Backing up into docks- Any advice ?

Not having a "square reference" of any sort nearby makes backing difficult even for the most experienced. Backing up to cones is not very intuitive for trying to end up at a "90". Without seeing the situation or scenario you are dealing with, it's hard to offer any meaningful advice other then maybe "rethink" the situation.

 

Learning how to back might take you a bit. Don't get frustrated. It'll come to you. If your in doubt, get out and look. Fenders ain't cheap.

 

Practice Practice Practice

 

Yes. My advice? Don't hit anything.

 

Learning how to back, is about the toughest thing you can do in this job. I wish I could give you some sort of formula, to help you. But backing is one of those things that you learn by doing. Just don't get frustrated. When you get frustrated, that's when you have to make that call to the safety dept. Just hang in there. It will come.

 

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's putting the rear of the trailer into that 'box' like it's a dock. It's not the parallel park where you have to end up with the trailer jack-knifed in the rectangle, right?
STexan is right, a point of reference is handy, like lines in the pavement, or dock lines. But for practice and test you don't get that assistance.
In the 'real' world, I always liked to line up the truck and trailer in a dead straight line before backing, if room allows. But if they're making you start from a 45 degree angle, then you'll have to learn how to 'turn and chase'. Turn the wheel a little, back up, and then 'chase' the turning trailer with your steer tires, all while aiming for the square cone box.
As said before . . . practice practice.
Side note, the whole dynamic is altered depending on where your trailer tandems are set, and the length of the trailer being backed. Shorter trailers react faster than longer ones.
The only dumb question is the ONE YOU DONT ASK!