tandems are set.

Lol i should have read it twice. i thought i ready whole thing but guess i stopped half way through.

I am a bit confused here. I am trying to learn offsetting to the left. If I steer hard right, pushing my trailer hard left, then I steer hard left to bring my tractor back in line with my trailer, if I turn my wheels hard right again, my trailer is going to go hard left, putting me way out of line with the middle cone on the second row, which is my target cone. I'm not sure if steps 3 and 4 are a mistake or what. After I line back up with my trailer, I should see my target cone, and would be steering to my left again to push my trailer right, until my tires are close to my cone, but not too close, and then bring it back right, but only enough to make minor adjustments, working my way into the hole. Please tell me if I'm misunderstanding something. Thanks!!