One of the most easily preventable accidents is when backing up. They are also the most common. In a perfect world, we would have plenty of room to maneuver into a position where we just have to back up in a straight line. However, this is seldom the case and when we have to start backing around corners, that’s where the accidents occur. The number one rule when backing is “G.O.A.L.” Get Out And Look. Make certain you are not going to hit anything when backing up. Backing accidents are always preventable, so be sure of your surrounding before backing up, including the area you intend to back into.
As we all know, truck stop parking spots are fairly tight, as they want to fit in as many trucks as possible, angle parking is almost always the rule rather than the exception. On rare occasions, when you have plenty of room, the “clock back” maneuver is ideal. Let’s assume the parking lot is a clock, with parking spot you want at the 6 o’clock position. For this example, we’ll assume you’re selected spot in on your left. As you drive past the spot, as soon as the spot is about the front of your trailer, turn the steering wheel to the right, all the way to the stops, and continue until the truck is at approximately the 2 o’clock position. Once at the 2 o’clock position, turn the wheels to the left all the way to the stops. When the truck is pointed to the 12 o’clock position, straighten the wheels, and stop. Your selected spot should be almost directly behind you, and you can back straight in with minimal maneuvering.
If you don’t have enough room for the clock back, then you’ll have to angle back. Whenever possible, do not back on your blindside. Also, at all cost, avoid driving into a parking spot where you will have to back out. Backing in might be a challenge, but backing out is far worse, and even more dangerous. To angle back, again, your selected spot is at the 6 o’clock position, on your left as you drive past it. Once the spot is at about the drive axles, turn the wheels hard to the right until the truck is pointing at 12 o’clock, then turn hard left until the truck is pointing to 9 o’clock and stop. Turn the wheels hard right and start backing up slowly. When the truck is pointed at about 7 o’clock, turn the wheels hard right and continue backing, and you will be pretty close to perfectly straight when the truck and trailer are in line with each other.
As all trucks and trailers vary slightly, you may have to adjust the maneuver a bit, but this should give you a good guideline to avoid any backing accidents
