Getting used to it

Time frame??? Lessee now, be 39 yrs in Sept..... and I still hate OTR. Judge accordingly.

Seriously though, it kind of varies from person to person. There's always gonna be new situations popping up at you. But it sounds like you're well on your way.

Don't let yourself be afraid of the truck. Respect it sure, but it is only a machine. Respect yourself too. Think about what you've learned already. Just take a deep breath and take your time with new stuff. Don't let anybody push you or talk down to you.

Next thing you know, you'll be on here being called an "old guy".

 

I'm assuming you are driving solo Here is what I did. I have a web cam set up on my dash thats pointed at me not the traffic. I even talk to it and it records everything on my computer. Once a week a look at the recordings and see if I notice anything that is reacuring in my habits that needs to be dealt with. The minor things that seem big at the time only happen once or twice the major things happen 4-5 days a week. If you don't have a computer or cam a tape recorder will work if you talk out loud to it. Then you can address the issues that are important and the rest go away.

This depends on you. I almost never drive more then 8-9 hours a day. This way I never run out of hours and I'm not as tired at the end of the day or week. This also depends on your company some want you to drive for 10:59 min and find a ramp to park on for 10. If you don't have to do that then drive 8-9 hours a day and you will feel much better. If you do have to do that then try to find a way to deal and find a new company within a year.

Mountains and hills are easy. Most of the time signs are there that tell you what is jcoming up and you have time to shift for them. Why I like the mountains and hills is jthat they keep you alert and driving. Most drivers I see on the freeway got the arm rest up, the tunes cranked, and are texting or talking on the phone. They are comfortable. I'm not saying a driver should not be comfortable but sometimes comfort is a bad thing. When I get tired I change position around untill my body says this is new. Sitting in the same spot for 10 hrs a day makes you more tired then walking all day.

 

39 moe yars. LOL That`ll almost put me at 100 yars young.

 

???? You mean you don't know that after 50 you start counting backwards???

 

Good to hear from you Shimmymama! You are one tough chick! Glad things are going well for you out there. It is going to take you at least three to four months to get used to it and be comfortable out there. You said you had something wrong with your ears? One thing about driving over the road and especially if you are from Florida is the climate and altitude. You have spent all your life here in Florida at Sea Level and 100% humidity. Your body is going to go through all kinds of crap traveling around the country. Whether it be chap lips, nose bleeds, clogged ears, severe heartburn etc... I actually lost my hearing in my right ear when we spent some time in Denver waiting for our truck to be fixed. I had really bad allergies and my ears were really clogged and one day I got a real bad ringing in my ear and it was done! Either that or it was because that was the side my wife sat on and is constantly yapping at me going down the road! The dry air out there will really get to you too! Ever notice you pee a lot more after leaving Florida? Its because your body has retained a lot of water down here in the humidity and once you hit that dry air it all comes out!

Anyway its just going to take sometime to get used to everything out there. Pretty soon you will actually get anxiety if you are out or away from your truck for long periods of time. It really becomes your home! Once you do get home (FL) you will most likely have trouble sleeping in your own bed! So hang in there it will get better I promise!

 

"But I found what was going on between my ears was really affecting me and not the skills of driving."
Think she means mentally...ask in thinking too much or about other things. I know I tend to overthink thinks and it just backs it harder or get to thinking about my kid...then it really sucks.

 

It took me about two weeks getting used to being with a trainer, and another two weeks getting used to being solo. I'm still not used to going downhill, into a turn carrying 45k pounds.

 

just take it slow and become in-tuned with the truck it'll let u know what it wants to do