Any Tips On Parallel And Offset Backing ?

Recently started my driving sections at local CDL school and I'm having hard time with parallel parking and offset backing.Does anyone has any tips how to get it inside my head?Thank you

Recently started my driving sections at local CDL school and I'm having hard time with parallel parking and offset backing.Does anyone has any tips how to get it inside my head?Thank you

Honestly what worked for me in school with those particular maneuvers was just doing the "count" my instructors told me to use. Like turn the wheel all the way, then hold 3 seconds, etc... I don't remember what it was now, but it worked great in cdl school. Are they teaching you something like that?

What we're being taught for parallel and offset backing is that the turns should be until you make a triangle between the nearer drive wheel and the farther leg of the landing gear.

This worked fine for me to figure out offset but I still haven't figured out parallel yet.

I only had one section and tomorrow is my second.I know i just started and it my take few more sections but my current trainer is not doing any counting.He is telling me to watch landing gear and then turn again ....I watched a lot of very good videos on YouTube and some comments here on TT.My biggest problem is he is trying to teach me to do all manovers without slowing down my truck and that is very difficult at this point.All these YT videos showing truckers stoping at each section,each time they have to turn wheels or backing slowly.I will ask him tomorrow if I can try to do it slower.It should help a bit

Recently started my driving sections at local CDL school and I'm having hard time with parallel parking and offset backing.Does anyone has any tips how to get it inside my head?Thank you

Honestly what worked for me in school with those particular maneuvers was just doing the "count" my instructors told me to use. Like turn the wheel all the way, then hold 3 seconds, etc... I don't remember what it was now, but it worked great in cdl school. Are they teaching you something like that?

Even my truck is not going very fast , but when you have to watch both sides and mirrors and truck is moving,remembering what to watch for and steering seem to be little too much right now.

I only had one section and tomorrow is my second.I know i just started and it my take few more sections but my current trainer is not doing any counting.He is telling me to watch landing gear and then turn again ....I watched a lot of very good videos on YouTube and some comments here on TT.My biggest problem is he is trying to teach me to do all manovers without slowing down my truck and that is very difficult at this point.All these YT videos showing truckers stoping at each section,each time they have to turn wheels or backing slowly.I will ask him tomorrow if I can try to do it slower.It should help a bit

Recently started my driving sections at local CDL school and I'm having hard time with parallel parking and offset backing.Does anyone has any tips how to get it inside my head?Thank you

Honestly what worked for me in school with those particular maneuvers was just doing the "count" my instructors told me to use. Like turn the wheel all the way, then hold 3 seconds, etc... I don't remember what it was now, but it worked great in cdl school. Are they teaching you something like that?

I just did the offset, and this is what I did.

1 - Turn the wheel all the way to the right or left, depending on which offset you are doing. Do not look at the cones until step 5. When I look at the cones it messes me up, so I try and ignore them as long as possible.

2 - Backup until the trailer is at a 45 degree angle, stop.

3 - Turn the wheel back the opposite direction as far as you can.

4 - When you start backing as soon as you see the side of the trailer in the mirror, stop.

5 - Draw an imaginary straight line from the cone and back straight until your rear trailer tire closest to the cone is parallel to the imaginary line and stop.

6 - Turn the wheel hard and start backing, as soon as the trailer starts heading for the hole, start straightening out the truck.

7 - Finish with a straight backin the rest of the way.

I was taught this in the military back in the early 80's. You may want to look at the trailer, there may be some hidden marker. When I did this today I found there was a rivet in the trailer that when I turned and it was over the frame of the truck, it was the 45 degree angle I needed. I want to thank the folks at Great Dane for placing the rivets in a strategic location to assist in the offset backing.

Interesting. Watching Youtube videos and reading comments on here can be helpful. Probably still your best bet is to keep trying what your instructor says since he can observe you in person. When I was learning I stopped while I turned the wheel. Even now, I don't necessarily stop while backing, but I do slow down at certain points if I have to turn the wheel real sharp.

Interesting. Watching Youtube videos and reading comments on here can be helpful. Probably still your best bet is to keep trying what your instructor says since he can observe you in person. When I was learning I stopped while I turned the wheel. Even now, I don't necessarily stop while backing, but I do slow down at certain points if I have to turn the wheel real sharp.

So far, the videos I've seen on YouTube the guys don't completely lose sight of the rear of the trailer. The way my instructor has shown me has me lose it and on occasion completely blind unless I get out and look. From backing small trailers in my own vehicle in feels unnatural to feel so blind. I don't want to lose faith in the instructor but even when she failed to properly do it herself. Maybe today will go better. Any tips or advice?

I tried to explain it to JaiTee in the ladies forum. Maybe that explanation might help too.