C-Bears wrote:
I first learned when I was very young in the military going through AIT for Heavy Transportation. Don't remember much except you always use the mirrors and NEVER NEVER stick your head out of the window to look behind you while backing.
There are all kinds of tips about where to hold your hands on the wheel so you can remember which way to turn while backing....so on and so forth. I personally don't buy in to any of that. If you have ever watched most professional truck drivers back their rigs you will know what I am saying.
Except backing a long semi trailer is actually easier than a 25-35 foot 5th because they react far slower so you have more correction time. The longer the 5th the easier to back. Looking over shoulder is no problem IF you are backing on drivers side and lose sight of the rear corner of the trailer in the mirrors - better than backing into pole -tree etc. because you couldn't see it in the mirror. In fact if I am backing on the drivers side I can get in to the smallest spot pretty much unaided.