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Post by nvguy on Dec 1, 2020 21:57:32 GMT -5
Yep, when I was leasing trailers I had a guy back a set of doubles 90 degrees into a spot, cost me a tire thumper as I bet him he couldn't. Turns out his dad was a dispatcher for a fuel company. This driver had been practicing / learning in the yard since he was a kid while dad worked. Nice to see drivers that can back multi, lots have issues with a single. Took me about a year to get comfortable enough that I didn't worry what dock they assigned me. Wife rode enough that when they said pick a dock, I'd take the hard one. She would ask why that ones easier, "because I can", gave me more confidence when things were tight.
That's a good idea and a way to build skill. I was surprised at the different levels of skill. More than once when I gave a driver a slot, I was asked if there were any pull thru slots. "Uh, nope, none that I am aware of, but if you find one, let me know so I can call a tow truck". A couple of times I just had them leave the trailer in the middle of the yard & I would spot it with our yard mule. Easier to do that than fix (and bill damage). This is one area where I disagree with all the tech-self driving promoters. There is a lot more to driving a truck than just "holding a steering wheel". |
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Post by Edd505 on Dec 2, 2020 0:23:09 GMT -5
That's a good idea and a way to build skill. I was surprised at the different levels of skill. More than once when I gave a driver a slot, I was asked if there were any pull thru slots. "Uh, nope, none that I am aware of, but if you find one, let me know so I can call a tow truck". A couple of times I just had them leave the trailer in the middle of the yard & I would spot it with our yard mule. Easier to do that than fix (and bill damage). This is one area where I disagree with all the tech-self driving promoters. There is a lot more to driving a truck than just "holding a steering wheel". Two weeks training vs 3 months tech school where we had to have xx number hours/miles driving. Driving track like a sports car track to practice backing, when we got good going one way he had us reverse directions. Whole new ball game. All about practice, practice, practice, we all get rusty and/or distracted and that doesn't help get into a that back in site.
The town was opening a dinosaur museum so the collage sent two semis from NM to Salt Lake City to pickup dinosaurs from a museum that was shutting down. Student drivers in trucks marked student drivers xx collage on the boxes, and an instructor in each truck. Over soldier summit UT light snow to SLC, night in SLC, did logs, scales etc. I carried a picture and when BS'ing in truck stops I would tell the other drivers I had been driving so long my 1st load was a dinosaur and had pictures to prove it.
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Post by laknox on Dec 2, 2020 10:32:39 GMT -5
Since quitting farming, I've noticed a huge decrease in my backing skills, though I'm still way above average. Sucks when I think how I could nail a backup first time without even thinking and now it'll take me 3-4 tries to situate myself. :-(
Lyle
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Post by lynnmor on Dec 2, 2020 12:23:22 GMT -5
Lately I have been having trouble backing, my vision has dropped off. Next week I will have the first cataract surgery followed by the other in a few more weeks. Hopefully this will bring thinks back to normal. Something for you to consider, vision problems sneak up on us as we age.
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Post by nvguy on Dec 2, 2020 22:30:20 GMT -5
Since quitting farming, I've noticed a huge decrease in my backing skills, though I'm still way above average. Sucks when I think how I could nail a backup first time without even thinking and now it'll take me 3-4 tries to situate myself. :-( Lyle I am kinda glad to hear that it's happened to someone else. I thought I was loosing my mind. Since leaving the RV biz, my backing skills have also gone down the tubes. |
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Post by nvguy on Dec 2, 2020 22:55:38 GMT -5
Lately I have been having trouble backing, my vision has dropped off. Next week I will have the first cataract surgery followed by the other in a few more weeks. Hopefully this will bring thinks back to normal. Something for you to consider, vision problems sneak up on us as we age. This is the one medical procedure that I have heard nothing but success stories about. You are exactly right, vision does go as one ages, and its not all that noticeable, until suddenly you wonder why the gauges in the truck are so small. |
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Post by Chuck on Dec 11, 2020 19:47:40 GMT -5
I will really make you feel good,, I use to teach drivers how to back 40,45, 53ft trailers an not think twice about backing any of them ... Would sort of get miffed at drivers who would take way to long backing into a dock or learning how to back trailers ... I use to love to drive at night because of less traffic ...
Now I hardly drive an night, my eyes aren't what the use to be even after eye surgery, My backing skills have went south in the last year an I am starting to think I'm getting old  naw LOL
Safe Travels
Chuck
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naw LOL