New trainee any tips on offset backing

It is required to get a CDL in Washington state.

 

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They teach this at Roadmaster and it's one of the first things taught. It was also on our skills test here in Ohio (which is why they teach it in the first place).

I've not used this manuever one time yet in a real world situation. Have any of you? I can't think of a situation in which you would either....unless you backed into the wrong dock.

The steps they teach you is SO confusing. Left Right Straight Right Left

I overheard one trainer say some students memorized this step by remembering this phrase...Lionel Richie Sings Really Loud (L, R, S, R, L). That helped me. Hope it helps you too!

 

Offset and parallel are the same with the exception of the offset gives you the ability to pull up and put the truck into a straight line.

When you are pulled up to the line and all is straight, grab the steering wheel at the bottom (6 o'clock) turn it 3/4 of a turn counter-clockwise (left to 9 o'clock) back slowly and watch out the back window, you want the (passenger-side) back edge (where the door hinges are) of the trailer to stop at approximately 1 1/2 to 2 feet from the cone marking the lane (first cone passenger-side, corner cone) (on parallel it would be the back corner cone) stop the truck, turn the wheel all the way right (clockwise) start backing slowly and watch out the drivers-side mirror until you can see down the side of the trailer (truck and trailer are straight) stop.

Parallel Side Note<<
Now when looking at the drivers side mirror the rear edge of the trailer should be sitting close to where you were when you set the back passenger edge (1 1/2 to 2 feet from cone). Which will be more of a concern when parallel parking. If you can see the corner cone your angle is wrong, pull up and to the right a couple feet and then straighten the truck out, (don't pull up far only 3-4 feet tops) now look in the drivers mirror the edge of the trailer should be over to the right of the corner cone by about 2 feet. ((cant see the cone) about to where the back inside tire would be sitting if sitting straight in that lane?)) If it is not try to line it up and you back up.
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Now re-read second paragraph and come back here, lol
The idea is to get the rear tandem outside tire of the trailer sitting 2 feet from the line (or inside edge of the drivers-side cone). Now back straight up until you are think you are close to 2 feet but try not to go to far or else you will have to pull up. Set the brakes, and get out and look (use 3 points of contact upon exit/entry, automatic fail). Now go back to the drives-side corner cone, stand behind it and put you right foot on the lane line (inside edge of cone) and your left foot 2 feet away. Now look at the back outside tire of the tandem look at where the tire meets the ground you want that to be on that imaginary line that goes straight out from your left foot. How far do you need to go back? Now go back the truck up however far that is and stop!

Now, turn the steering wheel all to the right (clockwise). Start backing up and look back out the drivers side window. Don't use mirror, actually look. Watch the tandems as they start to fall into the grove of the lane, also look at the line of the bottom of the trailer frame for reference. The idea is to back to a 45 deg. angle (going past that angle can get you in trouble with an encroachment while parallel parking) Once at that angle, stop, turn the wheel all the way to the left (counter-clockwise). Now back up slowly and watch out the drivers side mirror until the side of the trailer comes in line and everything is straight and back it in. Just watch the cones and don't hit them. If you have to pull up do it after you get the thing as straight as you can without hitting a cone.

When doing the offset don't worry a lot about not being into position and just get it into the lane the best you can then use a pull up. No reason to waste a pull up because you have plenty of room once in the lane. Now parallel of course is different. The main mistake made is breaking the 45 deg. and the drive axles hitting a cone on the backside of the parking place. Easy fix though! Just look at how the nose of the trailer is in relation to the rear of the trailer and if it looks like the nose is deeper then you broke 45 deg. just stop turn the wheel all the way right pull up a few feet stop, turn the wheel back to the left and back up and catch up with the trailer. TADA!!!

Hope this helps someone at least. If it is not blind side parking then just do the opposite ? idk... guess I should have read the thread before posting =/

 

LOL, nevermind then! What I was saying was from pulling straight up in lane one, stopping then backing into lane two, my bad...

 

Don't be afraid to stick your head out the drivers window.One guy with the long nose Sleeper and the massive exhaust pipes :would open his door and take a gander outside.I kinda pay attention to where my trailer tires are going.Also think of it as "getting the last ten feet of the trailer where it needs to go" not focusing on where the doors are so much.If that makes any sense? In a tight maneuver "keeping the truck Under the trailer will free up some tractor swing around space.Not an L shape !

 

Ask the examiner before you do this. When I took the state test sticking your head out the window counted as a "get out" You're only allowed 4 get outs if I remember correctly.

I think people over analyze backing. When I was in school they kept telling me stuff like, "split the difference between this cone, then aim the corner of the trailer at the slightly taller cone, and then cut the distance in half between the two shorter cones, and turn the wheel 1/4 to the right, then 3/4 to the left, then straight, then back 1/4 right"
Confusing as all get out.
I played along like I knew what they were saying and just watched my mirrors and backed the trailer up. If I couldn't see what I needed in my mirrors I'd get out and look.
Never been in a situation where that method has failed me, oddly enough I've never been in any situation since school where I had cones to worry about.