Progress

I can parallel park to the right or to the left, but my offsets have regressed to worse than awful. What's wrong with THAT picture? One should be able to offset decently before they can parallel park. We start alley docking next week, and I Hate to add that to the repertoire before I conquer the other.

Perhaps I should change the title to this thread!

Hang in there and just keep plugging away at it - some days it's gonna work and others you're gonna feel like you just should have stayed home. Don't get uptight about it, just keep working hard at it and one day it's gonna start coming together like a nice fluid motion and you'll wonder how you struggled so much with some of it. You can trust me on this, I don't think I've misled you yet, and if you just keep at it you're going to start getting that backing stuff. The more times you get it in there right it starts to register in your mind how that trailer responds to your motions of the wheel and the rolling of the truck - it kind of starts to become an eye/hand coordination thing only it's all backwards because it's done in the mirror. That's what makes it feel so tricky at times.

Bro ya bringing back a lot of old memories from when I was just starting out it will click like Brett said a formula of backing can't be taught.but I will try to help ya understand it more look at ur tandems only as ya back for that is one pivot point they will tell ya where they are goin,the second pivot point is at the front of ur trlr at the fifth wheel this tells ya how far it is till the trlr is straight.now say ur tandems are just past the line on an angle away from ur truck the front of the trlr will be towards ur truck so ya got to push the front away to bring the tandems straight. Its probably confusing ya so try to draw it out in diff scenerios and get a matchbox truck if ya can but think of it as ur in the drivers seat.

Remember the tandems do speak they will tell ya what path they're taking ya just got to help guide them to it,think of it this way ur driving a trlr not a truck just backwards.

What a week! It was Friday before I was able to knock out a perfect alley dock...went 3 for 4. We were evaluated for progress on Wednesday, and I knocked out an offset, but in practicing them on Thursday and Friday I was all over the pad. Terrible! Been so discouraged, this is the first time I've been back to the forum all week. So, Crazy Reb, I'll try your perspective of looking at it the next time.

Now, here's the rub. Spring Break. We are off for an entire week, then we test out, skills and road test. It wouldn't be so bad if this was the kind of test we could study for, but skills are all about practice, and we can't.

This student friend and I are thinking of renting the biggest U-haul trailer we can find and using that one day next week just to practice backing up. I know the dimensions and perspective will be off, but we figure it's got to be better than doing nothing.

Or, do you guys and gals think it would do more harm than good?

I have a question for anyone who can answer. I know I am young, not yet in the industrey, and probably a little nieve, and I understand that brake downs, bad weather, traffic, bad directions, ect can cause stress if your underpressure to deliver a load, but should it really cause all that stress? I mean as long as you drive as many miles as you can before time runs out. Deal with the weather as long as the road doens't get closed, plan for traffic ( yes I know sometimes its unavoidable, or there is traffic when you dont expect ) then really shouldn't your dispatcher understand if you get a brake down, or weather closes the road, or traffic is backed up from an accident, are all things you can't control. Or am I wrong? Do they not really care if its something you can control or not? Like, no matter what if its late its your fault kinda thing? But if thats not the case then, I don't see how you should let yourself get to stressed with it, all anyone can do is the best they can do. And if you are a driver and you really are doing everything you can do, then no one should be able to blame you right?

Hamrhed...I'll let someone else say whether renting a trailer to practice with would be a good idea..Is the campus totally closed for the whole week ??? Maybe it would of been nice if they had had an instructor who was willing to spend some time a few days that week, with those that wanted to practice...The trailer isn't a bad idea...I'm just wonderin' if it would be worth what ya get out of it. Justin, when it comes to dispatchers and receivers, you will see both bad and good. If you run legal, all the miles you can, take any load they throw at you, never complain, and never blow your cool...then all you have to worry about is your truck holding together, and the roads being worthy of travel. But as all of us have come to learn, after driving OTR for awhile, murphy's law rules. There are days that if its Can happen, it Will happen..and sometimes not in a good way. Two things that will help you the most in your trucking career is confidence in yourself, and putting a professional attitude forward to all the folks you come in contact with. But never think that it will be all roses and candy...sometimes it can be thorns and vinegar for days on end. The best thing about trucking is it WILL change...so ya hold out for the good times...........

Hamrhed...I'll let someone else say whether renting a trailer to practice with would be a good idea..Is the campus totally closed for the whole week ??? Maybe it would of been nice if they had had an instructor who was willing to spend some time a few days that week, with those that wanted to practice...The trailer isn't a bad idea...I'm just wonderin' if it would be worth what ya get out of it.

The campus is closed, totally. Several students have inquired about extra instruction for those of us that are struggling, for an additional fee, of course, but the answer has always been that it's against school policy.

Wow.... Brett, your the best. Everything you stated I can relate to my Day Trading business. 95% mental, and you MUST stay cool.

I am going to learn a lot from you, my friend.

Sorry. I just had one of those days that so often follows a good one. A day where I could do nothing right. I really need a restart this weekend!

Hey, we totally understand. But ya know, hopefully you're gonna look back on this time in school with very fond memories of what it felt like to learn how to drive a rig - and those memories are priceless. Strive for perfection, but don't be afraid to have some fun with it and enjoy it too.

Also, once you get out on the road doing it for real the stress level will be much higher than it is now and the days much longer. One of the most important things you'll need to do is conserve your energy and keep a clear mind. Just like you're practicing backing and shifting, practice keeping a clear, relaxed mind. You have a lot of work ahead of you just to get through the rest of schooling and on-the-road training. Then you'll have several months of solo running which are also some very stressful but exciting times. You don't want to wear yourself out and cloud your mind with unnecessary stress and pressure of any sort - whether it originates internally or from external sources.

So go for it - shoot for being the best in your class and eventually as good as any driver on the road. I'm the same way myself. But keep yourself calm and relaxed. Most importantly, expect a lot of yourself but never, ever get down on yourself. You'll have plenty of ups and downs. Not every day is going to be your best performance so just accept that from time to time and roll with it.

Trucking is 95% mental and 5% physical. Almost nobody ever gets out of trucking because they couldn't brake, shift, or back up. They get out because mentally it becomes overwhelming. It's a constant battle every driver in America fights internally every day, and a lot of drivers are losing that battle unfortunately. So keep your spirits high and your mind clear and calm. You'll think more clearly, perform much better, have a lot more energy, and of course enjoy yourself more.

Pre-Trip *check*

In-Cab *check*

Skills Pad *check*

Road Test *check*

CDL-A

Way to go man! You make me proud! I knew you could do this, all along I had faith in ya! So what's your next move?