Loading dock advise box truck

Well the best thing I can suggest is to just pay attention when you are backing up to any dock and to stop maybe a short a couple times and get out to look see how far you are from the dock, then get back in and see the how it looks in the mirrors, dont worry about the convex ones just the square ones. And back up slow, that way if your judgment is off it dont matter that much and you wont get whiplash.

 

Until you feel comfortable, I would suggest the GOAL approach (and the GOAL approach to driving applies to any uncertainty that you might have):

G = Get
O = Out
A = And
L = Look

You will never be sorry that you use this approach, but there is a high probability that you will be sorry if you do not. I always use this approach to dealing with uncertainty and I have been driving a number of years. rockee's suggestion is on the money...stop and get out and look, then get back in and look in the mirrors to see what it looks like.

 

If you don't have a helper, you could pace off the distance between your rear wheels and the end of the truck, then do the same on the pavement from the dock to where your rear wheels need to be. Then mark that spot with a soda can, triangle, or what have you. Just carefully back up until your rear wheels approach that marker, then very slowly ease her back.

Or that's what I'd do, anyway.

With practice, you'll be able to eyeball it accurately.

 

If it's a loading dock, just ease it back til you bump it. Don't really have to judge the distance perfectly just go slow so you don't ram it. Just make sure you're as straight as you can get that's the main thing. You're not going to hurt the truck as long as you take it easy.

 

Judging distance behind you in your mirrors is a skill that takes a while to learn. It just takes practice. All the suggestions here are great. In time you'll learn to judge yourself when looking in the mirror. I haul gas and need to be able to look in the mirror and be able to tell when my unloading heads are over top of my drops in the ground. I have been doing this for over a year in total (minus a few months OTR while laid off) and I still miss it sometimes. There is no exact science. GOAL!

 

It is tough to judge the depth and distance in the mirrors for sure. When backing up to another trailer at a truck stop, I always GOAL and I'm usually farther from the trailer than I think I am.

Some mirrors might be different but the west coast mirrors I've used, you're usually farther away than you believe from what you see in the mirror. Better to be safe than sorry though! You can put an object (like a glove or something) where you want to stop the trailer at and it can be helpful to help you figure where you're at but you still best GOAL to be sure in any situation where you want to get close to something but not actually touch it.

 

Little trick at some truck stops when backing up to another trailer....

If they have a garbage can (like the Rubber Maid ones, not the dumpsters) move it to the corner of the trailer your backing to on your sight side. Hit the can and still have about 2 feet before you bump the trailer.

 

Great idea! Never thought of that! See, you really do learn something new everyday folks!