Rookie trucker backing fail | Millis Transfer

If you will notice, the Bramcity trailer was directly in front of the hole that I was trying to get into and was too close and didn't allow me enough room to get straight enough to start pushing the trailer into the hole without hitting it.

If you can't get into a spot they want you to drop the trailer at, go find another spot that's easier to get in. Drop the trailer, pick up your empty and move on. The yard dogs will figure it out. Don't burn your clock.

I’m a new trucker. It makes me feel better that I’m not the only one who gets real nervous when backing into a tight spot. My very first “tight” experience, I had several other brother truckers around watching. I tried my best to do a setup but was too anxious to finish. I parked it, got out and held up a $20 bill. They all asked what I was doing and I said I needed help / valet parking 😂. They all got out to help me and I learned a lot. They didn’t even take my cash but I gladly would have paid it. 😃

I've been driving for 37 years. You did the right thing. Safe travels

I would’ve dropped it anywhere and let them deal with it 😂😂

I've been driving 4 years now and there are still days where i seriously struggle in these tight places. Nothing wrong with saying nope to a dangerous situation. I've dropped in different places and let the customer know, and I've also requested a different dock door when they wanna give me the tightest damn door in the place. Most of the time they'll oblige if they can. Other times you just gotta take your time. My mentor told me "it doesn't matter how you get into the hole, as long as you don't hit sh!t!"

Even after nearly 2 years I still don’t handle tight spaces very well. Glad to see I’m not the only one struggling though.

Now THAT is a good, professional truck driver! No shame in getting out and looking. And no shame in admitting you're beaten in an impossible back. Too many steering wheel holders let their egos get the best of them---but not this guy. He's got far more skill and poise with these huge semi trucks than I could ever have. I'd be having a heart attack if I had to put a 53' trailer in that narrow space with that little room. Watching this reminds me why I gave up on driving semi trucks....I'll stick with my 26' box truck, thank you very much!!

It may seem counter intuitive but in a situation like that first spot you where in - sliding your tandems back so there is little to no overhang will actually make it much easier to get in a hole like that. While it does make your overall length longer, it allows you to start much closer to the hole and begin putting the trailer into hole much sooner because you can be really tight up against the inside corner of your trailers pivot point and there is no overhang to worry about.. Try practicing this way a few times when you have tots of loom to work with. Your initial setup would likely have worked with this method.

Hey man too me that wasn't a failure, that was a tight spot. I felt like that was almost impossible to do with a sleeper. You definitely did a lot better than what I could've done.

Man I commend you for maximizing your options as far as getting that trailer into that hole. I’ve been driving for over 4 years and knew as soon as you came upon that hole that it was going to be a challenge to say the least. If you continue to use the approach to backing like you did there even as you obtain years of experience, you’ll be all right. Way to go! 👍

I would’ve dropped it right next to that Ashley Home Furnishings trailer and called it a day 😂

Respect all the same. This is a profession few get into because of stuff like this. Stuff happens and even the pros mess up still. You still attempted it and you get better with every mistake. As long as no life was taken you're doing good 👌

2 week's ago I started learning for my truck license, now I have my first real life driving lessons and this kinde of channels are helpfull thanks every trucker for posting.

Rule to remember, sometimes it doesn't matter where you drop the trailer.

You can't call yourself a rookie, when you deal with your own mistake by learning and fixing it at the same time! Keep up the great work!

Brother, we all started somewhere. I felt your pain, man. You tried and that’s what counts, the more you do it, that easier it gets.

You had it at 10:12 but you showed great, professional GOAL judgment in deciding not to continue. Definitely never, ever, blindside if you can't get it in on the driver's side. As you learned it's much worse and increases the likelihood of a whoopsie. Great job nonetheless. Love your no quit spirit though!!

I had anxiety just watching! Great job!

Great video one of the best I’ve ever seen. Great explanation, effort, and discussion. No need to damage equipment. Dropping else-ware does not cost anyone anything. Others should take a lesson on how to analyze the situation for a positive outcome.

you're right it never hurts to get out and look! dont feel embarassed about it. im a new driver and had to do a 90 degree blind side back for the first time. probably goal'd like 10 times but i got it in there perfectly and it felt amazing

You’re a rockstar. Safety is number one. Great video!

