90 Degree Backing... Can Someone Explain This Technique?

I read the following somewhere:

Here's a trick I used with my student for the 90 degree alley maneuver. I had my student pull straight forward as far as was legally allowed. Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up. As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck. Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again. He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again. After doing this 7 times, his trailer would be lined up exactly where it should be and he could then "eyeball it" into the spot. It worked perfectly each and every time.

I am not able to follow what is happening here. Can someone explain?

Its pretty well explained there.. But perhaps visual will help out.. I did find this youtube link

90 Degree Ally its in a truck simulator, but covers the same i think.

Another example. 90 degree backing.

Another example. 90 degree backing.

Thats pretty much how I do it. and if you ever have to do a blind side (passenger side) ALWAYS GET OUT AND LOOK. I always make sure I pull through or do drivers side. but sometimes a blind side is needed.

I read the following somewhere:

Here's a trick I used with my student for the 90 degree alley maneuver. I had my student pull straight forward as far as was legally allowed. Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up. As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck. Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again. He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again. After doing this 7 times, his trailer would be lined up exactly where it should be and he could then "eyeball it" into the spot. It worked perfectly each and every time.

I am not able to follow what is happening here. Can someone explain?

According to the two videos that were given to show the answer, I think something is being missed here.

Let's break this down: "Immediately, I had him turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and begin backing up."

No problem.

"As soon as the drivers side mirror matched up with the right landing pad on the trailer landing gear, he would stop the truck."

Problem. The driver's side mirror is on the left, correct? Just to my left. And I am trying to see the RIGHT landing pad in that mirror? Is that possible? If you don't see my question, read it again.

"Then, he'd turn the wheel all the way to the left and start backing up again."

No problem.

"He'd continue back until his drivers side mirror matched up with the exact center of the landing gear on the trailer before turning the steering wheel back to the right and doing it all over again."

When he writes, "...exact center of the landing gear," is that the left landing gear, or right? If it is the left, hasn't he just lined the truck up again to be straight?

Lawrence

By the way, this was written by TruckerMike right here on Trucking Truth: https://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/Article-3085/learning-how-to-back-up-a-big-truck

Lawrence

...wonder if he meant Left landing gear and the Center I haven't a clue what point of center he's talking about.

He means right landing gear pad. When you get the tractor 90 degrees to the trailer you can see the right landing gear pad in the driver side mirror. When he refers to the center of the landing gear, he is talking about the cross brace between the landing pads. It makes an "X" and is an easy reference point to spot in the mirror.

He means right landing gear pad. When you get the tractor 90 degrees to the trailer you can see the right landing gear pad in the driver side mirror. When he refers to the center of the landing gear, he is talking about the cross brace between the landing pads. It makes an "X" and is an easy reference point to spot in the mirror.

some landing gears make a \ / shape as well.

Some trucks can see the right pad, some can not. My Volvo I couldn't but the Cascadia and Prostar I drove I could.

Just saying, thats what he is talking about is all. You can adjust the mirror to see the gear.