How To Back Up A Semi Truck/Trailer Easily 

Hi Alex hope you are having a blessed day and who ever is reading this I hope you have a great day to but I don’t think anyone is going to read this

With a semi trailer it is best to forget the steering wheel and the tracktor. Think as if you were holding the 5th wheel pin in your hand and you are pushing the trailer into the parking spot. Your brain switches to think differently and backing up becomes easier. Great videos, thanks Alex!

My teacher at school told me to turn towards the problem in your mirrors and it helps. Like if you see your trailer too much on your left mirror turn it towards the left

I can guarantee you guys that you will not understand for some time. However, after some practice, it will “click” and you’ll understand how it works. When i trained people to back up with trailers, i always explained that they’re pushing the trailer. So instead of thinking of backing up, imagine your truck facing backwards and pushing the trailer backwards

an easy trick my instructor taught me, that really helped me get the hang of it, was hold your steering wheel from the bottom, and then move it towards the side you want your trailer back to move. it helped so much to learn. after a while, you just know it from heart, which way to move.

There is a better way to back trailer….. when you are at point to put tractor in reverse, drop your hand to bottom of steering wheel…. Use mirrors … if you want trailer to go left, rotate your hand (on lower steering wheel) to left.

This was helpful Alex . Turn left trailer goes right , turn right trailer goes left . I’m 22 and from Fresno and want to pursue a career in trucking as well I did want to do law enforcement like you as well , until my uncle said he did trucking and he could get me in . I’ve done a few ride alongs and fell in love with the job . Super excited to hit the road . Keep up the vids Alex !

Good video. Got to remember though, not every yard has lines and not every yard has that much space. My instructor always told me when looking in the mirrors, always turn towards the problem. lol

Thanks Alex I definitely needed this video. Third day out and today was kinda tough backing into a spot between two trailers, I was doing exactly what u said not to do and that was turning my wheel too much after I figured it out eventually 🫣 I got in. Tomorrow is a live unload I’ve nevr backed into a dock before for a live load I’m nervous af!! Should be sleep right now but my nerves has gotten the best of me today

Can do a video on all your pre trip checks befor you start driving

Yo man I'm a retired truck driver I love the way you explain that for those new drivers

Right is left, left is right, right is straight straight is right Tail, tires, trailer, drives Left lose, right find Little goes a long way Jog to chase 45 or less 👍🏼

What I did in cdl school is hold the bottom of the steering wheel, so when you turn left the trailer goes left and when you turn right the trailer goes right, it made it easier for me and I passed all 3 of my maneuvers without getting any points

Great video Alex! A nice approach in those two situations, it really shows the skills you have with the truck. I hope you can make another one with a very tight scenario and less space to maneuver. Have a nice day! 🙏

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Feel bad for u americans with 2axle trailer without steering on the rear

Hey Alex love the channel man and the videos keep up the hard work and keep trucking Vamonos!!!

If any truckers need rentals hotels on the road comment I’m a travel agent and would love to help .. the truckers help our economy and I want to help them

Thanks for that it helped a lot I’m going to start my classes soon and I been very nervous on parking so thanks I hope I get this all figured out

I grew up around there I think. If ur in the Central Valley. Now I just started a new careeer at 55. Backing sucks at the moment

Nice video brother, I’ve only been truckin for 6 months so far like u said it’s all about practice and getting behind the wheel and being safe. I’m not sure if u ever slide your tandems all the way to the back of the trailer but that’ll be a cool video man since the trailer timing is different it’ll also be very informative thanks brotha may god bless you🙏🙏

Hi

Show some alley docking. And blind side

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and it’s means a lots to the new truck driver

Thank you for this video ! Can you do videos like this again really enjoyed listening to you very helpful bro! I stay updated when you got a new video up I watch it right away. Please do more tips and dos and dont when u can bro

Thanks bro...man I knocked a weird alley dock at work today..only had one pull up..I still have a permit but damn did I impress myself. Thanks bro

So basically it’s no different then backing a bumper pull trailer on a pick up truck because I have done that multiple times and some times in tight places

Does your body and back hurt from sitting long hours driving?

I love your videos! I really liked this one, most scared of this part lol! I’m soon to start truck driving class! 😬

It sucks when there is no lines cause thats how I park, by my tandems and the lines, but I tell everyone who cares if you have to pull up 10 times, #1 goal is to not hit anything, you will have good days and bad days, just don't hit anything.

And remember guys. Always go slow so you can know what the trailer is doing

Why don't you just open the doors before you start backing like that other driver did? Or if you don't feel comfortable doing that how come you pulled all the way up to him just to open your doors?..

In this scenario, the easiest to have done the straight backing since you have so much room.

I will never drive a machine like this. But I’m very interested in this and you are a very skill full guy!

If anybody wanna learn that at home, simply buy yourself a toy truck. Even simplest wooded small-kids toy will work. Touch the front of tractor and and try to push the trailer just by pushing tractor back and to left/right. Once you manage something like that reefer/curtainsider, then jump to B-doubles, A-doubles (like FedEx) or even Triples.

Can you drive a manual too or just automatic ?

Any advice for taking the permit test and the driving test ?

4th comment lets go whats up alex

Ive been driving trucks for 3 year and recently got to go over the road for first time in my driving career and i like it. With that being said backing up into truck stops to rest is tight and difficult especially when it is busy! What help the most backing is although you can see your spot you want to back up on driver side view for me i want to see the truck next to the spot on where im going to back up to if that makes sense. To me it gives me more confidence on how much to turn.

