Does judging the required space for a 360 turn come with experience or is there any tips that can help?
Evil8Beezle:
MickyB666:
Should I also award myself this badge? Or is there some one else more deserving than me?0
Micky, there’s only one golden bellend on this site, and while I don’t want to say who it is!
Don’t be too EAGER to try and pry that badge out of his cold dead hand, as he won’t want to give it up easily!
I will be happy to BEAVER away with the other badge that I was awarded. 
MickyB666:
Does judging the required space for a 360 turn come with experience or is there any tips that can help?
It comes with experience. Some things to help out:
- Start off as far to one side as possible (as long as there aren’t hazards for your tailswing to hit). You’re basically trying to plant your backside as far to one side as you can, and then run the front of the trailer around the other side.
- Take the turn as wide as you can get away with, but…
- Remember that you can reverse back towards the trailer on opposite lock to get it to go a bit tighter, as long as you don’t bend it so far that you hit the cab against the side of the trailer.
- Watch that tailswing on the blind side - get someone else to watch you if necessary, as it will be totally blind to you.
- When straightening up, watch out for suzies catching on the corners of the trailers (particularly curtain winding handles) as they can be ripped off.
- Sharp turns with trailers don’t do the tyres much good. If the ground is uneven, it’s possible (likely) to rip a tyre off the rim. Try to do a gentle turn if you can, but sometimes you’ve no option. If you can lift an axle on the trailer then do it, as it will reduce the tyre scrubbing.
MickyB666:
Any more tips on getting into a good start position?If for instance I need to drop a trailer off and I am driving forwards along side a line of trailers on my left hand side and spot an available space is there a marker I could use to give me a clue as to when I should swing over to the right in order to bring the truck/trailer into line leaving the back end of the trailer nicely in line with the available space - assuming that there is ample space to the right.
I can’t really give you an easy set of instructions for doing this, as I haven’t figured it out myself - I just sort of “wing it” and it usually works 
What I would suggest is:
- Start off by driving the nose of the unit into the parking bay as far as possible, then at the last minute come back out - this gets the back of the trailer as far over as possible. You should aim to end up with the tractor and trailer straight, and with you being able to see the kerb in your offside mirror (right-hand side assuming that you’re parking into a bay on your left).
- Go back straight, and then as you think the nearside trailer wheels will be approaching the kerb, kink the unit around so that the trailer straightens up against the kerb.
- As the tractor unit rear wheels approach the kerb, straighten the tractor unit up again, and you will hopefully be parked parallel with the kerb.
Note that this method results in the trailer overhanging the kerb. Watch out for street furniture, pedestrians, walls, etc. and modify accordingly.
For getting on to a loading bay, it really depends on the situation - whether the bays are at 90 degrees or slanted, how much space there is around, how long your truck is, how many axles on the trailer and the length of the overhang, etc.
Personally I disagree with the “trailer must be straight when you start” advice. When I do it, I drive along the backs of the bays, then the truck is almost past the one I’m aiming for, steer full lock away from the bays until the trailer has turned about 30-45 degrees, and then full lock the other way, stopping when the truck looks nicely bent towards the bay I want. It’s then a case of chasing the trailer round the bend, adding or removing “kink” as it goes.
MickyB666:
I am having to get out and have a look to see where the back end is in relation to where I think it is and where I need it to be.
Looks like you’re doing it right - taking your time, getting out to have a look, etc. It will come with practice and experience.
To modify a quotation from Abraham Lincoln that another TNUK member likes to quote:
“It is better to take your time, get out and look or take an extra shunt and be thought of as incompetent, than to crash into something and remove all doubt.”
Thanks for the help MrFlibble 
Started last nights shift full of confidence but managed to make a complete mess of the first attempt at reversing onto a bay, it was that bad it was embarrassing, really really embarrassing and I left feeling like a right royal tw*t. 
I ended up accepting another drivers offer of a demo reverse onto the bay, during the demo the driver explained that I was getting it wrong because I was being far to heavy handed with the steering and I would fair much better by using small quarter and half turns of the steering wheel.
I then drove to another DC and armed with the fresh advise I had been given managed the reverse onto the bay, (hooray 
) I still took quite a few shunts but felt more in control of the manoeuvre. During this reverse I noticed that the reason I was having to take forward shunts was because I was waiting until the trailer was in line before straightening the steering up and by the time the change in steering had took effect the trailer had gone too far the other way - so from that I learned that I need to anticipate what is happening and react earlier.
