A year in and I still can’t do a 90 degree back for the life of me. Any tips?
Posted by StonkAccount@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 38 comments
Like the title says I’m a year in, things usually go pretty smoothly for me and I’m not losing my mind yet. I usually have no problems with a normal 45 but when there’s not enough room for that I really struggle. I just had to back in a really tight spot and couldn’t even get it in with the help of a spotter. The only reason I was able to get it in eventually was because he left which gave me more room.
I’m usually fine with backing even when there’s very little room between the trailers, but when there’s no room in front of the spot it’s always a disaster. I’m still learning a lot every day but this one is a big hurdle. Anyone got some advice?
Riiakess@reddit
Sliding the tandems to the rear made it easy as pie for me. I struggled for 6 months before that was explained, and it's been smooth sailing since that point. You know where the end of your trailer is, because it's right where your tires are. You can hug close to the visible obstacle on the driver's side, without worrying you're hanging too far over. If I have a load and need to slide at a truck stop to park, I circle the hole I need to slide the pin back to with a soap stone marker/stick. Chalk works for that as well, but soap stone doesn't create chalk dust.
acd2002@reddit
Work on a dollar general account
justdan76@reddit
Watch the trailer tires. See the path they need to take, and keep them on it.
mikeyBchubbs@reddit
Couldn't have said it better.
No_Strain794@reddit
Backing simplified into 16 words. Yessir, driver.
Mistermeena@reddit
I had probably had my driver's licence for 3 or 4 weeks when my dad made me drive him to pick up a long car trailer from his mate to help my sister move her furniture. Driving there was fine, but she lived on a hill and her driveway was off a street full of parked cars and like 15m downhill with narrow retaining walls each side.
He gave me almost no instruction other than: stop here, pull forward until the trailer straightens. he was super calm but I was sweating bullets, and neighbour dads were wandering out to watch. The first 5 or 10 metres took forever, but I got a little further back with each correction. We got to the bottom and he says Great. Now angle it towards the front door so we don't have to carry the stuff too far Stern nods of approval from the neighbours.
I always think about that when I'm backing my rig down some bullshit driveway with busted-ass gutters hanging off from other trucks hitting them.
So I guess my advice is: it takes as long as it takes
corpseofhope@reddit
Picture your trailer as an arrow. The point being the back of the trailer. You can’t just drag that point… you have to move it from the front of the arrow. That’s one point but the biggest is the set up. If I’m rolling up drivers side I get as close to the spot or trailers in front as possible… then when my tractor drive tires clear the spot I’m going into THEN I cut right as hard as possible and get it straight then “pre angle” left. So the tractor is already angled left ready to start my trailers LEFT turn into the spot. I back up imagining my arrow and me backing the tractor as a tool to help the front of that arrow.
Dense-Ad-7590@reddit
When having to 90 degree back with little room, avoid lining up too close to the trailers next to you, and avoid lining up too close to the obstacle across from the parking spots. If u line up too close to the trailers in front of you, you won't have the room to create the angle necessary to get the trailer in. If too close to the obstacle across from the spot like you're trying to set up for a 45, you won't have the space to get the truck back in front of the trailer and you run the risk if running your truck into whatever is in front of the spot. I try to line up with 30% of the space to the left of me, and. 60% to the right. Gives just enough space for the right angle, and enough space to chase the truck back in front of the trailer. The big secret is to pull way the fuck past your spot. Like legit the ass end of your trailer 2-3 spots past your dock. Then reverse slowly, using small steering movements. I put my hand at 12 o clock. And steer no more than 3 o clock, and hold that angle and you'll see the trailer ease it's way into the spot, you want the ass end of your trailer as close to parrallel with the dock, and as close to the truck on your inside as youre comfortable with. If you didnt get the angle right and you're going into the truck past your spot, crank the wheel all the way left, and go forward a bit to make the angle steeper. Id you over turned and are going to miss your spot with the truck closer to you, forward with the wheel to the right to reduce the angle with the trailer. This part takes some getting used to, you'll feel like you're Austin Powers-ing yourself, but those small adjustments are the key to it. -sincerely, A regular at Ralph's in Compton. Iykyk
takarta@reddit
Try watching the line on the blacktopand coordinating tour drives with your rears. It's easier to make everything line up that way, at least it was for me, I was never that great at S backs, even after 13 years. Now give me something weird like I have to cross traffic do a backwards switchback around a telephone pole and align the cab at like 70 degrees against a fence that's too close and I'll nail it every time lol
takarta@reddit
*Blacktop
ElMeroCeltibero@reddit
Experiment with finding the right distance past the slot you need to go. Your trailer should be 1-2 spots past the spot you're aiming for. When you start, steer hard right until your drive tires are slightly past your landing gear. Pause and move your steering wheel hard left, but then move it one rotation to the right before continuing the back. Hold it there for a second, then start adjusting the wheel based on where your trailer is in relation to the hole. I normally don't get it in perfectly, but as long as it's good enough you can back up as much into the hole as you can, pull up and then you're good.
LadyTrucker23@reddit
Take your time and roll the window down.
Some_Ad934@reddit
2 months in, I had to do a 90-degree backup , idk how tf I made it . Came back to the same place 7 months later ,1 hour of trying, and still couldn't make . Sometimes, you just get lucky .
Savagemocha@reddit
Watch your tires not your trailer. The only time you should be looking at the end of your trailer is when your straight and pulling away from a dock. Also during GOAL
Scooter-20001@reddit
Practice patience practice.
