Forgot How To Back

Earlier, I was in a Volvo, and was having no trouble backing. Now they've moved me to a Mack, and it seems so different. I set up the same way, but when I complete my setup, I can't see the tandems and the yellow line to gauge my maneuvers. I'm doing everything the same! But since I can't see the tandems or the line, I end up cutting it short or being too wide. What am I doing wrong that I can't see my tandems now?

Lloyd, the mirrors must be different between the two trucks or your seat height is different. I’m just guessing here because this is the first time I’ve heard of this problem. I sure hope you can figure it out because seeing the tandems is critical. Many times I have to lean my head out the window to see my tandems in relation to the yellow line, but obviously that only helps with one side.

Can you talk to another driver with the same model truck about this?

You’re not wearing your eclipse glasses are you? Lol

If you are close to seeing the yellow line, but it's just a tiny bit behind the trailer, turn your mirrors in a little. Use the outside edge of the mirror to back, then reset the mirrors for driving.

In my experience driving macks (tractor, dump truck,water truck,cement truck,garbage truck,roll off truck) macks don’t turn so you have to turn different than a volvo or anything else really

We have 4 different truck manufacturers in our fleet, in additionwe have day cabs. The seat to mirrors relationship is different in all of them. Each time you get in a new or different truck, you need to adjust the seat and mirrors to you. You may well need to adjust the mirrors to your back as well, even after you have adjusted them statically.

Also, I find I have to reposition my body to the mirrors on some backs as I'm backing. But in general, ypu should be able to find the range where you can see tandems and lines, markers, etc in the mirrors

Yeah, different trucks back differently too. I couldn't back up my trainers Pete in TNT to save my life. It was frustrating, because I nailed my test in a FL. Now, at almost three years, I know intellectually what I was doing wrong, but until I hop in another Pete, I won't know for sure.

Hang in there.

How so? It turns quite easily, doesn't seem to take a longer time or radius. I just can't see where I am in relation to the hole after the same setup.

In my experience driving macks (tractor, dump truck,water truck,cement truck,garbage truck,roll off truck) macks don’t turn so you have to turn different than a volvo or anything else really

I think there's an over-reliance on repeatable maneuvers to get your setup. That's why it throws you off when you hop into a different truck. Focusing on the same truck / same maneuver is counterproductive in the long run.

Instead, focus on getting a feel for the trailer behind you. Once you begin to drive by the seat of your pants, it won't matter what truck you're in, where your seat is positioned, how your mirrors are turned, etc. You will just know where your trailer is, and where it needs to go.

Turtle speaks the truth:

Instead, focus on getting a feel for the trailer behind you. Once you begin to drive by the seat of your pants, it won't matter what truck you're in, where your seat is positioned, how your mirrors are turned, etc. You will just know where your trailer is, and where it needs to go.

However, a First-Time-In-The-Seat driver needs to start somewhere. When I teach truck backing, I do start with the good ol' Turn the wheel all the way to the left, back until you see the middle of the landing gear.... That gives the students a start in understanding how the trailer moves. That's how newbies can get the feel for the trailer, regardless of the seat and mirrors.

There are some great comments here, I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents about the comments on Macks. We have 4 new Macks that have replaced a few of the older Freightliners on our fleet. Compared to the FL's, the Macks have horrible turning radius and are much harder to drive and back than the FLs. Also, the side mirrors have these aerodynamic plastic housings that are HUGE and create a blind spots, I have to lean way forward when at intersections so I can make be sure cross traffic lanes are clear and safe to proceed. The Macks are some nice looking trucks, but not as much fun to drive.