I drove for Millis, great starter company. SE Region 2006-2009, Cartersville GA… You’ll definitely get better, take your time… you definitely had it… you just gotta get comfortable getting the nose closer to get that swing… great job!

I don't see a fail at all, and I love your attitude! You did give it your 3 or 4 best shots, and you didn't wreck the trailer. I'm currently in trucking school and don't have the skills yet to pull that off, but I've been in other industries to know some bullshit when I see it and that's what that yard was. I would give it a shot too, but wouldn't feel bad at all leaving it the same way you did. You've got a new subscriber. Thank you for the video.

Sometimes these are the best videos for beginners like myself to make sure I don’t do these mistakes 😂 Thanks

That was super tight! You did well regardless and you had enough since to G.O.A.L. and know when to let it go. Better than having to explain to saftey what happened!

This gave me way more anxiety than I was expecting, and I say that as someone who had to do a couple of nightmare backs as a rookie.

Just a reminder, you can always adjust your tandoms to help with less tail swing,

I usually say F it and find a easy spot and let them know on the way out. The yard guy can move it. I'm not about to jeopardize my career to back THEIR freight in a dangerous spot!

As an experience driver I know this pain way to well. The best thing I ever did was get an 2nd android phone that has 5 gig wifi. There's an app call baby cam. Set up the 2nd phone on an tripod. Both phones connect to each other over wifi

Thanks Bro, I’m in Truck School now & still learning how to back, this very informative. Can’t wait to get out on the road !

Terrific. I bet you slept good that night. .started at Millis myself .in 2003.shout out to Big Dan the training Man.from Akron Ohio

Man I feel your pain on this back up. I have been in those situations before and it gets a bit flustrating.

I watch your video's just for your 1st person view of backing. Hopefully it'll give me an edge once I start the Millis Academy next month. The one on this video looked rough.

Great video ! What helps me in that situation is to move my tandem’s all the way to the rear . Now you’re pivoting is at the rear with no tail swing to worry about.

You're awesome. Fails teach more then victories. You taught me. I'm new

Dang! Looks like you almost had it... great job demonstrating your skills and knowledge!

I am proud of your patience for trying so hard, sir.

so this is why they say avoid backing if at all possible and have a spotter to help thank you for showing this video, Im going into classes/training soon

Super glad you got out and looked. These new drivers just risk it all lol

Why did you call out rookie trucker driving fail? That was very professional

This looks very doable. The pivot point on the trailer is the tandems and with the tandems so far forword and so much trailer behind the tandems you needed to be partially into your turn before you ever got back to those trailers. So you needed to be farther away from those trailers when you started your turn. Your other option would have been to slide your tandems to the back in which case your pivot point would be the back of the trailer where the wheels are and you could have spun it on a dime... which is what you were trying to do but that's impossible with that much trailer behind the tandems unless the space is a lot wider than a trailer width. I mean looking at the video you had room in front of the truck you could have gotten farther away from it and got partially into the turn it wouldn't have been that difficult.

I give this "rookie" kudos for taking his time and putting in a good effort. I'm sure there are MANY seasoned drivers that couldn't get into the tight slot.

I had tight spot today I most defiantly called my old trainer 😂

You going to be a good truck driver if you approach things like you do. Stay calm, evaluate the situation, make a sensible plan. And don't worry about taking as long as needed even if other you feeling pressured by other drivers and kuddos for getting out and looking as many times as needed

Don't feel bad some parking slips aren't design well at all , but super props for trying and testing all your skills and of course performing GOALs when you need too

Had the same scenario @ Chicago old docks yesterday. Took me 30 min with dozens of goals. Ask shipping to for another open dock Lots open. No, they won't give. Said you have to work it. Good job men. I feel your pain.

