H...e...l...p...feeling Small And Pitiful.

What a hot, sweaty, and frustrating morning on the driving range it was for me. My instructor is frustrated with me, as well. The backing maneuvers are not going well. He has exhausted all his tips and still I often fail to find straight/center of the front wheels and can manage to jack the combination into all sorts of unpleasant shapes. My brain was so fried this morning that I couldn't even tell right from left. I don't seem to be getting the "feel" or the "hang" of the backing maneuvers. I am following the printed instructions but cannot even "see" the travel of the tractor/trailer combination in my mind. I'm telling myself that millions of people have learned to do this. Surely I can't be the ONE that cannot learn these backing maneuvers. On the positive side I can double-clutch pretty well and I have the Pre-Trip nailed. Careful reading of this site has shown me that many students face dark days such as this. My instructor suggested I borrow a non-commercial truck/trailer set-up from a friend and practice, practice, practice. He must be able to tell that I have never backed anything else before! Sympathy? Condolences? Should I consider yet another career change?

What a hot, sweaty, and frustrating morning on the driving range it was for me. My instructor is frustrated with me, as well. The backing maneuvers are not going well. He has exhausted all his tips and still I often fail to find straight/center of the front wheels and can manage to jack the combination into all sorts of unpleasant shapes. My brain was so fried this morning that I couldn't even tell right from left. I don't seem to be getting the "feel" or the "hang" of the backing maneuvers. I am following the printed instructions but cannot even "see" the travel of the tractor/trailer combination in my mind. I'm telling myself that millions of people have learned to do this. Surely I can't be the ONE that cannot learn these backing maneuvers. On the positive side I can double-clutch pretty well and I have the Pre-Trip nailed. Careful reading of this site has shown me that many students face dark days such as this. My instructor suggested I borrow a non-commercial truck/trailer set-up from a friend and practice, practice, practice. He must be able to tell that I have never backed anything else before! Sympathy? Condolences? Should I consider yet another career change?

How about empathy? I truly understand and I may be able to offer some direction for you. First, I know you can do something else confidently and well. Right? Think about that thing you can do that way as you start backing. Then shift your attention to the trailer and remember, you can drive it just like that thing you do well.

When I started on the backing range I bothered some of the other students because I would stop at various points, apply the tractor parking brake, and get out. I'd walk to the back of the trailer and look, then I'd walk out away from the truck on the side and look, and I'd do it anytime I didn't understand why the trailer wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. One student, who was real character-builder for me personally, even made the statement that I was taking up "his backing time"! What? I paid for the training just like him and I was determined to get my money's worth! Anyway, I found this helped me get a picture in my mind of what the turn looked like from the outside. And when I was watching the other students, I'd imagine what I'd be doing if I were there driving.

One of the books that I read during my training had a simple statement buried in the midst of mounds of technical information that was profound. "If you see the trailer going too much one way or the other, turn your steering wheel in the direction the trailer is going."

If the trailer is going too much to the right, turn your steering wheel to the right (this will cause it to go the opposite way or left). If the trailer is going too much to the left, turn your steering wheel to the left (this will cause it to go the opposite way or right).

The biggest thing I can tell from you from my experience is, "Don't overthink any of it." When you overthink, you literally get too much chemical activity going in your brain. This physiologically can cause the release of chemicals in your body which control heart rate, breathing, eyesight, and even your perception. Keep it simple.

And one other thing, if you are in the tractor with other students and they are trying to tell you how to do it - tell them to be please keep quiet while you are in the driver seat. You have to learn how to it the way that works for you.

If you are unsure at any time about what is happening with the trailer, stop, apply the brake, get out of the tractor, walk all around the entire truck, and look at it. Consider how the drive wheels are turned, how the trailer is turning at the kingpin, where the cones are, etc. Then, take a deep breath (a fresh influx of oxygen will clear your thoughts), remember that thing you do well, get back into the cab, and drive that trailer where you want it to go!

You operate the tractor, but in reality you are always driving the trailer.

I hope that helps. May your backing improve greatly!

ClassA, Thank you for the kind and spot-on advice. I HAVE been afraid of irritating the instructor by getting out of the cab and looking at the positioning of the combination at each step of the backing maneuvers. I have wished that I was a bird so I could fly over and get an aerial view. And yes, he has instructed me a hundred times to stop "overthinking" this. Yet, I am to concentrate. My brain is a hot, chemical soup and yes, it must be affecting my ability to perceive what I am looking at. I must also be directionally challenged. A tattoo of L and R on the back of my hands, maybe? At least I'm smiling again. You rock.

ClassA, Thank you for the kind and spot-on advice. I HAVE been afraid of irritating the instructor by getting out of the cab and looking at the positioning of the combination at each step of the backing maneuvers. I have wished that I was a bird so I could fly over and get an aerial view. And yes, he has instructed me a hundred times to stop "overthinking" this. Yet, I am to concentrate. My brain is a hot, chemical soup and yes, it must be affecting my ability to perceive what I am looking at. I must also be directionally challenged. A tattoo of L and R on the back of my hands, maybe? At least I'm smiling again. You rock.

Make the most of every moment. Tell the instructor you'd like to get out and look! Chances are they understand your position, but may be looking for you to tell them what you need. I say that respectfully in regards to instructors mind you. But let's be real ... they are just people. However you do it, just please make the most of every opportunity you have.

Opportunity is like time in a way. One moment it is present, then it is past, and it may or may not come in the future. It seems the older I get, the more I can appreciate opportunity. Not only that, but the more I can recognize it when it comes, when it is past, and when it will be possibly coming again. Yet, we must understand that once some opportunities are gone they will not return again. It is simply not possible. Think about it. Did you ever miss an opportunity that you know can never come again? Sure. We all can. That is because opportunity runs alongside time. Have you ever wished you could go back in time for some of those opportunities again?