The third bay park was back at the first DC centre and I was hoping that I could salvage a bit of pride by getting it right this time, started off really well - I even thought I was going to do it in one movement 
, however the trailer was a smidge out of line so I decided to play it safe and take a shunt, which ended up being three or four shunts - so not perfect but much much better than my first attempt at least.
Don’t beat yourself up over it bud, don’t try and run before you can walk. You’re not hitting things because you’re not arsed, so that’s all that matters.
MickyB666:
Started last nights shift full of confidence but managed to make a complete mess of the first attempt at reversing onto a bay, it was that bad it was embarrassing, really really embarrassing and I left feeling like a right royal tw*t.I then drove to another DC and armed with the fresh advise I had been given managed the reverse onto the bay, (hooray
The third bay park was back at the first DC centre and I was hoping that I could salvage a bit of pride by getting it right this time, started off really well - I even thought I was going to do it in one movement
As Paul said stop beating yourself up, you seem to think you should be able to master this in a couple of shifts and when it doesn’t go in like the experienced drivers you get annoyed with yourself and go to pieces and it gets worse, I’ve seen the same thing before with other drivers.
So it takes a shunt or 2, provided you get there in the end and don’t break anything it doesn’t matter, I mean it really doesn’t matter in the greater scheme of things.
The list of things that should worry you is something like this.
1 have you hurt anybody, No Good
2 have you damamged anything, No Good
3 did the you bring the truck back in one piece, Yes Good
4 did you deliver the goods, Yes Good.
5 to 1000 load of other stuff.
1001. did you reverse in one hit. No, Oh Well, I’ll get better with practice.
And finally I would avoid jumping into a truck where somebody was struggling and try and offer advice instead, but fair play to the driver who did a demo and gave you some good advice.
Thanks
I am not beating myself up, just trying to learn as quickly as possible - but you are right I should chill out a bit.
The demo drive was a case of me cutting my loses, normally I would stick it out as I believe the best way to learn is to do it yourself but for what ever reason on that occasion I was just not getting it right, getting more and more flustered, overly conscious of the watching audience and running out of driving hours and patience - however it didn’t turn out to be a bad choice as the advise given did help.
MickyB666:
ThanksI am not beating myself up, just trying to learn as quickly as possible - but you are right I should chill out a bit.
The demo drive was a case of me cutting my loses, normally I would stick it out as I believe the best way to learn is to do it yourself but for what ever reason on that occasion I was just not getting it right, getting more and more flustered, overly conscious of the watching audience and running out of driving hours and patience - however it didn’t turn out to be a bad choice as the advise given did help.
Yep chill out, that will help, and don’t worry about the audience, we all had to start where you are and most of us struggled, I know I did.
But sticking it out when you have run out of ideas and keep going wrong is unlikely to ever work. A pointer in the right direction made the difference to the rest of the days work, as for to much steering input, it is quite a common mistake for a new driver.
How dare you tools insult me like this. I am a proff…profeeso…prooofes. I am a proper driver.
Bellend, me? Pfft.
The reversing is slowly (very slowly) getting better but at times it does feel like one step forward and two back. I have recognised and started to correct a few mistakes that I have been making such as getting into a better position at the start of the reverse, making smaller movements with the steering and keeping the cab more in line with the trailer - I find that I can now mostly get it almost bang on - but I am still having to make a good few shunts to get into the wheel guides even when it just wants an inch or so one way or the other, I have decided that on the next reverse I am going to slow right down to inching speed when backing into the wheel guides to see if that helps. I have been stopping close to the wheel guides opening the trailer doors and having a good look at my positioning - the last reverse I did I came away from opening the doors thinking f**k me I’m going to do this in one movement and look a right professional… … it looked as if I couldn’t fail and all I had to do was take the brake off and let it roll back into position - however it didn’t quite go to plan and I ended up taking another 10 shunts, I think this was down to me being over confident and not concentrating enough due to the fact that I thought it looked so easy, hence why I have decided to slow right down on the final bit and concentrate until the very last …practice, practice and more practice.
I have picked up some easy night trunking work through the agency with runs back and forth from DC to DC, one DC has acres of space, the other still loads but a little more restricted, I am hoping the work is not going to dry up as it’s a good job for me to gain some reversing experience on.
Another thing that I have learned is not to try to run before I can walk, I tried to drop a trailer off between two parked trailers in a more limited space and lets just say it didn’t go very well (luckily no damage was done). There was an easier option available but I didn’t want to just wimp out - I have now had a change of heart on this thought process and decided that baby steps are going to be better, sticking with the easy option and building up to the more challenging reverses gradually - it doesn’t knock the confidence so much that way when things go wrong.