For all of the time of GOAL, setting up, resetting up and possibly sliding tandems, why not unhook, hook to trailer in the way, move it, drop yours and put the other back in spot(in this case)? Seems about the same amount of time. Or once you see it’s too tight, don’t waste your time, go let them know. Those people couldn’t care less about where they tell you to drop it. Them: “Yeah go ahead and drop it in slot 5” You: “but that says compact cars with a compact car parked in there and some next to it” Them: “it’ll be ok”

The first CDL test I took I failed for getting out and looking 3 times. It’s nice to see real world shit situations. I didn’t count, but it was more than 3. You get an A for effort.

First off I want to say that you are an amazing driver good work on keep getting out and look. I had to do this 6 times at Albertsons in Portland. I just want to say you made a good decision 💯

You got a long way to backing up. I would of got in the first time. It takes years to master it. Good job trying my you got the right attitude for the job.

Release the tandems and have them slide while you back to reduce the tail swing.

That is not a failure. You didn't hit anything and knew your limitations. That is a win.

Damn!! My knees hurt just watching you get in and out of your truck. ; ) That was a tight spot

Lol "if the yard dog said he can't do it I feel better" lol I don't blame you bro

Should have slid your tandems to the rear. Then after getting in slid them back.

Watching your videos makes me want to come on. I already spoke with a recruiter, and they said,” we would love to have you with your 2 years driving experience!”

Good shit on that backing bro! 💪🏽💯

A little late to the party on this one but I work for Gordon Food Service 8 years now kind of… and I get out and look all the time like you did.

If you moved your trailer tandems back about 4 feet the first time you jumped out then backed it up you probably could have backed it on in no problem . Just a tip from an old retired driver. There's a lot to learn about maneuvering these things in tight spots . Including the geometry angels and tail swing .

Well the yard dog needs help also lmfao

I use a slightly different technique for backing into a spot like that. I put some money into the palm of my hand and go shake hands with the yard truck driver. That gets it in the hole every time.

Tough spot for sure!! I’m sure you’ve learned this by now but a good solution to the tail swing problem is to slide the tandems to the rear.

Good job brother it be like that some days but def love a good challenge lol

You hold your head up you done good trying it anyway you done the right thing brother

I'm a yard jockey at FedEx and a delivery driver in NYC. That's good careful backing I don't care how many times u get out and look as long as you don't hit anything. I probably slide the tandems to not have all that alligator tail on the trailer. I would try to slightly jacknife it without tearing up ur extenders just to get it in straight in the hole then come up straight to straight line back

You did right taking your time and goaling it the second you get confident and skip that step is when you will hit something . You could have gotten it in sight side just barely though . Two ways to deal with the overhang you can just slide the tandems to the back so you don’t have one . Or you can pace out the distance from the rear tire to the end of the trailer . Then pace out two away from the corner of the trailer your trying to back around and then one over and throw down a marker that’s where you back around to line up . Go practice that first though it’s been awhile since I have done it so I might have it backwards . But once you have it practiced it will get parked every time . And you will get a good idea on where to start turning in after you have done it a few times and won’t need the marker anymore .

I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. I had to slide the tandems all the way back in order to make the swing.

I been in those tight situations before man I know what you are going through here.

They want me to backup that tight I drop the trailer 😁

Just some tips don't hesitate to move the tandums if that helps and use the steering wheel tilt makes life easier when getting in and out of the truck, also one key is looking at the trailer wheels where they line up as oppose to the trailer itself

I hate yards like this, especially when other trucks waiting to pass it’s stressful

You should've slid your tandems all the way to the rear. Then you'd have much less trailer swing. But that was a tough one.

I admire that you got out an look several times just to be sure! That’s the purpose of GOALS to give you that assurance you have cleared your front, blind side n back, good job 👍

People think all truck drivers do is drive but they have no idea what we go through everyday like having to back up trailers in tight areas and having to find somewhere to park after 4pm for the night and getting stuck at a weigh station while your DOT clock is still running. That's to name a few!

The first maneuver was just a matter of patience, it went well. the second one has a better angle for the tractor but the vision for the trailer is worse since it is from the other window and mirror. I always try to get in using my window side, so I can see the trailer when the rear disappears in the mirror.

