If you could give your newbie self advise? What would it be??

Protect your CDL at all costs. It's your livelihood and a experienced driver with a clean record has a golden ticket.

That trucking company needs you a lot more than you need them. Don't put up with any BS.

First impressions are usually right, if the job sounds wrong, it is, move on.

STOP before you make it worse. Everyone makes mistakes gets into some place they shouldn't, etc. Stop, get out and think before making the problem worse.

Never get into someplace you don't know how to get out of. If you have to stop in the middle of the road and throw the 4 ways on, so be it. If you have to walk a half mile down a road to ensure there's a turnaround, then get to walking.

Get all your endorsements that are "free" (tanker and doubles), ya never know when you might need them. Hazmat is great too but it's expensive to get and keep if you aren't using it.

Night driving isn't really as bad as you think. It's kinda nice to be out with no traffic.

Loves is better than PFJ and most independents are better than both (with more parking, less full of mega's). Always go to a Sapp Brothers if you can.

Gloves, use gloves.

Fast Orange wipes are amazing for getting grease and crap off yourself before you climb in your truck (just found these honestly).

When the recruiter says "oh, I don't know my company's safety score right off hand", you can tell it's bad and you should keep looking.

 

1. Always take your time. The more you rush to farther behind you become.
2. Never be afraid to admit you don't know. The only dumb question is the one you never ask.
3. Never stop learning. Learn everything you can from trade magazines, trucking news papers, old timers and so on.
4. If you make a mistake be man/woman enough to admit it and learn from it.
5. Always strive to use good manners and etiquette, they will pay you great dividend's and open many doors.
6. Stay calm and cool. Never fret the small stuff and never loose your cool with a shipper or receiver.
7. Plan your day, enjoy the ride, and have fun on your journey.

 

Get out and look. Always no exceptions.

Always check the locking jaws on the fifth wheel even after tug test.

Forget gps. Maps and directions are best.

Never be to prideful to ask for help and always listen to the old timers when they are trying to teach you.

 

Even better, clean all glass, headlights, mirrors and Rain-X the hell out of 'em. Water won't stick long enough to freeze. LOL

 

That last one is good. I wish I woulda done that a time or two.

 

My best advice to anyone coming out here is exactly what I was told by the many people whose brains I picked...

1) Never think you know everything.
2) You can go too slow as much as you want - You can only go too fast once.
3) Assume everyone else is drunk or blind, and you won't be surprised. Expect the unexpected.
4) If it doesn't feel/look right, or you're not comfortable with it, DON'T DO IT.
5) NEVER run in a pack.
6) Never laugh or look down on someone having a bad day or in a tough spot -- even a 30-year veteran can have a bad day.
7) If it's bad enough to chain, park it - it's not worth it. The dispatcher will have a litter of kittens, but they'll find homes.
8) If you can't see it, don't trust it. GET OUT AND LOOK!
9) Don't trust a GPS any further than you can throw it. READ THE SIGNS! A GPS does not know the clearance of every bridge, nor does it know every bridge in existence....

And last, but not least, the LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO in event of a blowout, is slam on the brakes. DON'T DO IT! ESPECIALLY WITH A STEER! THE RIM WILL LOCK UP, DIG INTO THE PAVEMENT AND TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO A ROLLOVER BEFORE YOU CAN THINK! Stay calm, keep your foot in the throttle, steer as needed to keep the truck straight until it stabilizes, and slowly back out of the throttle while slowly steering to the shoulder. This goes for being on snow as well. Gentle, easy braking does it. And DON'T USE THE RETARDER IN SUCH WEATHER!

Also, think of following distance as you would a defensive weapon, because it is the only real defense you have. Better to have it, and not need it, than need it, and not have it.

 

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Truck Stops, rest areas, shippers...

are not the place to make up time. Go slow when driving through, you have trucks pulling out, backing in, pedestrians walking out from the shadows.

When walking through be careful, don't walk too close to the front of trucks and make eye contact with anyone in the driver seat. Be careful if walking between trucks and never walk between the back of two trailers that are back to back.

If someone is backing stay back and wait, don't try to sneak around them. And turn off your headlights.

Parking lot accidents are common and the occasional pedestrian getting run down or crushed also happens.

The fuel lane is for getting fuel, not for parking.

When you park get it in the middle of the lines and get it straight. Space can be tight, check the back of the trailer and move it back as far as you can.

 

Use birth control

 

Stay out of California ...its a very expensive state