One of the trickiest aspects of truck driving is learning to efficiently manage a trailer and back it up without much trouble. If you recognize yourself in this situation, remember that even experienced and inexperienced drivers may find it challenging. Fortunately, there is certain tried-and-true advice you can remember to at least make the procedure a little bit easier:
How to Back a Semi-Trailer
- Practice: “Practice makes perfect,” as the saying goes. Perhaps “practice makes better” would be a better way to state this regarding backing up a semi-trailer. The greatest approach to becoming more used to backing up a big trailer is to practice it. Simply practice backing up by using an empty parking lot or truck stop as your practice area.
- Take it Slowly: Be careful to reduce your pace if uncertain. This is particularly true while backing up since taking your time will allow you time to remedy any errors. Always go carefully while backing up; it is not a race!
- Watch Your Steering Wheel: This advice probably comes to mind from CDL school, but it is useful to keep in mind when you try to back up a trailer. Put your left hand on the steering wheel’s bottom. You should know that the trailer will travel in either direction you turn the wheel. Your trailer will travel left if you turn the wheel to the left and right if you turn the wheel to the right. This easy tip can frequently help you become an expert at backing up; just be careful not to oversteer from this point on.
- Use Spotters: Asking someone to assist you in backing up might be quite beneficial. However, remember that any spotter you choose to assist you with this should have prior truck driving experience and be familiar with how to operate trucks while backing up. Before supporting, make sure to agree on communication signals.
- Get Out and Look: Get. Out. And. Look, or G.O.A.L. is a shorthand for this. Due to the added time and annoyance from other drivers, it might be tempting to ignore this simple advice. However, you should not worry about this since it is far preferable to step out of your car, check what is behind you, and make sure you have enough room and a clear way. Allow other drivers to think as they like. After all, the most important thing is to avoid accidents, not what other people may think of you, by taking a closer look at your surroundings.
- Remove Distractions: Establish careful to make eye contact, use your horn, and turn on your indicator lights while backing into a busy place so that you are seen and heard. This will let others know you are there and what you are planning.
- Use the horn and lights, Be Heard and Seen: Make some noise while backing into a busy place to ensure you are seen and heard. Doing so will make others aware of your presence and enhance the likelihood that they will keep out of your way.
- Use Your Mirrors: Use your mirrors while backing up. They are there for a purpose. Additionally, keep an eye out for obstacles by checking all your mirrors, not just one, while you move.
- Avoid Backing Into Spaces (if at All Practicable): Usually, it is ideal to avoid any kind of backing at all, but that is not always possible. Simply avoid backing up in challenging situations, such as backing into a parking spot, if you can. Knowing your limitations can help you avoid situations when you do not want to try backing up. If you ever find yourself in this predicament, attempt to locate a parking spot that will let you pull through.
Importance of Proper Training
An essential component of appropriate truck handling instruction is backing up. Keep the advice above in mind to enhance this aspect of your driving.