Props Alex but those are the easy ones. I know u probably have more challenging backs than that and I hope you'll do a video on your hardest one soon. Blind side alley docking off a busy street into a tight bin and the like is the reason I stepped away for while....loved driving and miss it, but man there are some tough backs out there.

Make it easy on yourself.. Put your hand on the bottom of the wheel ( 6 oclock ).. move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Make quarter wheel turns.. 3 oclock and 9 oclock.. doesnt take much

Bro look at all that space you have. Plus no trucks next to the door you are backing in. I call your bluff. Let's see you do this video at truck stops. I bet you can't. You could of did a straight back you had so much room. Weak bro WEAK.

Excellent brotha the setup for a backup is really important. And if ur not sure Get out and look drivers it’ll save u a lot of headaches

I recently got a job that part of my responsibilities is to back up a semi truck and trailer quickly in a busy lumber yard.now I make sure the cab and trailer are pulled forward till the are in line and straight,Everytime I need the trailer to go right so I turn the wheel to the left and Everytime the trailer turns left.guys in the yard yell at me to turn the wheel left not right and I show them that's exactly what I'm doing and they just walk away confused.just looking for some pointers.thanks

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This is one of the best ways to do this and play American truck sim and this is just what I do with a wheel

Alex you give me a hope of last year l will a drive of truck in Texas GOD bless you

It's very unfortunate that this trade has gone down the way it has since the 1960s because back then you had some skilled drivers now you have a bunch of people who don't even know how to drive their personal vehicles let alone a semi

make part two

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1st

Okay but when u first pulled up to door when do you get out the hard right when u see both trailer land gears or until I can see door ???

First one

proud to announce i backed into my first dock today by myself.

blue

My first day with the yard goat was yesterday and I messed with the steering wheel like a mf 🤣

I think it'd be easier to open your doors prior to backing

Bro you should have been my mentor these mentors now a days are horrible 😑😒😩

That’s what I was messing up on at first, over steering

How you know when your 5th wheel is aligned with the door?

It was a pretty good explanation until I saw your shoes

Hey 👋

Thank you really made a difference in my life❤

do a serpentine video where you need to move your trailer over

Why you have the kids car seat in front of?

That's were I need the most help with 😢

I wish I could see in your mirrors better

Just started my first parallel parking today, any tips for that my guy? Haha

Thanks for this video man I’m in a 5 week cdl class and this definitely helps

I have had my cdl for 8 years and still can’t back up I don’t drive anymore I just gave up

Play american truck simulator trust

Múy bien Alex! Clear and well executed! Vámonos! Very well done, thanks and safe travels! Adiós from NC!

Lol! You're right. Most drivers do look at you like you don't know what you're doing. Hang on to your squeeze ball and zigzag your way across parking lots.

My instructor told me to do quarter inch turns is the best way backing up more slower but flawless,,,untill you get good ...

I Was A 88M In The Army. Backing Up With A Trailer Is BEYOND Hard For Me Smh. I Can Never Catch It On Time And My TC Typically Sucked Too🤣

What camera are you using?

Impossible to see it clearly.

Nice when we have that much space.

Bro is driving without hood mirrors? As a new driver, I'm like fuuckk that lol

Hey, are you guy’s hiring?

I've always backed up as you explained. Keeping equally the same amount of trailer in both mirrors after you get the tractor under the trailer. However, for those who get confused between right/left and left/right is to keep hands on the bottom of the steering wheel. That way, it is right/ right and left/left.

As a new driver, this was helpful. I've discovered setting up to back is every bit as important as actually backing, and the tip with turning once the fifth wheel is lined up was really useful.

What's the furthest city you've ever traveled to? I think you said your from San jose right?

Where are you from?

Great video bro 😎👌.

Bro why tf did you pull THAT far forward to open your trailer??? You only needed to be like 6 feet from the dock

your channel should be called Alex el ninio …. poruq estas chikito

Try using just one hand on just the bottom of the steering wheel, little truck I learned from @smarttrucking and it really helped. If you can back up a small trailer like a boat or a utility trailer you can back up a semi. The little trailers are very squirrelly. Hey Alex do you have a IG? Looks like California from the videos but I’m just guessing from living here for 49 yrs

Thx I will apply this to my trucking in Ats since thats thr closes to training i will get till I get older and get a CDL.

Your driving wonderful ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Is getting your cdl easy? I'm from fresno I want to pursue to get my cdl from fresno truck training.

Are you using a go pro with a Chest mount love the footage

You basically snake it i move around trailers tankers and isos at my job and at first it was real difficult but like alex said practice makes perfect

Excellent video Alex. Ben fatto! You're a great teacher.

Always going to stick to me turn left it’ll go right. Turn right and it’ll go left. Thank you ! Great video!

You going be put on bonehead truckers for wearing flip flops lol

This was and is the best backing video I’ve ever seen!!!….thank you bro!!

excellent tips! are you regional? thank you.

I’m still learning that now and I’m in trucking school and it got easy now

Bro, you took both hands off the wheel so many times while driving. That’s some rookie stuff. If you are going to make driver content then drive like a professional. You are going to kill someone making videos and talking with your hands while driving.