TheBuddha777@reddit
You're probably coming in from a steeper angle than you realize and you end up trying to twist the trailer into the spot. You need to back straight in; in other words do all (or the vast majority) of your pivoting in front of the spot. By the time you enter the spot you should be pretty straight.
Something like this: choose a place on the ground in front of the parking spot where your tandems can safely pivot; where the tandems are far enough away from the adjacent trailers that you won't hit them with the trailer overhang as you spin. Once you start to spin the trailer it's a matter of experience to know when to start straightening out so you end up pointing straight into the spot. But remember, you'd rather over-spin than under-spin. Over-spin means you're fixing to hit the trailer in your visible side but that's okay because you can see it and stop in time. You can fix the over-spin easily with a short pullup. But if you under-spin you will hit the trailer in your blind side and won't know until you hit it.
Anyway it's tough to explain and everyone has their own methods. I encourage you to really analyze what went wrong and notice patterns. I think a lot of drivers just kinda back on vibes and they never master the skill.
hiplainsdriftless@reddit
It’s a lot like what Kevin Costner says to Tim Robbin’s in Bull Durham don’t think just back.
Defiant_Network_3069@reddit
20+ years and still have a very hard time doing them. Luckily I don't need to do them but once or twice a year.
MikeMcAwesome91@reddit
If you cant do it right, then make sure you try something different next time. Dont try to do it the same way over and over and expect different results. Search YouTube for tutorials, ask chatGPT, anything other than trying the same thing over and over.
HipKat2000@reddit
Pretend you're sitting in the end of the trailer and drive it in to the spot
RoseKlingel@reddit
Do you slide your tandems all the way to the back? I find that this helps me back. I can't explain the difference or what's going on but it seems easier to control, almost slower and more deliberate. Although other times I enjoy backing w/the tandems all the way to the front. Idk. Depends on the amount of space I guess.
Nero8762@reddit
The trlr takes longer to respond the farther back the tandems are. Do yes it responds to your input slower.
RoseKlingel@reddit
Ty I knew someone else would understand what I meant!!
karrimycele@reddit
It took me three years to get completely comfortable backing. Avoid difficult spots like that. Eventually, you’ll develop your proprioception.
truckinfarmer379@reddit
It just takes practice. It’s one of those things that can’t really be taught, as every backing situation will be set up slightly different. With time, you’ll get it down!
Tasty_Explorer_6910@reddit
Slide the tandems to the rear
delightful_punch92@reddit
I got lucky for a while my first few trips were between nowhere eastern Montana and Iowa (going through South Dakota) there’s a loves there in kimball SD that’s always empty in the middle of the day go some place like that and back into 3 or 4 spots no harm in practicing but best to do it when it’s not busy
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
Like others said backing can’t be taught. You need to practice, and watch others. All else in trucking can be taught.
No_Teaching_8273@reddit
8 years in 0 90 degree turns done don't feel Bad
B-buckleboots@reddit
Work for another year! Fail enough times at something, and eventually, you'll figure it out, lol!
That's all the re is to it really, just time in the seat and exposure to different types of maneuvers. Becoming familiar with how your equipment equipment reacts to input and knowing what NOT to do. Just comes with time and experience.
Guilty-Tale-6123@reddit
For me, I had to watch my trailer tires. Once I got a route that required a split axle, that really helped me out, I'm not sure why but that just made it all click in my head
ConsistentRegion6184@reddit
Something that might help is watching others make good backups (I guess the bad ones too), since you've got some of the experience behind the wheel to see what they do.
I know it was really helpful for me to see a P&D driver once bring the tractor into almost a jack knife and out (in one motion like sawing in then out). It really helped understand that a lot bend but with a very short amount of time is often very effective.
I'm not sure if that may help (I did beverage 3 years so shorter combinations). A lot of bend may be necessary but the timing has to be quick and short with decent setup. Good luck.
Frenchie1001@reddit
Years not very long to feel like you've mastered it but very many years to actually become skilled in trucking. Just keep trying and don't let the ego get in the way
Beautiful-Slice166@reddit
I havent ever had any troublenwith the 90 personally but what i recommend doing is pulling forward till the tandems are 2 truck widths past the point you need and then crank it like you mean it, adjust as needed and then leanr how to roll with the turn and jiggle that ass in there and also learn how to wiggle into the spot a few inches at a time by going back and forth, you may piss some people off, but its your cdl.
This may not make a ton of sense but its just my experience
COVFEFE-4U@reddit
Pull up as close to the spot as possible. Put your drives in the middle of the slot. Hard right until you are between a 45 and 90 degree (depending on space), then hard left until your tractor is straight. Pull forward a few feet and this should get you pretty much set up for your backing. Remember GOAL.
OrganizationNo6167@reddit
I start my back when the edge of my trailer is either in the middle of the whole next to the spot your backing in, maybe even just at the far end of that 2nd spot. Also for spacing you want to set your tractor up so there’s about 10ft of width space from you and the hole. So imagine a whole another semi next to you. Crank that sucker and hold angle right just before 90 and hold that angle until you can’t see the far right corner of a trailer on the other side of your hole, then get rid of all angle. Goal accordingly.
Its hard to tell exactly how to do it, you just have to practice a bunch and you’ll pick up on your own cues to look for, those have always worked for me and almost always it’s a 1 shot for me
WalmartSushi007@reddit
Practice bro, you will be a pro in no time!
Abucfan21@reddit
Don't sweat it.
I was two years in before I felt like I had confidence in a 45-degree back in.
The only reason I feel confident now ( 7 years in) is because I have done thousands of back-ins. ( I'm on a dedicated route).
It will come in time.