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Rookie Mistakes That Could Have Been Avoided

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by XxSerina_HeartsxX, Jul 31, 2014.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Jul 31, 2014 #1
    XxSerina_HeartsxX

    XxSerina_HeartsxX Bobtail Member

    9
    4
    Jul 29, 2014
    0
    I'll start off with one of my own.

    First week with my trainer I was asleep on the bottom bunk. He was nice and let me sleep on the bottom bunk as long as I slept on top of my own sleeping bag and pillow. Anyway, he was driving in traffic and had to make a real sudden stop. I can remember being thrown from the bottom bunk. Somehow I got my feet underneath me which only resulted in me stumbling forward through the curtain only to hit my head on the corner of the center console. I didn't see stars, but I did see a bright white flash of light. After my brain started working again all I could hear was my trainer whooping with laughter. Needless to say I slept with my bunk seat belt on from then on.
     
    XxSerina_HeartsxX, Jul 31, 2014
    XxSerina_HeartsxX, Jul 31, 2014
    #1
    GenericUserName Thanks this.
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  3. Jul 31, 2014 #2
    joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

    11,340
    27,291
    Nov 8, 2009
    The Highway To Hell.
    0
    Pics/video or it didn't happen. How dare you not let us all enjoy your pain and suffering!!!!!:biggrin_25523:
     
    joseph1135, Jul 31, 2014
    joseph1135, Jul 31, 2014
    #2
    48Packard, dennisroc, flood and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Jul 31, 2014 #3
    Roadrealtor

    Roadrealtor Road Train Member

    1,061
    1,070
    Aug 7, 2010
    Fort Myers, FL
    0
    The biggest rookie mistake there is choosing a company where you team with a trainer rather than ride side by side. If one of you is always asleep, how can you learn?
     
    Roadrealtor, Jul 31, 2014
    Roadrealtor, Jul 31, 2014
    #3
    drvrtech77, blairandgretchen, skyviper73 and 6 others Thank this.
  5. Jul 31, 2014 #4
    XxSerina_HeartsxX

    XxSerina_HeartsxX Bobtail Member

    9
    4
    Jul 29, 2014
    0
    We were doing the 5 on 5 off thing till I could actually drive for 10 without severe fatigue. He was with me when I was driving. When he drove if I was tired I napped.
     
    XxSerina_HeartsxX, Jul 31, 2014
    XxSerina_HeartsxX, Jul 31, 2014
    #4
    dennisroc Thanks this.
  7. Jul 31, 2014 #5
    POINTDEXTER

    POINTDEXTER Light Load Member

    103
    46
    Mar 6, 2008
    Virginia Beach, Virginia
    0
    After being giving my first truck not leaving the terminal with triangles. The truck kept overheating and I had to keep pulling over and sweating every time a trooper passed by. Also missing turns at night and then trying to flip around in places I couldn't see well. I learned the hard way turning into a jam will cost you a lot of time getting yourself out of that jam.
     
    POINTDEXTER, Jul 31, 2014
    POINTDEXTER, Jul 31, 2014
    #5
    hal380 Thanks this.
  8. Jul 31, 2014 #6
    Trygg

    Trygg Light Load Member

    221
    187
    Feb 11, 2014
    The West
    0
    Having the fifth wheel plate go under the king pin and hearing a thunk as the reefer hit the back of the sleeper. Yup, been there done that, never again.

    Funny thing is, maybe about a month after I did that I was in Colorado at the Coors plant there picking up some beer and watched another driver do it as well right in front of me. Only his wasn't just a slight thump, he was romping on the pedal in reverse and I'm sure he busted a hole through the sleeper. I couldn't help but laugh... and feel bad ... but mostly laugh.
     
    Trygg, Jul 31, 2014
    Trygg, Jul 31, 2014
    #6
    Lepton1, crappiejunkie and dennisroc Thank this.
  9. Jul 31, 2014 #7
    LindaPV

    LindaPV Medium Load Member

    414
    751
    Jul 14, 2014
    Pearlridge, Waimalu, Aiea, Hawaii, USA, Earth,
    0
    Don't leave paved road (dirt driveway, parking lot, staging area) without being sure what you're getting into. Do what you can to get snow or ice off the top of your trailer before you hit the interstate. Don't run out of wiper fluid during love bug season. Make sure you have a CB radio, because there's still plenty of area you can't get a decent cell signal. DON'T TAILGATE!!!!!
     
    LindaPV, Jul 31, 2014
    LindaPV, Jul 31, 2014
    #7
    hal380 Thanks this.
  10. Jul 31, 2014 #8
    sherlock510

    sherlock510 Road Train Member

    1,066
    1,057
    Jul 26, 2011
    Intercontinental.
    0
    http://youtu.be/OJ8WKscGo8I

    Never NOT funny 😂😂😂😂

    Pay attention for low bridges, don't jack the equipment up tryin to get out of ANY situation.
     
    sherlock510, Jul 31, 2014
    sherlock510, Jul 31, 2014
    #8
  11. Jul 31, 2014 #9
    Dave 1960

    Dave 1960 Road Train Member

    4,021
    1,486
    Mar 1, 2010
    Shepherd, TX
    0
    Pretty much every mistake I made would have been better if I'd gotten out and looked.
    Yeah. Went miles out of the way to turn around.
     
    Dave 1960, Jul 31, 2014
    Dave 1960, Jul 31, 2014
    #9
  12. Jul 31, 2014 #10
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    12,048
    60,658
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    Allowing panic to over ride logic.
     
    blairandgretchen, Jul 31, 2014
    blairandgretchen, Jul 31, 2014
    #10
    allniter, OPUS 7, tinytim and 2 others Thank this.
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