Mick. If/when you ’ do it in one ', do nor expect applause or fireworks lol.
The object of the exercise is to stick the trailer where you need it mate. Trust me mate, even when it looks like people are watching you, they probably aren’t. We are just staring into space, reflecting on not listening at school.
PaulNowak:
Just remember, the number of shunts you have to take is ALWAYS directly proportional to the number of folk watching.The first time you properly nail it in one, there will not be a single witness!
Hahahahah this is ‘so true’
MickyB666:
Thanks for the help MrFlibbleStarted last nights shift full of confidence but managed to make a complete mess of the first attempt at reversing onto a bay, it was that bad it was embarrassing, really really embarrassing and I left feeling like a right royal tw*t.
I then drove to another DC and armed with the fresh advise I had been given managed the reverse onto the bay, (hooray
The third bay park was back at the first DC centre and I was hoping that I could salvage a bit of pride by getting it right this time, started off really well - I even thought I was going to do it in one movement
I could have written this myself!!!
I recently started doing Royal Mail work through agency and have only done four shifts so far.
On my second duty I went to the same places as my first and I thought reversing onto this bay was going to be a no brainer as my reverses were getting better and I did it quite well the previous shift.
Wrong I was and I turned out a job which lasted a good twenty minutes (yes TWENTY MINUTES just to reverse onto a bay!!!) which was beyond a joke
I am getting there too slowly but surely
The advice to use small turns of the steering and shunt well forward are the best ones I’ve had
It’s just taken me 3 goes to get between the bananas at Tesco Reading. Hey ho, can nail it first go if I’m pulling a Schmitz or a Tiger, however our old Montracons have mahoosive mudflaps on them, and I’d rather take 3 goes to make sure I’m spot on, than spend half an hour reattaching a mudguard/bodging the clips.
You are a flap Nowak.
A huge ■■■■■■■■■
Are some trailers slightly wider than others?
The trailer that I thought I had lined up perfectly with the bay seemed to be, when I eventually got it on the bay I had a quick look and the wheels both sides appeared to be touching the banana’s.
Don’t give you much room do they! 
Keep your eyes peeled, and develop a thick skin.
We are a helpful bunch on here.
MickyB666:
Are some trailers slightly wider than others?The trailer that I thought I had lined up perfectly with the bay seemed to be, when I eventually got it on the bay I had a quick look and the wheels both sides appeared to be touching the banana’s.
Don’t give you much room do they!
I’d say yes, although I’ve never measured one, but on some of ours the mudguards are quite wide, then the mudflap hangs over by a good inch, if you nip the mudflap between the tyre and the banana, the clips on the mudguard are the weak link. Takes nothing to snap them. The trailer I’ve got on at the moment has both mudflaps touching the bananas. You can get around this by raising the suspension, if you can be arsed, which I obviously can’t, lol
xichrisxi:
PaulNowak:
eagerbeaver:
10 miles down the road when I remembered that I had left my number plate on the trailer, I wasn’t so smug.That’s because you’re a bellend. [emoji6]
Bloody amateur
I’m a 10 year Veteran and I left my number plate on the back of a trailer I dropped off in Doncaster,remembered when I got to Tamworth though so not too far away
Thats why they’ve put about 4-5 spares a plates in any lorries I’ve ever driven on Class 1…but we never swapped trailers
As all those units and trailers always stayed together…so never worked this one out, why■■?
MickyB666 my Dad’s in his 50th odd year driving, he’s still working at Aldi now and says some days he can’t park for ■■■■ so any day you get it on no issues give yourself a pat on the back 
I cant park anywhere with painted lines for guidance, ■■■■ MSA’s and some of our customers places. I just can’t do it properly after a year I seem to be a 2-3 shunt sissy to get it right not to inconvenience the rest of you, by parking at a slant or not in middle of the bay!!! I watch so many do it in one hit.
■■■■ that give me a wide load to blindside on a narrow lane with 2" spare either side of some gate posts with no help any day of the week, preferably with a line of irritated car drivers. Then I do it in 1 or 2 without thinking. 
Don’t even know what I’m doing different!!!
With loads of stuff to aim at and hit…somehow I miss my targets all the time my accuracy must be ■■■■ in reality…somehow I can shoot though
Keep up the good work bud you’ll get better in no time…however I’ve given up trying hats off to all of you who can do dock levellers and painted bays!
C