Online driver training
Backing Techniques: Driver Training Series
Backing Techniques: Driver Training Series is a short online course for tractor-trailer drivers on backing safely. It covers the dangers of backing and general guidelines, steering principles, and the procedure for each manoeuvre: straight-line backing, alley dock, sight-side jackknife, blind-side jackknife, and parallel parking.
Duration
30m
On completion
Certificate, valid 36 month(s)
Coverage
All Provinces
Per seat
$59.99 CAD
You set up a training profile before you pay. It asks for more than a normal checkout does - your employer, your role, an emergency contact - because this is a training record, not a shopping cart. It is the file an auditor asks to see, and it is why you can pull your certificate up years from now instead of hunting for a PDF in your email. Give yourself five minutes and do it once.
Trusted by Canadian operators
About the course
What this course covers.
Backing takes up a tiny share of a truck driver's time behind the wheel, yet the most common incidents in trucking, and some of the most costly, happen while backing. They damage trailers, buildings and equipment, and occasionally they are fatal. The gap between how little time drivers spend backing and how often it goes wrong is exactly why it deserves its own training.
The course starts with the dangers of backing and the general guidelines that apply to every back, from getting out to look before starting to using a spotter where possible. It then explains steering principles: how a trailer responds to the tractor's steering in reverse, which is the part new drivers find least intuitive and experienced drivers sometimes stop thinking about.
The core of the course is the procedure for each manoeuvre. Straight-line backing, alley dock backing, sight-side jackknife and blind-side jackknife backing, and parallel parking each get their own walkthrough, so a driver can pick the right approach for the situation in front of them. A comprehensive student manual is available to print. The course suits new drivers, drivers returning to tractor-trailer work, and drivers retraining after a backing incident.
Pass mark 80%
Score the pass mark to earn the certificate.
Course outline
5 modules, start to finish
Each module ends with a short knowledge check before you move on.
Dangers and guidelines
Why backing incidents are so common and the general guidelines that apply to every backing manoeuvre.
Steering principles
How the trailer responds to tractor steering in reverse and how to control it.
Straight-line and alley dock backing
Procedures for straight-line backing and backing into an alley dock.
Sight-side and blind-side jackknife backing
When and how to use sight-side and blind-side jackknife manoeuvres safely.
Parallel parking
The procedure for parallel parking a tractor-trailer.
Developed to meet Canadian and provincial standards
What every course includes
Printable and mailed certificates
Digital wallet and wall-sized certificates print the moment the course is passed.
Standards compliant
Built on Canadian federal and provincial legislation, safety standards, and industry best practice.
Self-paced
Unlimited access to the training material. Pause and resume the course any time.
Live student support
Real support is available seven days a week if a learner gets stuck.
Unlimited exam attempts
The exam can be retaken until the learner reaches a passing grade.
Record of training
Training records are stored securely for three years and pulled on demand from the account.
Who it is for
Built for the people running the work
- Tractor-trailer drivers at every experience level
- New Class 1 drivers starting with a carrier
- Drivers returning to tractor-trailer work
- Drivers retraining after a backing incident
- Driver trainers and fleet safety staff
What you walk away with
Able to do the job, not just describe it
- Recognise the dangers of backing a tractor-trailer
- Recall and apply general backing guidelines
- Explain how steering controls the trailer in reverse
- Choose the right backing manoeuvre for the situation
- Carry out straight-line, alley dock, jackknife and parallel parking manoeuvres safely
Pricing
One seat or the whole crew, priced fairly.
A single seat is $59.99 CAD. Buying one at a time, ask our safety experts for 10 percent off your first course. Training more than two or three people is cheaper through a free On-Track Safety corporate account, which also tracks every certificate and renewal date for you. Move the slider to see the difference.
- Free corporate account, no setup fee
- 20 percent off every course for the first three months
- Automatic certificate and expiry tracking for your whole team
Team pricing
What it costs to train your crew
Individual purchases
One seat at a time, list price
$299.95
Individually with a 10% code
Ask our safety experts for a code
$269.96
Through a free corporate account
20% off every course, first three months
$239.96
A corporate account saves you
$59.99
on 5 seats of Backing Techniques: Driver Training Series
No setup fee. The account also tracks every certificate and expiry date for you.
Certificate and format
How the course runs
Your certificate
Pass at 80 percent to download a certificate of completion, valid for 36 months. The course can be taken three times.
- Fully online and self-paced, a short course
- Part of the Driver Training Series
- Printable student manual included
- Instant access once the seat is purchased
- Valid for 36 months
Why it matters for compliance
Employers must assess hazards in their operations, and backing is one of the most commonly identified hazards for fleets and yards. Driver training is one control, used alongside spotters, cameras, yard layout and procedures. This course covers technique; drivers still need practice with their own equipment.
Common questions
Questions buyers ask
Which backing manoeuvres does the course cover?
- Straight-line backing, alley dock, sight-side jackknife, blind-side jackknife, and parallel parking, plus general guidelines and steering principles.
Why is blind-side backing taught separately?
- Because the driver cannot see the trailer's path on the blind side, the risk is higher and the procedure is different. The course explains when to use each side and how to do it safely.
How much does the course cost?
- The course is 59.99 CAD per seat. Ask our safety experts for 10 percent off your first course, or a free On-Track Safety corporate account for 20 percent off every course for the first three months.
Is this for straight trucks?
- No. This course is for tractor-trailers. Straight truck drivers should take Backing and Parking: Straight Truck Series.
How long is the certificate valid?
- 36 months from the completion date.
Can it be used after a backing incident?
- Yes. Many fleets assign it as documented retraining after a backing incident, alongside a ride-along or yard practice with a trainer.
Does it replace hands-on practice?
- No. It teaches the technique and the procedures. Drivers still need supervised practice with their own tractor and trailer to build the skill.
What are the general backing guidelines?
- The course covers guidelines that apply to every back, such as avoiding backing where you can, getting out to look before starting, using a spotter where possible, and backing slowly. They apply whichever manoeuvre the situation calls for.
Get your team trained, on the record.
Enrol one person now, or set up a free corporate account and train the whole crew at 20 percent off with every certificate tracked for you.