experienced driver wants to tell newer drivers some things

you are so right md!....these newbies may get a newer truck, but let me tell you..I'll take my Nuclar Banana....(98 pete) over a new truck....the biggest problem i see is these newbeis may be able to drive a truck??? (so they think) but knowing your truck..working on your truck, keeping your truck clean....I got one pet pev with my pete, an like all have told me ....get used to it....yup you guessed it. I got a detroit an shes got a slobber problem out the blowby..but like all things its fixable lol.(have a plan) but every weekend i find something to tinker with, i'v been under ,ontop, inside, around the hood of every nut an bolt....but thats just me..some people are not mechanicly inclinde an dont care to be..all i do know is i'm going home for the first time in 2 mths ..(my choice) an on my home time i will be tinkering with the truck.....i think the big difference for me is I own my truck. there are no payments. but i will pass this on with 20 years in heavey equipment an trucks.......if you dont take care of the little things it will turn into bigger an cost you more....just my two cents

 

The state of florida has come out with a new definition of CDL...... CDL now stands for CANT DRIVE A LICK!!!!

 

Why do you have blowby? just curious. need re-ringed?

 

I like the part about having 3-4 DUI's. In my class at driver school, I think I'm the only one that has None tickets or accidents. The others were whining about not getting a job blah,blah. I've been employed with no problems and have others calling my house. It's impossible to turn back the clock, but hey, I was responsible for the last 7 years. Not an 'Angel' just smart
Us new drivers get herded into the same corral and it gets me mad. I make mistakes at the fuel island, I'm only a 'decent' backer.. I don't keep the CB on because I don't like getting lumped into the same group your talking about! Lost about 40 psi there and it feels good..
Sorry for the rant. Continue with the Good stuff you guys usually say

 

Old timers gripe about the new guys and gals. But they don't take the time to teach them. If y'all would put the same amount of energy into giving information to the newbies as you do into b****ing about them, perhaps they might not treat y'all with so much disrespect.

I'm not a rookie, but I'm not an old hand either. Somewhere in the middle, I would say. And yet, old hands are just as apt to need help as rookies. Heck, I've seen old hands walk right past other old hands struggling with something and do everything possible to not notice. Me? I'll get someone out of the snow pile he dug for himself (did it yesterday) or help with a stubborn tandem pin or two (did that Saturday) or weight distribution (few months ago) or a frozen brake (couple weeks ago) I'll back up to let someone into a parking lot like I did in West Memphis at the chrome shop...even though the other guy was coming in the wrong way. I'll grab a door for someone or help carry stuff. I will pass on information to the next guy. I will show someone how to keep a trailer door from swinging loose or how to chain a tirre.

What about you? You could be doing all of this while you're spending your time talking smack about them.

I have helped people with time on the road from two weeks on their own to 35 years. What are you doing to help improve someone's knowledge base? Heckling them on the radio? That's what I thought.


*this message was intended to make the guilty squirm. If you feel like your toes were stepped on......GOOD!!!

 

ummmmm.....you just criticized 90% of the "truckers" here

 

Thanks for the advice.I will be starting trucking school Monday.I am making a career change at 49 years of age.I have spent the last 26 years working on boats.I have some driving experience in farm trucks hauling grain.I am looking forward to getting my CDL and getting on the open road.I am not looking to get a brand new truck when I start,just don't want a junker(drove a few of them on the farm)just something dependable.
As far as giving respect I believe that is a two way street You get what you give.If you treat others like they are inferior they will return the favor.I have seen a lot of new kids on boats over the years and folks say they will never make it and it will be the same in trucking.I would tell them naysayers "You were a green hand yourself once." You can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

 

After reading all this, how long do I have to drive for to qualify for some of those cool no finger driving gloves and a chain drive wallet?

Did I pass the threshold and nobody told me?

 

you NAILED IT! i suggested to a driver trying to get a stubborn tandem to slide to back against the curb. he told me "Ive been driving 15 years and that never occured to me"
felt pretty good to get an "atta boy" from that driver with me only having 1 yr exp at the time