Hey Wannabes! Do you do this?

A couple years ago I was driving south on I-75 in Chattanooga in my personal vehicle. Everyone who has driven a truck thru there knows that I-75 is the left 2 lanes & I-24 is the right 2 lanes. Any how, I had my uncle riding with me & we were engaged in a conversation. I then ended the conversation slowed way the hell down... My uncle looks at me & asks me why I did that? I told him to watch that mini van in the left lane. She is on the telephone & we are coming up the the split. She wants to be on 24, so she will be cutting through all this traffic at the last minute. He asked me, how do you know? I didn't know. I was just watching & all the signs were there. Well.... At the last minute she swerved from the left lane all the way to the right lane taking 2 other vehicles out with her. I would have been one of them if I wasn't watching & guessing what her action were going to be.

 

What? You're supposed to pay attention to what's going on outside?!?!

When did that become necessary? How am I gonna watch movies on my laptop and send/recieve texts when I'm paying attention to what's going on outside?

You people are just putting too many rules on me...

 

Well, I don't know about that. There are a few of us, not many but a few that don't have that death grip on the wheel as we have been on the road in truck's before. My instructor was insanely impressed by me riding with my seat all the way to the floor, floating gear's and completely relaxed while I was in Prime's CDL training. I never could stand my seat being jacked up in the air like that. I've never had a DUI/DWI, never gotten a ticket and only one accident sense I first got my driver's license which wasn't even my fault. There is a fine line that need's to be drawn here: Both type's can get a truck to move down the road, but there are "operator's" then there are drivers!

 

Im in Phoenix and have the same situation where freeways split and people foolishly risk their lives and the lives of others. I've always had a high regard for truckers and do what I can to help them on the road be it give them room, yield, ect. I also ride a motorcycle in addition to my 4-wheeler, and that will also open your eyes to defensive and courteous driving if you're smart about it. It still gets my attention once in awhile in my 4-wheeler when I miss a motorcycle in my blind spot and get surprised he's there. I think to a trucker, any car could be like that motorcycle to the 4-wheeler.

 

You forgot about putting the truck on "auto" while you go back to the sleeper to get a sandwich and another cup of coffee from the pot....

 

From someone who learned to drive a Big truck about 20 years ago, what you've described is familiar because I did the same things. I even went to busy warehouses to observe how drivers set up for and backed into docks. Anything Big truck related, including offering to help drivers polish their aluminum in exchange for picking their experienced brains.

When attending school, arrive early and leave late. Try listening to the instructor's road stories before class. Eat lunch within earshot of their conversations and join in. One thing truckers like to do is tell their stories, and those stories often provide insights and lessons y'all will remember long after the book learnin' fades from memory.

I assume that you're aware that the BAC allowed for those with a CDL-A is half what it would be for a lower class license? From 0.08 to 0.04 --- even when off duty, on vacation in your personal vehicle --- 0.04 is your limit.

 

I am in training and drive every other day in a FL and I do admit I notice more of the things around me than I did in my 4 wheeler. I watch the rigs and think to myself about which type I want to drive: reefer, dry box, flat bed or tanker. I am taking my CDL training at a local college and it is a 6 week course. There are only 4 people in my class and there is 2 trucks so we are getting a lot of driving time. We got to drive on the snow and ice before Christmas, the teacher says he wants us to have at least 100 hours driving and in every weather condition we can since we will be doing it on the road. I feel that I will have good training when I get out there.

 

Try to go with tanker . While most of the larger carriers require 2 years OTR Schneider and smaller companies don't . There are a lot of water tanker haulers in TX . There are also tankers hauling milk and chicken fat . When I was driving for Moorman Farms I'd deliver chicken fat to feed mills in TX and AR from Griffin in Jackson , MS .
A couple of weeks ago I was driving through Nagadoches and heard a local company advertising for tanker drivers .
Tankers have their advantages . You have far less wait time and many loads are dedicated with deadhead miles paid . You can also see the rear of the trailer and know if someone is tailgating you , including LEO's with blue lights flashing

 

I know I became a much more courteous driver while in my 4 wheeler when I was a student. I also slowed down. Now I notice everyone in their cars are in a big hairy hurry. I've driven B trucks before and always paid more attention than when in my 4 wheeler.

 

You really need to see just how far ahead you can train yourself to look. I know it's hard in a 4 wheeler but when you start driving a big truck you'll need to be watching just as far ahead as your eyes can see.

Pay attention to license plates especially in large cities. Folks from other states don't really know their way around too well and can put you in a bind that you may not be able to get out of with their last minute lane changes. Then sometimes you can tell just by their body language and their erratic driving behavior that there is a potential problem getting too close to them.

Watch those ramp speeds some of them are way too cautious others will just about turn you over with the posted speed limit ... if you don't know the ramp, err on the side of caution and stay at or below the ramp speed.

Realize that your you aren't going to make much time in most cities so forget about trying to be super trucker in town ... if you are going to make any time it will be outside the city limits.

Watch those mirrors real close when driving in the center lane with 3 or more lanes going in the same direction. That space may look clear to move into on your left side, but there may also be a 4 wheeler in the outside lane with the same thought. Don't just look at the mirror before you change lanes ... watch while you are changing also ... can't tell you how many times I've just caught a bare glimpse of something at the last second and had to move back or I would have smushed somebody

Never trust anybody ...