Hey buddie, would you back my trailer for me? Huh?

[QRTRHRS]

I was doing a trailer swap at a dedicated dock tonight. That means, I have to drop my empty, move the loaded trailer. Drop it, dock the empty then hook back up to the loaded trailer. Another truck pulls up on the street, driver runs up to me jabbering about his load. I point him in the right direction to shipping. A few minutes later, as I am finishing my swap, he comes back and asks me to back his trailer in. Says it's his first pickup and he's never docked before.



This site requires backing off the street. As such places go, not a bad site. Without malice, I tell this driver, if your going to drive the truck, your going to learn to back up. Deciding I better put my rig out of harms way, I bury it between some other trailers. The other driver pulls in headfirst like he's going to jack it around. Finding that won't work, he trys to back out. Although not without implications, I decide to help this guy.



First I had him put his four ways on then got him out and then pulled up far enough to jack it back in. He was clueless and I mean clueless. I got him jacked in almost straight on the dock and left him on his own. It took him another 30 minutes to get it halfway straight to the dock.



I don't pretend to be perfect but this clown had me wondering just how he got to be behind the wheel of 68' of truck? I honestly think he never backed up before that's how bad he was.



Within the trucking industry, you hear tales like this. There is no shortage of drivers. Rather, there is a shortage of drivers who will work for scumbag companies who will hire anyone. Scary.

 

[Eric_77]

I feel for the guy. I pull all sorts fo trailers, 28' pups, 48' slide axle, 53' slide axle then the nitemare fixed axle moving van trailers 48' and 53' then throw a 24-45' gooseneck and all the different trucks pick-ups, day cabs, sleepers, and hell I look like a newby seems like every time I go to park, seems like whenever I get to know one truck/trailer I am on another route and new truck/trailer to learn. I hate the first time I have to back one of these is after 11 hours of driving and it is pitch black and I have no reference points to work from.



But I do wonder where someone was trained that had never backed up to a dock before.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Eric, I run a mixture of single or double pups, and 45-48 or 53 vans sometimes all three types in the same day. If I have the same tractor two days in a row it's unusual. I don't have a steady route so I may not see the same place for a couple of months. I know exactly what you mean about looking like a newbie.



I did feel for the guy so like I said, I talked him through the hardest part. Besides, he stunk pretty bad, no way I was getting in his cab. But, I had to tell him which way to turn the wheel, follow it, etc. Then the curb lifted his front drive up and he would spin. He did not know what the power divider was for nor could he understand he had to goose it a bit over the curb. Once I had him off the street, he was near straight. All he had to do is look in his mirrors, make a minor correction and back up. I could not get him to use his mirrors. Another ten minutes and I am getting behind on my own schedule by now so I left him to swim a while.



I am not talking about being a little green, it was like his first day on the range at drivers school. What is somebody had hit him when I was trying to get him off the street? Where would that leave me liability wise?

 

[bighammer]

Hope he's better in the forward gears.



I've never pulled a double (love to try sometime though) but I'm very confident with a single trailer. I think my best experience gains were from driving a chipper box dump truck with an undersized chipper behind. Short wheelbase and and no way to see it until the arc was tight enough. You learn REAL QUICK about using mirrors and instincts or you stay in the street and drag a lot of lumber by hand.

 

[tpuig]

Biggest truck I've driven is a '26 moving van or a couple 5 tons in the Army, and I have trouble backing a small boat down a wide ramp. . (ok, I'm getting better)



But it never ceases to amaze me at how good some of you guys are at backing. I grew up in San Francisco, and passed a large supermarket on the way to school everyday. It was on a somewhat narrow street, and the rig had to back in at 90 degrees into a narrow loading dock. Next to a busy parking lot. On a busy street. Some guys took a couple attempts but once in a while somebody would just pull up and back in like it was the easiest thing in the world. Very impressive. With all the pedestrians and traffic, I'd have a hard putting my '03 in there.

TP

 

[Rob Thomas]

Can you get a CDL without taking a driving test for the state? Twelve years ago when I got my CDL, we had a pretty good test to pass, including paralle parking, 90* backing/docking, alley docking, ect. , not to mention driving forwards. During all the backing tests, you had to stay with-in 6" of the cones, or you were penilized. Have they done away with that?





Pete, doubles are simple enough during the normal months, toss in some snow/ice and a lack of wieght, they can be a handfull. You can keep the doubles/triples, I'll take the 48's and 53's anyday, nothing like a long trailer and a streched out Peterbilt on the tiny streets of NYC!





Rob

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

Can you get a CDL without taking a driving test for the state? Twelve years ago when I got my CDL, we had a pretty good test to pass, including paralle parking, 90* backing/docking, alley docking, ect. , not to mention driving forwards. During all the backing tests, you had to stay with-in 6" of the cones, or you were penilized. Have they done away with that?





