Why does my instructor not like me using my right side mirror?

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

Yes when I asked he simply said and I quote “listen to what we say and you’ll pass” so ig ima just do that

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KaleidoscopeMost7621@reddit

Just do what they say, and get your CDL. its not gonna matter when you start working anyways

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To be honest when backing sight side if you know your truck will fit in the hole you only need driver side it can be a distraction my trainer has been known to throw a pillow case on that bitch lmao tell you what tho I don't stress backing at all

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tnj4ez@reddit

Use every mirror you have, Get Out And Look (Goal) do EVERYTHING you can do to 👉Safely👈 execute your backing maneuver. Stand up to them, and flat out ask them if safety is #1 or not.

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buzzmandt@reddit

Cause he's fucking stupid? There's a mirror on both sides for a reason. Yes, you should emphasize driver side while backing driver side. But it still doesn't hurt to glance at the right every now and then. When one of my drivers rips off the passenger side door I say "you know there's a mirror over there for a fucking reason, right"?

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mxadema@reddit

I can see any reason as to why, other than "objects are closer than the appear" I was an instructor, use every available resource to get you where you need, mirrors, shadows, tire track. Even getting out and reforming the plan (may ding you a point or 2) even the hood mirrors have their moments. But im curious as to why, ask him.

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up3r@reddit

Man, people never utilize shadows like they should. I'm glad you said that. Tire tracks are your guidance system alot of times, and yet you'll see folks just fumble all over backing into a bay.

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mxadema@reddit

The angle dock with shadow and tire track is super easy. It gets you in the box and super close. That is what I tell everyone backing. Imagine a curve from your tire to the dock. That the line. Drive the trailer, not the truck.

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

Last time I asked him he said that nothing on that side matters if you line ur driver side up with the cones so I’m not really sure what else to say, they are good guys truly but I feel some of there ways of doing things could be better , I was able to do my offset backing easily while using my right side mirror a tad but ever sense they moved it I’ve been having trouble

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mxadema@reddit

In theory, he is right, "trucks get in there all the times"... but better be sure than hitting something in the real world. The only place where it really doesn't matter is backing at a dock angled driver side. Since you can't see anything on the right. (In the real world, power mirrors are fantastic)

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B_drgnthrn@reddit

Ayup. I'm a shipper/yard hustler. I have expensive pneumatic catwalks for flatbeds in the center of my bays, and free wheeling on the outsides. And if you're backing into one of the bays, and not paying attention to the right side mirror, it's not uncommon to hit it

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BackgroundDisaster43@reddit

When you are trucking you need to use your right side mirror on sight side backs. Otherwise you will hit probably hit somebodies hood while backing into a parking spot at a truck stop while you are jack knifed. If that is what the guy wants to see, just do it and get through him to get your license. Make sure you don't form a bad habit though because it won't serve you well. Unfortunately in trucking there are clueless/bad/good but with a few blind spots, teachers everywhere.

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

That’s the plan just stick it out until I get my license , I know I need to pay more attention to my driver side mirror then my passenger side but I only ever looked at it once in a while it just confuses me slightly

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MajorHymen@reddit

I’d have to see what you’re doing exactly to have a guess on what he’s having an issue with but your right side/passenger side is a big blind spot. Realistically anytime you are trying to find what’s going on over there you should just get out and look especially as a new driver when your spatial awareness isn’t as tuned. There is so much you can’t see on the blind side that he’s probably wanting you to get out and look versus trying to half guess what’s over there with what little can be seen with the mirror. If he’s not telling you to get out and look though and just says don’t use that mirror then I have no idea what his issue is.

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

Yeah they also don’t like me getting out and looking during my 3 backings so I don’t really understand what the deal is, I’m doing the straight line back, the offset and the 90 degree dock back (think that’s the name of it) I was able to do the offset really easily while using my right side mirror a tad but after they saw I was using it made me stop I’m just a bit confused is all

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trukdawg@reddit

When you test in Massachusetts the instructor I had years ago always said the CDL inspector wanted to see you use your get outs , that you were allowed to use. This is to show you are a safe driver.

