How long till everything becomes natural and the nervs die down?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by mcmanly, Oct 23, 2014.

  1. mcmanly

    mcmanly Light Load Member

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    Sep 22, 2012
    NE PA
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    I still have to remind myself not to hug curves and turning is still a nightmare and a half.


    Just the other day I had to put my hazards on and sit there for 20 min till a cop came out and directed traffic since I couldn't complete my turn and the cars in front wouldn't move past me(allowing me to complete my turn) because they "didn't feel safe"
     
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  3. damutt

    damutt Road Train Member

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    it does take a few months to were it feels more natural, just dont get overconfident. take your time relax you can do it it
     
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  4. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    Hmmm, never had that happen to me but at least you didn't hit anything. Everyone improves at different rates. I was a Trainer, I've seen just about all levels. Some guys will never make it others just take a little time. I'll give you a tip. Google maps the route to the customer from the interstate. The entire route. That way you can usually spot the button hooks. The mistake you made was that you didn't set your turn up right, don't worry about it just do better next time.

    I will say this, if turning is still hard for you, speak up. Get back on a trainers truck as turning is basic. Eventually you will just know where your tandems are, I can't explain how I know where mine are at I just do. But you better believe I still watch them in my mirrors. Turns are mainly about the set up, set your front end right and that trailer will clear.

    Some turns however, are just not possible. Recognize those and do not attempt. With that said, if I have the room on my front end there is not many places I can't put my rig.
     
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  5. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    Also, take comfort in the fact that you will improve. I, and many others drive a truck better than I drive a car.
     
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  6. mcmanly

    mcmanly Light Load Member

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    Sep 22, 2012
    NE PA
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    Was more the fact traffic stoped way to far up in left hand lane which didn't allow me to complete the turn and they refused to move for some reason . I didn't want to argue with them so we just sat there till a cop showed up.
     
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  7. w.h.o

    w.h.o Road Train Member

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    Chicago, il
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    A 4 wheeler didn't feel safe? Over here in Chicago I would make a wide right and they would jump the curb just to pass me while eating a Chicago hotdog. They scatter around me like roaches! It's a headache driving in cities but as long you can do it safely, that's all it matter
     
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  8. CargoWahgo

    CargoWahgo Road Train Member

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    Louisville, Kentucky
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    When in doubt swing wide.

    Maximize your space.... even if that is the entire oncoming lane. Be where you need to be before you need to be there. Don't worry about any 4 Wheeler ....be selfish. Worry about you.


    It takes around a full calendar year to get the meat and potatoes doing the 48/Canada. You still learn something new every now and then even if its a tiny detail as you go.

    Its impossible to hit the unique challenges of each region on a trainers truck. those challenges change with different seasons.

    After a few years you are just making circles ...

    Going to Canada feels like you are going out of town lol.
     
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  9. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    Well you made the right call, no worries. Certainly don't want to beat yourself up over it.
     
  10. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    That is a great line!
     
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  11. loose_leafs

    loose_leafs Road Train Member

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    Old Man River, MN
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    The fact that you were patient enough to not hit anything or run anything over means you are more professional than probably 90% of the new drivers out here, and over half of the so-called seasoned veterans. A lot of drivers run over curbs no matter how sharp or high, loaded or empty, and don't think twice about it. That's how rims get scraped and bent, and sidewalls blow out on tires.

    I work for a small outfit, so if i screw something up or wreck something, it WILL get noticed.

    It is a delicate balance of being aggressive enough to let people know your intent, without appearing to be a bully that wants to run everyone off the road. If a turn signal and the cab of your truck coming around a 90 degree street corner taking up 2 lanes doesn't get people's attention, sometimes a toot on the electric horn (not a blast on the air horn) will wake them up.

    I'm not quite sure what happened in your situation you described, but nothing got damaged so look at the bright side. You may have felt bad simply having to call the police, but you would have felt a lot worse calling the police and your company after you took out a stoplight or ran over a car with the trailer.

    About 10 years ago I made a wrong turn on the south side of Chicago on California Ave just south of I-55, and found myself face to face with a 13' 0" railroad overpass. It was already rush hour, and at that point it seemed like every car, bus and truck (low enough to clear it) wanted to use that street at that point. I already had traffic screwed up past the stoplight to my south on persing. Chicago had just had one of the biggest showfalls in years, plus every side street backed to pershing was either blocked with construction or unplowed with parked cars, no way I was going to risk it.

    , I called 411 and got a hold of the P.D. for that district, after about 20 minutes (what seemed like an eternity) two squad cars showed up. Two of the biggest meanest lookin brothers in uniform I had ever seen came walking up. I was sure I was in for a ticket. They walked up to the cab, looked at me, looked at the bridge, the front of the truck, first thing one of them said was "well, at least he didn't peel it open like a sardine can like the other 3 dumbf@#ks this past month!" they had a good laugh, I had a nervous laugh. So long story short another squad car and some sort of city car showed up and shut down the intersection of Pershing and California for a few minutes so i could back up and get the ^%$# out of everybody's way. Nothing got hurt that day but my pride.

    The moment you get overconfident and complacent is the moment you will make costly or possibly deadly mistakes.
     
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