Pete, doubles are simple enough during the normal months, toss in some snow/ice and a lack of wieght, they can be a handfull. You can keep the doubles/triples, I'll take the 48's and 53's anyday, nothing like a long trailer and a streched out Peterbilt on the tiny streets of NYC!





Rob

PA requires a road test but I think the course can vary depending on if you test out with a state policeman or a private state approved school. I was out of it for near 25 years and never had a CDL. Choosing to update my skills with a class, I took it at one that self tests. They had four backing tests. One straight, one 90 degree ending with the combo straight within cones and the DOT bumper "in the box" and two parallel ending with the combo jacked 90 degrees, once blind side and once site side within a box. I have done the six inch dock test years ago.



A couple of thoughts on doubles: Caution is the key. All situations require being alert because pups flip easily. Most doubles are on open roads, I happen to do a lot of local drop & hooks and some deliveries which take me onto city streets minimally since that is kind of a grey area. I can make a tight corner by button hooking even when a car is over the white line. No 53' will do that. Sometimes the hookups are easy and sometimes not. Jiffs (the dolly or connector) are heavy and if you have snow or uneven terrain, they can be a bear. I have never seen anyone backing two trailers more than a few feet although I hear people can. I regularly back one pup and a jiff but it takes a few shots. I see long time drivers taking a few shots and some who can't do it at all so I don't feel to bad if it takes me awhile.



Most companies around me running doubles have cracker box single axle tractors, ie; minimal creature comforts, a rough ride and they get stuck on spit. Did someone say snow?



So why do it? Well, the mostly LTL companies pay better as trucking jobs go. Other than the garbage runs I get since I do pickup and delivery, doubles are mostly for line hauling or terminal to terminal. You get paid for each of your connections/disconnections and so much a mile. Minimal waiting at your own companies terminals. Oh' and you need to get there, no sitting at the truck stop.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by QRTRHRS



Most companies around me running doubles have cracker box single axle tractors, ie; minimal creature comforts, a rough ride and they get stuck on spit. Did someone say snow?

LOL, "cracker box", IE, PRESTON TRUCKING, hehe, that was the last driving company I worked for, till they closed. They were the absolute worst trucks I've ever had the pleasure of operating. Oh yea, backing up a set of doubles for any distance takes some talent, definatly want to make sure you enter where you don't have to back up to get out, especially without power steering, thanks Preston, LOL.



I always loved it when they would run me dead head with a set from Toledo to Flint in the winter, 100+ miles of white nuckles. Or the occasional winter time slingle axle bob-tail from Toledo to Detroit, loads 'o fun.



I remember seeing multiple sets of doubles in the median every couple miles along I-90 near Erie, PA after a good snow, definatly not the place to be in the winter time.



Rob

 

[MMiller]

Hey rob;



My grandad retired from Preston in Peoria Il, just a few years before they closed. I still have many toy trucks with Preston painted on the side. He got them for all the grandkids/kids!! One time he took he to the dock when I was about 4-5. I grabbed the air horn on one in the shop, didn't know there was somebody working on it. I guess he hit his head pretty hard. I'm 27 now, have my cdl, and yes I had to back up to pass.



I drove an IH 9760 cabover hauling tractors/ combines for a while. Steel deck was terrible to drive tractors up when wet/icy(ie impossible). Drive my dad's t600 with 42' hopper everytime I get to!



Someday I want to make a run to the west coast in one of those stretch frame, flat top Pete's with matching 53' spread axle trailer, just once!



Michael

 

[JyRO]

Howdy Rob & all you fellers -



In college I worked at RPS (competitor to UPS) from 4 AM - 9 AM in Chattanooga, TN. For a long portion of that time I backed the 33' twin trailers into and out of the dock. Yes, they were broke down into singles! The driver's got paid to break'em down.



The trucks we had (we called them switch tractors) were ragged out Ottawa's. The job required two trucks that never EVER stopped moving and were always behind (WHERE ARE YOU GUYS, WE NEED AN MT IN 43!!!!) all day long. Well them fartknockers governed the trucks to 2nd gear and to some rpm (broke tach so we never knew), but they'd run about 35 mph I guess. They governed 'em because we were in such a hurry they'd catch us running around the yard with empties running like 60 mph to hurry up.



There was always driver's coming in and out and I'll admit it, it was dangerous to run fast in the yard, even with the governor.



All this to say that I became more than profficent at backing the trailer to the dock and to the fence. Me and my other guy could put it in reverse, and hit the governer in reverse all the way to the dock (no switching to D to correct). Now at first I couldn't get it in there with one try, but after a few days of getting yelling at, and the guys inside the building threatening to make me go load the trucks again, I figgered it out.



