Safe Backing

1. Safe Backing Monthly Training Topic Ryder Safety and Loss Prevention

3. Backing Skill is required to be a safe driver. Professional drivers know the daily challenge of avoiding collisions with fixed objects while backing. Although a driver�s ability to see toward the rear is limited, this handicap can be overcome through the use of extra care and caution.

4. Backing Ask Yourself Key Questions Do I need to back? Have I checked for overhead powerlines, poles, ladders, awnings, etc? Are there pot-holes or soft pavement obstacles? Can other traffic encroach on my lane of travel? Can anyone potentially walk into my path? Do I need someone to control or block other traffic? Will ice, snow, fog, or glare restrict my vision? How close do I need to get? Have I secured the trailer doors? Have I put out cones? Should this approach and delivery be abandoned? Remember - YOU ARE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP!

5. Backing Get Out And LOOK! (GOAL) Nothing can replace the information gained by using your eyes on potential hazards. Walk around your vehicle to get a complete picture of what you are backing into. Walk the pavement surface looking for depressions and fixed objects, and be certain pedestrians are a safe distance from your vehicle. Look Up! Hazards may come in the form of power lines, awnings, or even building overhangs. Check side clearances and adjust your mirrors. Signal your intentions by giving your horn a light tap and rev your engine slightly as an additional warning. Use your four way flashers. Get to it! After checking, start backing before the picture changes.

6. Backing Minimize the distance you need to back by getting as close to the dock prior to moving in reverse. The less ground you cover in reverse, the less chances you will have striking a fixed object.

7. Backing Take a deep breath and commit yourself to perfect backing with no compromises. No one ever made up time by backing quickly. Slow movement helps you maintain full control of your vehicle and to correctly judge distances. If you are unsure of anything during your backing, revert to your �GOAL - Get Out & Look!�

8. Backing Check All Sides As You Back Keep your eyes moving to ensure conditions have not changed. Mirrors deliver a key portion of the total picture, but only a small portion of the total picture. To be certain, stop 3/4 of the way, set the brake, and once again get out and look. Experienced drivers pace off the distance between vehicle and dock. Then mark a place on the ground of equal distance from the driver�s seat. When you have stopped at that mark, you�ll be exactly where you have planned.

9. Backing Use All Your Resources And Guides A reliable and qualified guide can keep pedestrians out of the blind zone. Agree on hand signals you both understand. Turn off your radio and open your window. Keep your guide in sight at all times. If your guide disappears from sight - stop immediately! The final responsibility for safe backing remains with the driver - not the guide.

10. Backing The National Safety Council states, � In most fleets one out of every four collisions involved backing.� Therefore, we need to apply all the safe backing techniques we have learned to minimize risk.

11. Backing A Collision Occurring When a Driver is Backing Up is Considered Preventable if the Driver Backed up when the backing could have been prevented by better planning of the route. Backed into traffic stream when such backing could have been avoided. Failed to get out of the cab and check the proposed path of backward travel. Depended solely on mirrors when it was practical to look back. Failed to sound the horn while backing. Failed to check behind the vehicle parked at the curb before attempting to leave a parking space. Relied solely on a guide to help with backing up. Backed from a blind side when a sight side approach was available.

12. Backing General examples for proper use and placement As a target to mark the location/corner of where the truck and/or trailer will be positioned at the completion of the maneuver. Behind the truck or trailer to block/warn vehicular/pedestrian traffic to stay away from the intended backing lane. Once parked, the cones must be repositioned to warn and/or divert vehicular traffic away from the truck during loading and unloading (e.g., a blind corner, poor visibility area, etc.)

13. Backing Guides used to assist with backing are a fail-safe way to ensure safe backing? a) True b) False GOAL refers to: a) The governmental agency that oversees DOT collisions b) An acronym for Get Out And Look, a precautionary step in safe backing procedures c) Suggested hand signals used for guides d) What drivers yell when they perform a perfect backing maneuver Traffic cones may be used for: a) A visual marker to assist the driver as to when to stop. b) A warning device to block pedestrian traffic. c) Warning or diverting vehicle traffic away from the area. d) All of the above.

14. Backing A collision where the driver relied solely on mirrors is considered preventable.? a) True b) False A collision where the driver failed to get out of the cab and check the proposed path of backward travel is considered preventable? a) True b) False A collision where the driver backed up when backing could have been avoided by better planning of the route is considered preventable? a) True b) False Overhead hazards such as power lines are of little concern while backing? a) True b) False

15. Backing Mirrors will give the driver the total and accurate picture of all hazards a) True b) False With proper technique and attentiveness you can avoid the circumstances that can make backing difficult and dangerous a) True b) False Once the area is clear to back, the safest way to proceed is to Don�t hesitate so that the scene has less opportunity to change Wait, because the longer you wait the safer the area becomes Wait for a guide to ensure a safe backing event. Ask any pedestrian to assist you while backing.

16. Backing False B D True True True False False True A