Finishing training and going solo in a few days...bit nervous. Any tips?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by stryker5673, Feb 27, 2015.

  1. stryker5673

    stryker5673 Bobtail Member

    36
    20
    Dec 14, 2014
    0
    I must say ive improved a lot since I started training. I'm getting my truck soon and I'm going solo but I'm nervous man lol. Mostly worried about finding places to park and backing into docks. Any tips you guys have would be appreciated. Oh yeah I'm doing national...
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    67,867
    141,707
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    My CDL school was only 10 days and I survived. You're probably a much better driver right now than I was when I graduated.
    I used to pull in to truckstops with lots of empty spaces and practice backing. Many times in the large truckstops there would be whole rows of empty parking spaces, especially in the back rows, and there I would practice. I became really good at backing and finally could get into spots that other drivers would pass by because they looked too tight.
     
  4. motocross066

    motocross066 Bobtail Member

    9
    5
    Jan 4, 2015
    0
    You will be fine! Just try not to be so nervous as to distract yourself from the job at hand. Parking is one of the biggest problems that I face and what I try to do is get into truckstops, plazas, rest areas, or wherever you prefer to break as early as you can or early morning when spaces are opening up. I know its very hard to plan trips around parking, but I'm finding out that its a big issue. I'm sure I will be criticized just like most everyone who comments here, but my advice is to look very closely at your route, try to foresee where you will be well before your hours run out, at least have a good idea, then as you progress through your day you will have a better idea where you can shut down. A Great investment is the Truckstop directory book. My Rand McNally GPS has parking areas detailed also. The backing to docks, well I was terrified of looking foolish when I was cut loose too, but just turn your CB off to ignore the idiots that sit bored waiting for someone to bash and take your time. Don't feel embarrassed or be afraid to get out , walk back, and look as many times as you have to. Trust me, Id rather have a super trucker make some fun of me being cautious than I would to tear a hood off a truck. You will be just fine!
     
    gnewb12, uncleal13 and Chinatown Thank this.
  5. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

    2,383
    3,652
    Apr 12, 2013
    Copperhead Road
    0
    What Chinatown didn't tell you is he first saw the lot at most scales was really empty, but he found practice backing there didn't go over so good.:biggrin_25523:

    Every new driver, bar none, has been intimidated to various degrees when backing in these situ's, mainly due to being too conscious of what others who are watching may think. Don't let that influence you at all. Just concentrate on doing safe cautious backing.
    If it requires 2 or 10 GOALS, so be it. If it requires 2 or 10 pull ups, so be it. But if you require 10 pull ups, better practice in an empty lot.. a whole lot more. ;)
     
    Chinatown and gnewb12 Thank this.
  6. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

    5,134
    17,181
    Oct 29, 2007
    Northern Ontario
    0
    Be the tortoise, not the hare.

    When backing take your time. It gets easier over time but trying to rush it won't help.

    When in traffic relax and keep your distance. Trying to get a second or 10 ahead will only get you a ticket, a broken bumper or worse.

    When you screw up (you will screw up) just relax and calmly deal with it. Trying to rush it too often leads to a bigger screw up.

    If you're a bit late with a load life will go on.

    If it takes you forever to back in and everyone is getting impatient life will go on.

    If you get stuck in heavy traffic and lose some time it'll only be a small blip in the big picture. Life will go on.


    It looks like you spend a good bit of time with a trainer. Things will look different when you don't have someone there with you but you should have the confidence to know how to deal with situations. If you relax, think of the big picture and don't try to rush things you'll be running along smoothly in no time.
     
  7. mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

    4,840
    7,709
    Dec 15, 2010
    Lapeer, MI
    0
    Great advice given here. One other thing to remember; everyone was a rookie once upon a time.
     
    stryker5673 and Snowshoes Thank this.
  8. GoLowes48

    GoLowes48 Light Load Member

    66
    65
    Feb 26, 2015
    0
    Shouldn't take long for you to get the hang of it. You have made it this far, and people have enough confidence in you to go solo. Be careful, don't speed, and always use turn signals. Also, maintain the appropriate following distance with the vehicles in front of you.
    Be polite and courteous at the shippers and receivers. People compliment you for things like that. Use a spotter when backing if possible, especially at night. Before you know it, you should have backing perfected! Good luck.
     
    stryker5673 Thanks this.
  9. hrdman2luv

    hrdman2luv Medium Load Member

    695
    34,847
    Dec 24, 2006
    100% Texan til I die.
    0
    Backing:

    If you have to jack it in, picture this: Imagine you're on the end of your trailer, driving it in. I know that's not a good description of what I'm talking about. But, if you can imagine yourself on the back of your trailer, with a steering wheel back there, and your facing straight into the slot your trying to back into, it'll change your whole perspective on backing.. I don't know how or why. But it does.. And makes it 100 times easier to maneuver into a hole..
     
    Chinatown, stryker5673 and Krashdragon Thank this.
  10. hrdman2luv

    hrdman2luv Medium Load Member

    695
    34,847
    Dec 24, 2006
    100% Texan til I die.
    0
    Also, I've been driving for over 12yrs now. And there's no shame it taking a pull through. I'll take one over trying to back in every time. Work smarter, no harder.
     
    stryker5673 Thanks this.
  11. Snowshoes

    Snowshoes Heavy Load Member

    878
    664
    Sep 23, 2012
    Pleasant Grove, Utah
    0
    Great advice given here. I will echo, take your time backing, practice when you can, I have and still use pull thru's when available, GOAL, take all the time you need, turn off the CB when in a truckstop to avoid the negative comments from 'super truckers' that were never a rookie, or forgot what it was to be a rookie. When I started, I found myself in some tight and odd backing situations, blind side into a dock, tight docking etc. I found if I swallowed my pride and I asked for assistance, (an extra set of eyes as a ground guide) most (99.9%) were willing to help.
     
    stryker5673, KW Cajun and Chinatown Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.