Question:
Today I finally emailed the school I attended. Voicing my dissatification at my training. Explaining that my inability to back is costing me money, and my company money.
Got an email back within an hour. Saying that the school will be looking into my concerns. Also the head instructor will be emailing me within 48 hours to work out a solution to my problem.
So cool huh???? Well if someone who is paid to instruct can not train me..than I am really SOL..and up the creek with no paddle.

Answer:
Too bad you thrive on the drama. Why else are you announcing to everyone your business ?
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When your in a Star Car, nothing else is needed to be said

Answer:
You are doing the local gig now until they deem you ready for OTR right?
Well with that there should be plenty of opportunity for backing self-training.
So, relax and don't get all bent out of shape over it... do the time in backing self-training and it will come.
The most important is getting setup correctly for the back... if you setup correctly basically you will only need to follow the trailer around to the dock.
If you haven't done this before, do it now... get yourself a toy tractor trailer and play with it in backup positions. I know it sounds silly, but it will help reinforce the theory behind following the trailer around to the dock.
You might consider pulling a skateboard if you just cannot get the van backing down.

Answer:
Can you rub your stomach and pat your head??
Well not everyone can do that either
Complaining to the people who taught you is not going to help. They did the same thing that they did for THOUSANDS before you and the THOUSANDS to come. But, since everyone is different and require different training I think it is more you than the teachers. Granted not everyone "clicks" the same and maybe it was the way the teacher described it or tried to show you.
I suggest you also get a toy truck/trailer and play. You need to get the theory into perspective. You need to be able to "see" what is going to happen before it happens.
For some it's easy, others take a long time.
Good luck
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
Thriving on drama is really something I would rather do without. Had some you folks reading this post read any of my other posts. You would have realized, I was not taught to back in school. Not any backing other than a curved back and straightline.
How many of you folks graduated your school only knowing 2 types of backing? Today stuff started clicking for me, but its too late.
My gripe with the school is we(yes, WE I am not the only one unhappy) were not taught to back. Even classmates who were in the top of the class have come to me saying that they did not know how to back comming from that school. So I have a vaild complaint with the school.
This has not been drama it has been sheer frustration.

Answer:
"How many of you folks graduated your school only knowing 2 types of backing? Today stuff started clicking for me, but its too late."
Hand raised!

Answer:
What is this 1 or 2 types of backing ? I never went to school and backing up is backing up. You put too much emphasis on types of backing up ! You back up from this angle or that, you just do it. Why are you so worried about what type of backing you are doing ? Yur just adding undue pressure on yourself, just back the darn thing up and stop second guessing yourself. From what I can read, your problem is lack of self confidence and no one can teach you that. How is it you can back one type of trailer yet you are unable to back another ??? It doesn't make sense.

Answer:
Bearbell,
I know you from chat and I know your NOT a "boo-boo","cry me a river" person. And your by no means a whiney,woman!You want to do the your very best and you have an excellent attitude and I defy anyone else to be as brutally truthful about themselves as you have through-out your schooling and training!
I know you at times are harder on yourself then you should be.You have worried yourself to a frazzle about this and you now need to let the worry go and relax.
Get the help you feel you need,be it through the school you went to,using a toy truck and trailer to see the logistics of backing up,a new trainer, or as most have said...just plain practice
Remember many of the drivers on here that are "seasoned" have never taken any class to learn to drive a big truck. They did it by either riding along with another driver and being taught hands on or they did like Nike. "Just Do It!"
It's been said over and over,Some pick up on backing up fast and others needs more time nd practice. There is no shame in that! I feel much safer out there knowing that you as a truck driver will do your level best.
Quit dwelling on this BB. All things happen at their own pace.
BOL
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Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.
~ Will Rogers



Answer:
Bearbell, Star-rider and SevenOfNine are correct. You're placing too much emphasis on........
Star-rider said:
Yur just adding undue pressure on yourself, just back the darn thing up and stop second guessing yourself.
SevenOfNine said:
I know you at times are harder on yourself then you should be.You have worried yourself to a frazzle about this and you now need to let the worry go and relax.
I couldn't have said it any better.
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"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
many that went to the same schools as me,can spell better and learned to write better
some people pick up some stuff better than others.
some people can hammer nails without bending them,others just ain't good at it.
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http://dms.dot.gov/search/searchFormAdvanced.cfm
Document Management System
Agency FMCSA
Docket 2350
02/11/1997 Notice of Public Meeting-Public Meetings for Drivers and Other Interested Persons
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Over 6 years to voice your oppion of what the HOS should look like,yet most didn't think it mattered enough to write a letter.
Answer:
Well the pressure from the company is gone. Plus things started clicking more for me the last day I worked. So, now I can do what all have been telling me to do...relax and just do it.
Thanks all.

Answer:
A tip for you BearBell: when backing, watch your trailer tires. That is what will let you know what the trailer is actually doing. If watching just the rear of the trailer you will 9 out of 10 times react late on an adjustment.
I'm not saying stare at the trailer wheels only, but watching them will give you a way better feel and idea of what that trailer is/will be doing.
Make sure you are aware of what the rear of that trailer is doing when watching the trailer tandems. You need to know where that corner of the trailer is that you can't see and that only comes from experience.
Also, it sounds to me like you need someone who could teach you how to correct(on your pull-ups). If you can get the rear of a trailer into the hole you are aiming for, that 75% of the battle. For the most part, no matter how crooked or out of shape the tractor is(ya know, not straight), if you learn how to correct properly and well, a pull up or two will have you right where you want to be.
Backing IS NOT about being a one shot hero at every dock. Its about getting the *** end of that trailer near or in the hole you want and knowing how to pull up to correct.
I in no capacity could begin to explain this on a computer. But maybe someone here can explain pulling up in a "S" pattern. That is the most useful pull-up/correction method.
Finally, don't let these guys get you down. They just conviently forget how it was 10, 20 or how many ever years ago when they were learning. Believe me, sitting in a busy grocery warehouse everyday watching guys back in, It would make any one laugh seeing the crazy sh*t I do every day. And as many are O/O as company drivers.
Hope this helps ya, good luck
The only people who need to learn to "think outside the box" are those foolish enough to have been put in that box

Answer:
AngryPencil,
Thank you. I will be getting help with the corrections. The school is having the classroom instructor help me. He and I get along well, and he has helped me when I first started. I just couldnt go in the morning class.
I think I am starting to figure some out on my own. But I think only time and practice will tell.
Thank you and hopefully soon I will be back reporting how happy I am in the job

Answer:
.. is your setup turn. On a typical dock when youre driving perpendicular to it there is a point where you start cutting your wheel really deep to the right to set yourself up. When you figure out the "point" where you start turning the wheel youve got it whupped. Drive the nose of your truck about five to eight feet past the edge of the dock, thats where the turning point should be, then cut deeply to the right (if you can picture what I'm saying... it might not make any sense)
When youre waiting around loading docks observe other trucks and youll begin to figure it out. That's the best I can do telling you how its done. If I could show you I'd have you doing it like a pro in no time.