Backing Skills From A Veteran Driver & CDL Instructor
Topic 5818 | Page 1
Where were you when i was learning backing! For a 90 back, into wasn't until i met my trainer that i was shown an easier way to do it. As close as i can to the spot on my left. Scare the mirrors he would say lol. Once my drive wheels are on the center of my spot, stop and turn hard right go until the tractor is facing straight forward. Ignore the mirrors, only through the windshield. Then stop, turn hard left, forward until the tractor is straight. Again. Ignore the mirrors (for all intensive purpose. Of course watch for unexpected things). If you follow GOAL you will see that your rear end is perfect. Keep the wheels straight and start backing, adjust as you need and bam, your good. One pull up to straighten out and your parked. Terrific!
Trying to keep it straight in my head. Thnx Jon R. Not dissin your advice Andy.
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Hi every one , I've posted here a few times now , & in my 34 year career I pulled everything from single trailers to tripples . and when allowed in the 80's in Nevada "quad's w/ special permit's .. 150 ft' .. after a few injuries I tried the instruction thing w/ good results ( sage tech . caldwell id. for 5 yrs ) ,,the backing skills for newbies was a new thing to get used to learn ,,I found a trick though "I'll explain "
all landing gears on trailers are set 10 feet back on ALL trailers " to get your first jack knife cut weither in your parallell park OR off set you don't want to go past a 45 degree cut ,"either side ,,once you see the MIDDLE part of landing gear (@ the center of the X) in the west coast mirror you have a 45 degree cut "if you measure the angle of the tractor & trailer ) ..then "immediately "you start chasing the trailer ,, then once your trailer tandems OR rear of trailer is at the the first set of cones for off set or Parallel park you do OPPOSITE cut the loos for that same spot on other mirror .. then and correct ,,you are allowed 2 pull ups in all states to correct . and back into off set or parallel park ...you must do the parallel or alley dock ...your choice or examiners choice ,, and you must do off set either side "THE BLIND SIDE IS EASIER " ..and straight back " never correct the steering wheel more that 1/4 turn ...to correct trailer drift ,,"you can back for LONG distances with that manuver " I've done it " over a 1/2 mile once ....and setting up tripple trailer sets & dollies ...pulled them for 10 yrs line haul " and ran a pole yard / contracted to idaho power & crane licensed .
on alley dock you have to hold cut to a 60 degree then start chasing , the turn it into a 45 degree w/ 2 pull ups ( allowed )
this 45 degree landing gear method will work ( all landing gears are set 10 feet back from nose of trailer CHECK IT OUT ! even on 28 /30 / 40/ 45 ft trailers ...
I taught all 200 students from 2010 when new standards became until 2011 until I resigned from sage ,, I taught this approach to 500 students on original approach from 2006 to 2010 for backing skills till the states changed backing skills . to offset /parallel ..and choice of
then I taught at another school in caldwell Id . same approach to students & newbie instructors for another year ,, I was managing instructor at the other school until the school owner MIS managed money & closed school ...
I will post more ..if any one needs other info ,ask be safe out there !
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".
Line Haul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.