The driver's loved me. I would park the full trailers in such a way as they could easily hook to the 1st and back it straight up to the 2nd. But the absolute worst was the inconsiderate drivers that would come in and drop their trailers right in the way. I mean to tell you that we had to really pull some hair ball moves to get in and out of some areas. Once one driver dropped in a bad spot, a few more decided it would be OK too. So then we had to move their dropped trailer in between the dock yelling at us. Our hair ball moves got us yelled at by more than 1 driver (o / o's), rightfully so since they were paying for their rigs, but we had no choice (which they couldn't understand). Oh well.



All in all, it was a mess of fun, much better than loading.



My scariest time was one winter with snow/ice on the ground. They wrapped a full size chain on the drive axle tires (which de-treaded the tire in about 1 day), and we still went at it. In Chattanooga, they get more ice than snow because in the winter it will hover just above freezing during the winter days (allowing snow to melt) and just below freezing at night.



Anyway, I was pulling an empty trailer around to the other side of the building. I was at a blind corner and I was tippy-toeing on the ice. A driver popped out around the building (going the wrong way - driver's were supposed to only go counter-clockwise) and I only toched the brakes. The thing jacknifed quicker than you can say, "oh he11. " Luckily the driver's truck wasn't as big a piece of crap as the Ottawa and he was able to swerve/stop. Because he did have some good driving skill it allowed me to let off the brakes just before the trailer hit the cab and I managed to straighten it out and squeak by him and his truck. Touching the brakes again and I'd have whacked him. To this day I don't know if I came off as a dumba$$ yard boy, or "man that dude can drive. " It could've went either way. I threw away that pair of underwear and kept working.



The best thing was that me and the other guy could back up to the trailer at about a 45 degree left turn angle, and not even get out of the seat to hook the air line. Get the 5th wheel in the right spot, pin dead nut center lifting the trailer ever so slighty and the hitch would lock automatically. Once you bumped the king pin you throw it in N, hit the throttle and the 5th wheel lift while reaching back to connect the air. Revving the engine made the hydralics to lift the trailer work quicker. About the time you make the air connection, your 5th wheel height maxes out. So you give it air (hit the switch), and throw it in D at the same time, and immediately plant your foot to the floor. Usually dragging the trailer for 4 or 5 feet until the air gets to the brakes. Hooking up took about 6 to 10 seconds from the time the hitch hit the trailer until the switch tractor was grunting in D.



Yeah, yeah, I know I'm long winded, but man it was fun.



Last thing. The maiden voyage with my 33' 5'er we went to a local cow pasture of a campground. My spot was nearly impossible to get in, and most people in this campground were in tents or pop-ups (nothing wrong with that of course). I had to make a 90 degree cut into our grass spot with people on both sides and a ladder truck accross from my site with no driver in sight. People came out of the woodworks to watch the "loud Dodge truck" back the 5'er in. I got it in there on the 1st try (slowly), with my hood crossing under the ladders of the ladder truck that was slightly sticking out accross from my site. My wife even told me she was impressed after I got it in there, and wound up giving me an extra special award for my good job.



- JyRO

 

[Casey Balvert]

Hmm. My wife was never THAT impressed with my backing skills.

 

[ndurbin]

When I usto work at a welding shop we got all our pipe outta mexico since it was cheap. You want to talk about ratted out piece of junk trucks and drivers that couldn't do anything these were they guys. I watched one driver try to back his rig straight across the street into an open lot (nothing around for about a 100' across a side street) took him about 6 trys to get across the road. And he was pretty straight to begin with.



I had to back a 48' grain trailer into a tiny elevator one day. THAT WAS A MESS! You pulled onto the scale then had to pull off go back behind the elevator turn around and pull back onto the scale then back into the elevator to dump. It didn't help the elevator door only had about 6" of clearance on each side and top of the trailer.



I've lost track of how many people I've seen on boat ramps or intown that can't back their trailers.

 

[AMF]

cut it both way's and go straight back

 

[Eric_77]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

Can you get a CDL without taking a driving test for the state? Twelve years ago when I got my CDL, we had a pretty good test to pass, including paralle parking, 90* backing/docking, alley docking, ect. , not to mention driving forwards. During all the backing tests, you had to stay with-in 6" of the cones, or you were penilized. Have they done away with that?







Rob

Well depends are where you go for the test in Texas. I went initially to take test in a suburb and parking/backing was part of the test. The trailer didn't have the registration paperwork so I was unable to take test that day. I went instead to the downtown Irving license office they did not have room for more than the car parallel parking test so it was all side street forward driving never had to hit the highway even. I kinda cheated though took the test in single axle day truck with a 28' pup boy was that test easy in that. Guy told me in advance that Irving made you do a turn that was damn near impossible in 48 without hitting curb (that was a moving violation and you failed if you did) so I said give me a smallest trailer tightest turning truck to take that test.

