How about some odd little tricks you have taught yourself about driving?

Always be a little afraid.

Never lose that afraid feeling you had when you first started out, because being over-confidant is something that will get you in trouble.

That is why many accidents are caused by drivers with 5 or more years experience.
'No Fear' has no place in trucking.

 

For some reason, you usually get what you give. Seriously!

 

I carry a 36 inch wrecking bar like in the picture. I find a 5th wheel pin puller is much lighter and come in various lengths. The steel ones can be used as a cane and are much lighter and fit in the hand better than a wrecking bar.

 

When pulling a tanker, I learned to shove a few rags in my cupholder to keep it tight so my coffee doesn't spill all over my carpet and underneath of my dash when the surge hits. Also learned to carry a spare air line to blow lines clear. I unloaded at this facility that was established in 1776 and after dragging, connecting and filling 6 hoses with caustic acid I was informed that their tank wasn't big enough to take the quantity I had in my tanker...

When pulling flatbed I learned to always have a spare winch bar, as many of mine have been left leaning against the trailer tire. I bent about 15 pieces of rebar trying to unstrap a lumber load in NJ, and the receiver was not impressed.

 

Backing into a pitch black dock? Put a flashlight on either side of the dock plate and line up with that.

 

Keep your eyes closed when loading a live turkey over your head!

 

If the idiot receiver pointlessly requires you to drop your trailer and park outside to get unloaded make sure they also don't put on airline locks because they'll probably go to lunch and or lose the guy with the key to the lock costing you additional hours due to their own idiocy.

Last time that happened to me nobody had any idea where or who had the key so I broke out my angle grinder and cut it off.

 

That’s not just a joke. It’s a real thing. This was at a gas station.