Backing DOES Get Easier

As a new or prospective driver many times their biggest worry is backing. This week I hit a dock I was pretty proud of myself for. Several drivers I talked to told me how much of a PITA it is but I managed to hit it on my first shot (then pulled up to open doors). Admittedly, I did get my tandems close to the fire hydrant to make sure I cleared the telephone pole on my blindside.

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I do have over 5 years experience, but when I started it took me a couple days to do a straight back. I couldn't wrap my head around moving the steering wheel the opposite way. I contemplated giving up in school and going back to warehouse work. I'm extremely glad I didn't. Don't be intimidated by backing. It takes time but you will get it.

The owner even told me I did a great job. There's been numerous times (not necessarily our drivers) he's needed to load the pallets on his box truck, go onto the street and back into the back of the semi to get them loaded because they couldn't get it. I'm not perfect and still have days I struggle such as a dock yesterday. I just want to show you that you CAN do this.

You absolutely get better with time, but I still have days where I'm hoping nobody saw that

The biggest hurdle I see new drivers having is the idea that pulling up is shameful. It's easier to fix it going forward than it is going backwards. They try to fix it backing up with wild steering and most of the time it ends up bad.

Great point guys! I can still remember the incredible amount of anxiety I had going through CDL school for backing. Now it’s not a question of can I do this, it’s how will I get it in there?

Yesterday, on my way back home. I had to blindside back into an angle spot during a downpour and I was like whatever we’ll just take our time and get it done. For all the new drivers and prospective truck drivers this does eventually come with repetition. Repetition is the mother of all skills.

Nice backs. It definitely does get easier. I still have my days where I sure hope nobody saw it too, I feel as awkward as the first time. I still just laugh it off. Most days though, I can put it right where I want it safely.

This was the pepsi plant in downtown Portland, one of the more difficult places I go, especially in afternoon traffic. Covered dock, staging is in the center lane. Ironically google maps got a knight truck that's a next gen KW, the Google maps screen shot isnt me, but it's the same back.

The more backing you do the easier it gets. Being a local guy, I am on 3~5 trailers a day. While the road drivers use 3~5 a week. I've heard from several of our customers say they see experienced drivers struggle to back and then they see me come by and just back it in. It's a skill, the more you do it the easier it gets. The right setup and tandem position can make or brake a back up too. Still to this day it is important to GOAL. The best backing job is the one you don't hit anything or anyone.

Below is the most important comment in this entire post 🥇

Still to this day it is important to GOAL. The best backing job is the one you don't hit anything or anyone.

Rob you’ve gotten really good at local and it shows. I remember another thread recently you said you drove over 600 miles and did like 12-15 stops (sorry if it was more than that) in one day and I almost spit my drink out because that’s just insane. I’ve only hit over 600 miles in one day only once doing strictly local work and I only did like 5 stops I want to say. Granted my stops took a while because I have to wait for the trailer to unload but that’s a far cry from how many stops you did.

I know it’s hard because you’re obviously very busy at your job but it would be awesome to see more posts just showing some of the stops you deliver at or just sharing some of your typical days. We have a lot of representation of OTR driving but I think it would be really helpful for new guys and gals seeing what local is really like from someone like you. Even at my current job where we hire only experienced drivers I have to let new hires know just how tough local is during our busy season.

Rob you’ve gotten really good at local and it shows. I remember another thread recently you said you drove over 600 miles and did like 12-15 stops (sorry if it was more than that) in one day and I almost spit my drink out because that’s just insane. I’ve only hit over 600 miles in one day only once doing strictly local work and I only did like 5 stops I want to say. Granted my stops took a while because I have to wait for the trailer to unload but that’s a far cry from how many stops you did.

We have something like 300 Grocery stores, not Including gas stations, that we deliver to in primarily a 300 mile radius of Des Moines. There's a few outliers but we can easily hit Minneapolis, Madison, Kansas City, Omaha/Lincoln, Bloomington and Springfield Illinois and make it back daily. Last week I drove 2200 miles with 38 stops in 5 days / 60 hours which puts me around $2600 for the week. Tomorrow's a pretty laid back day with 11 stops, 8 of which are gas stations using a liftgate trailer with only 95 miles total. My 2nd trailer is an LTL delivery at Sysco (so probably 3 hours for 1 pallet) and a pickup next door that shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. I'll get to sleep in and start my day around 4am and still be done by 1pm. I planned to take a 13 stop 605 mile flower load tomorrow but someone 3 spots above me in seniority snagged it.

I actually have a diary covering my current gig though i haven't too much lately. Grocery stores and then the other over 5 years ago of Food service when i got started

Tomorrow's a pretty laid back day with 11 stops

And I get upset when I have to stop at another terminal or two on my way back home.