 

[Grayhackle]

Did any of you back a semi to the dock behind the Edgewater Hotel in Laughlin Nevada? Straight back for a way then a hard turn downhill to the dock behind the hotel. I have sat and admired those guys backing into that spot. I wouldn't even want to try it as it seemed too narrow a passage to me, then bending that thing around to the dock seemed impossible.

 

[Rob Thomas]

MMiller, Yep, in the nice trucks, driving was/is better. When I first started I had a blast, and for the next several years. Then it became more like a job, with all the traffic (read: morons ) and all the cut throat companies out there, letting ANYONE get a license, oh yea, there are some horable truck drivers out there.



After 46 states, and 1,300,000+/- logged miles (slightly more on books I had to throw in the trash ) I decided to hang it up, but at times I do miss it.





Jyro, I also had the thrill of playing yard jockey for a spell, ahh, those were the days. I worked for a company in Detroit, oh yea, down town, and ran the switcher for about 6 months while the senior man was in the hospitol for a heart attach. Our yard was at an intersection, with our companies buildings on three corners, and docks right off the road, which made for and interesting day to say the least.



That was the only company I have worked for that had a switch horse that was built in this century. It was a brand new '95 (I think) Ottawa, air-ride cab, slanted roof (so it wasn't like entering a tiny cave trying to get into the cab ~ 400 times a day. The cats rear end of yard horse technology, LOL.



No real good stories, just backed in trailers, and avoided being mugged, (which was a regular occurance). We had remote control gates to enter and exit through, which made it slighly safer.



QUOTE by ndurbin

"It didn't help the elevator door only had about 6" of clearance on each side and top of the trailer. "



Yea, thats kinda tight, but you only NEED about 1/2+/-" all the way around.



When your backing into an inside dock, and have to open your swing doors prior to entry, and scrape BOTH doors on the way in, THAT's tight! NYC has loads of them. There was a place in Elmyra(sp?), NY that had an inside, angle dock, designed and built for little tiny pups, that was a weekly drop for a while for me in a 48' wide body, sucks to be low on the seniority list.



Greyhackle, never been to that place, but have been to many, many, places when the consignee said, " you can't get in there"... ... . me: "wanna bet?"



I suppose the best placees were n NYC, at the small meat packing houses, back in on the street, block the entire road, and the sidewalk on the other side of the street, until you made you drop... ... ... . I bet NYC has the highest volume of horn sales nationwide. :-laf



Rob

 

[QRTRHRS]

Sometimes, it's not backing that's a problem, it's going forward. I used to deliver steel beams to this fab shop in Baltimore. Only a shorty tractor could get into the hard left within this complex. We would go in straight keeping about 4-6 inches against the wall. Then we had to jocky the tractor back and forth to get the front of the trailer in until the combo was jacked 90 degrees with the trailer tight to the wall and the tractor facing left. Then, we would pull around until the trailer wheels go close to the left corner. Next step was to put 2x4's and such on the ground to lift the left trailer tires to tilt the rub rail away from the wall. Once in and offloaded, the exit was pretty much a straight shot. Go figure.

 

[JyRO]

Speaking of backing someones rig for them. One time in 2000 or 2001, I was in Canada on business and stopped at this little hole-in-the-wall for lunch. On my way out I see this mid-80's diesel suburban with about a 24' enclosed trailer hooked to it. It was driving through the parking lot burrying itself into an area that would be hard to get out of. However, I could tell that the driver assumed the other side of the parking lot had an exit back out to the road. When *she* saw that it didn't, it was too late. She was stuck.



She got out and it was this 80 year old lady, and she came walking toward me asking me for help, she had no choice.



She had it almost to the point where I would've had to just back it all the way out. But I managed to change its course and point it back toward the point she entered the parking lot.



I remember when I put the Suburban in 'D', and pushed on the throttle, the Suburban seemed to say, "what ... you wanna go forward?" The thing was a total turd. I felt sorry for that old lady, she was with her husband but he was almost totally crippled. I think they were hauling their car from point A to point B for some reason. Retirees possibly. I was glad I could help them out though.



- JyRO

 

[Coalsmoke]

Originally posted by Rob Thomas

MMiller, Greyhackle, never been to that place, but have been to many, many, places when the consignee said, " you can't get in there"... ... . me: "wanna bet?"





Rob

That's better than, "Oh, we get trucks your size making it around every day. Don't worry, there will be enough room once you get down to the end. " Right about when you get down to the end, you watch a 40' just barely make it around where your 48' is supposed to go.

 

[Rob Thomas]

How true.