Need advice on backing the offset to the left

Are you waiting too long to get back under it?

 

All the ones I see practicing this in the truck stop parking lot have like 2 or 3 guys spotting, and giving all kinds of herky jerky "do it like this" hand motions towards the mirrors.

I spent my entire 30 min break watching that yday... and then some.

It was better than television.

The blind leading the blind.

Seriously, tho.. you'll get it.
Use those mirrors.. especially the convex, and make small adjustments.

You WILL use that maneuver frequently in the field.

 

Think about what you're trying to accomplish. You're just moving it over and coming back around.

 

Once that trailer is headed back and halfway pointed where you want it you best start getting back under it (but not fast like you would on a 90) or you'll over shoot to far to the left. Once you are under you should be able to see when you need to start bringing it back straight with the hole.(usually immediately)

 

First off I disagree with the video concerning turning the wheel prior to the truck moving. It seems to put students behind the curve somewhat and surely teaches nothing about control. I know a lot of short schools teach the stop, turn the wheel, go, stop, turn the wheel, go etc thing and I guess that’s a quick way to pass a test without learning to drive the vehicle, but I’m not a fan. I’ll dismount from my high horse now.

Now for the maneuver. You mentioned losing sight of the testing cones. Someone missed a step in your training. To start the maneuver only concern yourself with one cone that you should not lose sight of, the first cone on the left row of cones. Never send the trailer so far left that you cannot see that cone. If you do by very much you cannot get the trailer back in time to put it in the lane. If you straighten up too early you usually have enough time and distance to send it over some more. You will lose sight of the first cone in the center row, that’s normal and also why you never want to lose sight of the left front cone. Once you send the trailer left you want to straighten up and have a straight tractor and trailer aimed at the left front cone. Once you have, look right and you will then see the first cone on the center row and the right side of your straight TT will be aimed approximately 3-4 ft to the left of that cone. Then just curve around that cone in to the lane. If you haven’t been taught curve control get it as deep in the hole as you can and make a pull up getting as close to straight as you can in front of the lane and then back it straight in.

 

Congrats! See you on the highway.