You had room on your first back. There was plenty of room to work with but either way that's just my opinion. Good job for g.o.a.l and not chancing it if you didn't feel comfortable. Like like others have said, slide those tandems for your advantage. I've had some tough places and have yet to fail to make it in and was actually impressed with the outcome. I look at it like a math problem. I look at it and know that by measurement and all it'll go but it's up to me to make it work. Some places I see and know that there is just no way possible and don't even attempt. Tight is tight but a square block won't fit through a circle.

Man, some things are just impossible, great effort! You got skills for sure brother.

Note: From a retired driver, When there is a Yard Jockey around, Let them do it. Don't EVER put yourself in a "tight" spot. It's your license, your time, your fault if it goes wrong.

In some of these places you don't have enough frontage so you can use the sawbuck solution, Give the spotter truck a saw to spot it for ya. It's cheaper than damage costs. Works for trying to pick one up when the trailers are too close to access the landing gear.

Imagine the skills of the yard jockey at that place.

I would have liked to slide my tandems all the way back if possible. Less tail swing always helps clear walls even if it does make the trailer less responsive and require a little more room in the front to get it where it needs to go.

Your doing good. The arc of the trailor tandems is the key. Sometimes your inches from the other trailor. Your only to clise when you hit .

Fail? that is not a fail. It was a good judgment call and a great video that tells us new drivers that sometimes it is just not going to happen. I started watching this video anticipating a trailer-to-trailer crunch. I am impressed. thanks for the good judgment call

Sometimes you have to just drop it amd let the uard dog put it in. . I do like the fact that you keep getting out and looking. . Not many young drivers will do that. . Hang in there, backing gets easier the more you do it

It was Absolutly Beautiful at 3:40. Had you pulled up with your wheel to the right instead of resetting to the left, you would have gotten underneath the trailer better and would have had better mirror visibility, all while making room for your blind side

You are doing the right thing got out and look . It's better to be safe than sorry

The old truckers magazine headline ad heading..'Make your move to Millis'...LOL!!

Never ever blindside unless its plenty of room and no trailers on either side.

I was in a similar position not too long ago like he was the first time when you feel like you’re about to hit the trailer on the driver side. Our instinct is to turn the wheel to the left to avoid it but it only gets us even closer to hitting the trailer on the driver side with the side wall of our trailer .. and the trailer on the other side with the corner of our trailer. There’s a little trick if you get the timing right .. if you turn it hard right, tightening it just a tad bit more, your trailer begins to straighten itself into the hole, and then quickly hard left. It’s a quick motion I would only do this if I’m backing next to trailers though .. not trucks. If I were in this position with trucks next to me.. I’d just walk away and find a new job lol

Who designs these yards

Thank you so much for showing this to a rookie

12:19 I feel you could have pulled coward to the right to get in front of it or snaked it forward to get even with it then straight line back. You had enough room to pull forward. I’m a rookie. But this is the story of my life I suck in backing💕

you could of made it a lot easier to set up further out from the hole, then you could get the trl almost straight in before Going in the hole. you had plenty of room to do this and you wouldn't need any pull ups. Another way to make it easier is to set up from the opposite direction by doing a u turn set up. 👍

driving since 2004. you are so right in that set up is everything. and get out and look. no shame in multiple pull ups. all that matters is no one or equpment gets hurt.

Looks easy but is not easy at all. Good job man, getting out and looking, safety first.

I sucked in the beginning and can back in my sleep now. 6 years in and I don't think any of of us very get comfortable with tight backibg. Its smart that u know your limits. Alot of us truckers r ego driven and will try to squeeze it in and break something

You could have came in the other way and did a blind side. I used to work Texas regional for Millis. Always slide your tandems all the way back when backing in a tight spot

Mad respect 4 nt being ashamed 2 gt out n look..... dats a vital key gt out n look as many times as possible.... n ur tandems all d way 2 d back made a difference also.. keep dat attitude n stay focus u gne b ok

What company drop yard is this?thanks for posting and take care.