What kind of manors or skills do most rookies lack?

Well I see this with older people and younger people.

Wear Shoes!!!! No one wants to see your nasty cruddy feet!!!
Wear real clothes!!! Not your pajamas when you're out of the truck.
Take a bath in the shower room not the sink in the restroom!
When you're in the restaurant DON"T BLOW YOUR NOSE AT THE TABLE!!!!
No need for the jakebrake in the parking lot.
If the truck stop has empty parking spaces DON'T PARK ON THE RAMP or DRIVEWAY of the truck stop.
Flash your lights, don't blind them with your bright lights when they pass you.
Don't walk behind a truck while they are backing!

Did I get most of what you were going to say RHM?

 

Omg...I think we're soulmates!!! One day some idiot is gonna regret pulling in a fuel island with me!!!!!

 

Pretty much...but I know you left out the fuel island on purpose.


I am guilty on the pj's (but only sometimes) and I think I used the jake in a ts lot a few times but I can't remember. But you hit a good one on the parking. Now I can't back that well yet but I dang sure don't park where I'm not supposed to if there is a space. It kinda goes back to the thread where you need to trip plan better if you want EASY PARKING. If you notice the guilty one are not rookies either!!!!

 

PJs? When I'm in my truck I'm at work. I shower, put on what I'm gonna wear the next day and sleep in that. I've always done that. If my truck catches fire I don't wanna be standing outside in my boxers and workboots.

 

30 people in your class!! Holy cow Batman! Puppy mill or what?

 

I'd get more help putting out the fire in my pj's.

 

lol and it always seems to happen when its the most inconvenient

 

Alot of these posts having nothing with being a newbie, but plain out selfish and/or mentally challenged drivers.


New drivers go through stages from under confident to over confident before they settle in. That usually takes 2-3 years.


Another thing is the sensitivity level and dealing with rude people and drivers. You do have to be thickskinned or you'll stress yourself out. You'll find yourself making rash decisions when you shouldn't be. Like getting mad at a customer because they are taking too long. You'll find out it just takes longer that route. Customers can and will play god if you make them mad. Because you made them mad, now you are there twice as long. The best way to deal with bad customers is to communicate with dispatch and let them or customer service deal with them.


Someone that has just left home for the first time, it's a whole different world out there then you are use to. There are different cultures in different parts of the country. Learn to be a little open minded and not judgemental because they aren't like you.


The driving part is a natural process that takes practice, practice, practice. You can't rush it. But you can listen and learn like you are asking now. The learning process never ends. The moment you think you know it all is when something happens.


That goes with habits too. You'll learn good habits and bad habits and they become second nature. Like using your turn signal. I would have to actually have to think not to use it for that to happen. That goes with many little things you do operating a truck. Learn your good habits early and they will stick with you for life. Identify your own mistakes and adapt.


Driving you have to be in it for the long haul, literally speaking. You can get away with a bad habit for 15 years and then it bites you one day. The more good habits you have, the lower your odds are of getting in an accident.


Be you're own driver. Don't be one of these monkey see monkey do drivers. Some bad habits are like a disease just because someone seen someone else get away with it.

 

Don't try to impress me with stories that aren't yours, trucker fables and by claiming experience you don't have.

Don't try to impress the other drivers by joining in the racist, sexist and other offensive talk on the radio.

Park straight regardless of how many pull ups you have to do. If it takes a while and you're crooked in the spot, wait for traffic to go by and fix it.

If there are three empty parking spots together, don't take the one in the middle.