This could easily become a philosophical rant couldn't it?

Make the most of every opportunity you have to learn while in training. Consider some of the situations below.

Time - You are out in the truck with the instructor and another student is driving. Pay attention to what you can see in the mirrors. Opportunity - There are two opportunities here. 1) You can watch how the trailer responds to what the driver is doing while turning corners and going around curves. Think about how you would do it if you were driving. 2) Or you can do something else rather than pay attention to the drive.

Remember you are in school to learn. Right?

Time - The other students are all standing around a truck talking about whatever while seeming to be performing pre-trip inspections and you notice no one else is in the Offset Backing truck or the Straight Back truck or the 90-degree Backing truck. Opportunity - You can do one of two things. 1) If the instructor says it is ok, go get in one of them and start learning the skill. 2) Or if no one else in the cab of a parked truck, get in it and go over the in-cab inspection, or get familiar with how the seat adjusts and is best for you to be able to reach everything, etc.

Make the most of your time in the truck!

Time - CDL test day with the DOL examiner arrives and it's your turn. The examiner gets your information (license, medical card, etc.) and gets the Skills Test Results sheet ready. Next you are given an overview of what the test will consist of and asked if you have any questions. Then the testing begins: Pre-trip Inspection (Checking), Skills Test (Backing), and Road Test (Driving). Opportunity - This is where what you learned or not while you were in school will give you one of two opportunities. 1) To successfully pass these tests and receive your CDL. 2) Or to spend the $100.00 for another Skills Test Results sheet and prepare to not make the same mistakes when you take the test(s) again.

See? Either way it's time with an opportunity!

Every moment of time that we experience in life is an opportunity for something!

One thing that helped me was a toy tractor trailer. With that I could turn the tractor and see how the trailer reacted.

Another thing I learned this week, was don't hesitate. Once you hesitate you second guess yourself and start to over think everything.

As for finding straight on the steer, turn full lock one way then two and a half turns back and that should be center.

This only works stopped, doing this while backing will jack you up big.

Thanks, guys, for the support and suggestions. I am so fortunate in that I have almost one-on-one drive time with the instructor. He's concerned that it is taking me longer to learn the maneuvers and that I am behind on their schedule. I offered to pay extra for extra time. (Over and above the $5000 tuition - sheesh...)

Truckers make the BEST philosophers. I love the time/opportunity angle. At age 56 myself, my instructor suggested maybe my "blanket" was a little hole-y. But I refuse to even contemplate that. It's amazing and painful to learn a skill that one is not naturally talented for. My natural talent is for teaching, but after 20 years in a public high school classroom, I am burnt out. My dream job has turned into a nightmare. So, after missing my OTR husband for many years now, this is my new challenge. And classA, you are correct. Some opportunities are in place momentarily, and then disappear. I feel that this endeavor is exactly that.

Thanks, guys, for the support and suggestions. I am so fortunate in that I have almost one-on-one drive time with the instructor. He's concerned that it is taking me longer to learn the maneuvers and that I am behind on their schedule. I offered to pay extra for extra time. (Over and above the $5000 tuition - sheesh...)

Truckers make the BEST philosophers. I love the time/opportunity angle. At age 56 myself, my instructor suggested maybe my "blanket" was a little hole-y. But I refuse to even contemplate that. It's amazing and painful to learn a skill that one is not naturally talented for. My natural talent is for teaching, but after 20 years in a public high school classroom, I am burnt out. My dream job has turned into a nightmare. So, after missing my OTR husband for many years now, this is my new challenge. And classA, you are correct. Some opportunities are in place momentarily, and then disappear. I feel that this endeavor is exactly that.

A couple of techniques that have seemed to make good sense for backing: A Knight instructor mentioned information similar to classA's post above while demonstrating backing technique - while looking in your mirrors, steer towards the problem. So if using the driver side mirrors and the trailer is getting too close, turn your steering wheel to the right ... steer towards the problem. Another driver video made reference to using your hand to illustrate what will happen. Make a fist, extend your thumb & pinkie fingers with your thumb at 12 o'clock and pinkie at 6 o'clock position. The thumb represents the steering wheel and the pinkie represents the direction your trailer will move. So, if you rotate your hand clockwise so that your thumb rotates to the 2 o'clock position, the pinkie (trailer) will be moving to the left. Conversely, if your rotate your hand counterclockwise so that your thumb rotates to the 10 o'clock position, your pinkie (trailer) will move to the right. Just a subtle way to visualize which way the trailer is going to move based on moving the steering wheel right of left. I know for me, I'm way more visual and what some would ridicule, I find particularly helpful.

Disclaimer: I'm a trucker wannabe who sympathizes with the plight of the modern day trucker and who pays a deep respect for the profession and what it means to the American way of life.

I wish you the best of luck and can't wait to read your post when "it all just clicks" and it will. Stay safe and happy trucking!

Monica, classA has very good advise. The thing about getting a toy semi is 1000% right. You will be amazed at the improvement in your understanding of backing situations. (Remember to move/turn the cab in a realistic manner.) Walmart has a good series, die cast, 11" long for about $13. Get one.

The thing about turning the steering the tractor towards the "problem" will straighten out the tractor-trailer combination. Most of the time that's what you want to do. This will keep your straight line back up just the way you want it - straight!

Frustration is a fact of life on the range. If you can, as you practice, just focus through the frustration and take care of the task at hand.

Good luck!

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and support. It really means a lot to me. This is a caring community.

Patty and I each bought trucks at Love's and practiced the maneuvers over and over again. Every night we spent time getting them drilled into our heads. Eventually it began to sink in. Good luck.