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MajorHymen@reddit

Yeah I have no idea there. When in site side backing I obviously primarily pay attention to the side I’m on but occasionally check the other mirror. I don’t use it a bunch though as I know I can’t see anything anyway. Seems like an odd thing to do to a new driver though. Maybe he’s just a dick

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ArlusStal@reddit

My instructor always said “there’s nothing there for you to see”. Listen to your instructor but once you’re on the road you’ll have plenty of spots you’ll need to look out your right mirror.

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adventure_dog@reddit

im curious to the super trucker reasoning behind this myself. otherwise use your mirrors no reason not to.

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

Me and you both brother they said that as long as everything is lined up on my driver side I shouldn’t need to look at my right side mirror but my right side mirror helped me a lot on my offset

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PB174@reddit

Theoretically true, but stupid not to utilize a tool that helps with the other side

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clairered27@reddit

Use your mirrors don't use the bottom portions as it stretches a bit so it makes things harder. Hell if your in a day cab use the back window as well if you need too.

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BL24L@reddit

The trucks I trained on for cdl had the passenger mirror removed.

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t_bags4evr@reddit

From the outside looking in, hard to know with no details on your backing or having been there to see it. With that said, it sounds outrageous, your mirrors are there for a reason. Hell, when i took the drive test, was told ya have to hit a minimum amount of checking your mirrors (a-lot). Best advice is to ask your instructor why.

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12InchPickle@reddit

My instructor told me not to use the fender mirrors. It’s “cheating”. No fuck face it’s called utilizing everything you have at your disposal to see who tf is next to you.

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Impressive_Yak8795@reddit

The reason is simple and it’s wild that nobody has told you why. This is probably why so many drivers take thirty minutes to back in at a shipper. The reason is because if you’re making adjustments based on both mirrors while backing then you’re constantly over correcting your movements. Essentially backing in a S movement. Focus on one mirror for your back, and only glance at the other to verify you aren’t going to hit something. Your instructor is likely watching you over correcting the truck based off of what mirror you just looked at. However he’s not explaining to you what you’re actually doing. He’s simply just telling you to focus one mirror.

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syscoman@reddit

Using your right mirror to Alley dock or C-side maneuver as some call it🤔🤔🤔

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Present-Ambition6309@reddit

You better be using BOTH mirrors! Get into that habit Now. Or don’t.

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form_jake@reddit

they are trying to help you pass the test, in the real world you get out as often as you want use every available resource. as far as your actual test goes however its best to just setup and back like a robot going through a checklist of markers and signals to look for all youre trying to do right now is pass the test actual training is what you get when your out on the road backing into docks just listen to your instructor and get your cdl

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NotReqd@reddit

Those who can't do, teach.

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Captain_Wag@reddit

The guy is an idiot imo. You should be using all your mirrors no matter what maneuver you're doing. Why not use all the information you can get?

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Beginning-World-1235@reddit

My instructor did the same thing. I just used the right side to make sure I didn’t hit anything, I think the the left one is good to use to see which way the trailer is going and makes it easier when your starting out

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stevenmacarthur@reddit

"Why does my instructor not like me using my right side mirror?" For the same reason he walked uphill (both ways) to school every day, in a blizzard: "Weellll, back in MY day..." He probably laments the discontinuation of chain-drive vehicles too, right?

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DaddyTree334@reddit (OP)

This made me chuckle lmao, it’s just seems pointless to not use one of my mirrors when it helped me greatly on my offset, at first when he said not to use it it was like okay I’ll try to pay more attention to my driver side but then he moved the mirror entirely making it impossible to use at all like bro what

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IBurnChurches@reddit

Because they're all driver side backs. If you're looking at the passenger mirror you aren't looking at the driver mirror. The lines should be parallel so if you're good on one side you should be good on the other side. Now in the real world you should be checking both mirrors any time the truck is moving backwards and the lines usually aren't parallel, but in class do it how they want you to do it.

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SuccessAutomatic6726@reddit

Technically what they say is true, but…… That’s a good way to hit something on your blind side, or have some idiot walk/drive into your blind side area.

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trukdawg@reddit

They're crazy because the person who gives you, your driving and maneuver test is going to want you to only use your mirrors.

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