Having trouble with alley dock

Alleydock was my biggest weakness alsnly in my case an instructor worked with me one on one for hrs till I got got it.You need to understand your trk and trailer,the concept of backing,the pivot point once you understand all that it really does become easy.After I finally did a perfect alley dock that day I was having fun with it.All my backings became easy.

 

To get it straight look in your mirrors and look for you back tires, if you can see your very back tires in your bottom mirror on one side but not on the other side then make sure your wheels are straight and then slightly turn your wheel toward the side you can't see your back tires until you can see them . Once you can see your back tires in your lower mirror on both sides evenly in the mirrors then you should be straight . When trying to back straight just keep the back tires in your lower mirrors on both sides and keep turning your wheel slightly toward what ever side your losing sight of your back tires but keep in mind of your lane too. Just keep looking for videos on YouTube as it took me a while to find some good ones.

 

Yes definitely lol, my uncle is old school and was screaming at me, "You shouldn't have to get out and look!" Heck no, I get out and look and I have timed myself a couple of times to see how long it took and it used to take me about fifteen or twenty minutes to back with me getting out 100's of times lol.

 

You need to be aware of where your trailer tires are in relation to you in the seat, and the path they will travel. AND, you need to look past the end of the trailer to where you want the trailer to go. If you just focus on the end of the trailer you will be correcting the wheel constantly. Example...Walk straight ahead with you head up looking out, you will walk straight to that point. Walk ahead looking at your feet now, see, no straight line.

Backing is an art. Master it.

 

Backing is something that you just get good at eventually.Videos never really helped me.Some tips: use your trailer tires as a guide.Your really only backing in the last 15 feet of the trailer is kind of how you should think of it.Any time you need tractor clearance ie.cars or curbs,telephone poles etc.(Keep your tractor UNDER the trailer.Not an L shape.By staying under you will (push the trailer in the hole).This will give you needed tractor clearance to avoid,curbs,cars,poles etc.If im approaching a dock on my left i get about 6 feet from the other trucks,as soon as my drives pass my dock,I start steering out diagonal,then I use my tandems as a guide and try to keep as much of my trailer sides in mirrors as practical.Eventually backing becomes second nature.Your initial "set up" will make or break you.

 

Backing into any spot from a 90 deg on the first try is a learned skill. The art of doing it is the masterpiece you set out to accomplish. I have seen and done many as well as ones that wind up looking like .....

 

Yup there's always some super trucker who pulls crap like that instead of being calm and maybe help that fellow driver. They try to intimidate you. No wonder we have no unity in this business.

 

The question you have asked has been asked many times before and will be asked many times again. I asked it myself 15 years ago. The problem is that in real life it is a lot easier then in practice. In real life you just back up and put the trailer where you want it to go. In school you have all kinds of thinking you are doing. That is what makes it hard. You over think it.

In school you have not been taught the tandems slide. You also have a trailer that does not have the wheels aligned correctly. Your trailer drifts. You have to deal with it.

First thing. Put your steer hand on top of the steering wheel. The end of your trailer will go the opposite direction of your hand movements. Now is there a line on the ground? If so, simply follow it. That is the way most of the testing places have it for your license. If not, imagine the line. Follow it. If your trailer drifts, correct the drift with small moves of your hand. I use to think of it as pointing to the offending end of the trailer and telling it to get back in line.

Now the hard part. Which isn't hard. In real life you can tell where you should put the trailer. There is usually some object you are having to avoid hitting. Like another parked tractor, or a semi trailer, building, or really fat lot lizard. Make sure the end of the trailer pasts clear of the object, then begin your turn. You are going to be moving the steering wheel Clock Wise. This brings the trailer around to the drivers side. Keep your eyes on the wheels as they are the pivot point. This is the point where you get out and look to make sure your trailer is not going to hit the blind side. If there is no objects on the blind side. Getting out is something you still do because they take points off the test if you fail to do so. Get back in an continue backing. Once you can see your landing gear in the mirror, crank the wheel back counter clockwise. The trailer will then be lined up for a straight back. Wait longer and you will have to pull forward. Pulling forward in real life is encouraged. But for some reason they deduct on the test.

If you are having trouble, I was, because there were no objects put in your way, ask your instructor to put his personal vehicle next to the place you are trying to back into. My instructor did this on his own. Having something there to avoid makes it much easier. Look, Think, Drive. In that order. Know in advance what you have to avoid, figure out how to do it, and then do it.

 

I have never seen a driver who would not provide help, if asked. So ask.

 

If I see a driver struggling and in the way.I will jump out and watch his blind side for him.This gets him backed in out of my way and everyone goes away happy.