What should I make sure I learn?

Captain Blight ther is no set answer to your question. Learn everything you can. No I'm not being a smarta$$. Trucking is one of those professions that learning is a neverending process. What may seem trivial one day, may save you butt 6 months later.

 

You are in a unique position because you don't have evry body telling you how it should be done. Learn the basics and continue to learn. Stopping distance is a big one as well as backing but the ones most driver's i believe have issues with is slow manuever's they seem to forget ther's a trailer 53 foot back there. So keep your eye's open and continue to ask question's. But if you have specific question's don't be afraid to ask. There are no stupid questions when it comes to safety. good Luck and Merry Christmas.

 

Watch every youtube you can that shows shifting (not the gear jammers, the smooth shifters). Listen to the engine, watch the movements, pay attention to the timing. Shifting is all about what you hear and timing.
Watch others about backing, and watch closely how the driver turns the wheels in relation to where the trailer is. You will judge when you start your movements by looking at the opening you are trying to get into, where the rear of the trailer is, and where the trailer wheels are.

Most of all, act like a professional, whether you are one or not. Do not try to show how fast you can change gears, or how many gears you can hit in 100 feet. Drive slow in truck stops and parking lots. Drive and shift smooth. Give others plenty of room. Watch your mirrors, don't try to prove you are great at space relations by pulling over too close as soon as you clear the front of a truck you are passing. Just because someone may flash you over doesn't mean you are far enough past them to pull over.

This will get you started. Watch those videos of real drivers, not the ones with the knuckleheads that think they know it all, except as a reference as to what not to do.

There are plenty of knot heads who play trucking, drive ####y, dress like homeless people, and have no respect for themselves, or anyone else. Being a professional is not acting like one of those.

 

Learn your RPM's and the speed you should be at when shifting, we had a chart in my school that helped us out pretty well, 1'st through 5th 900-1200 rpm, and 6-10 1200-1500rpm. That was for a freightliner. Im not quite sure if it applies to all trucks.

 

Its actually good that you dont know nothing about driving a truck.Bad habits are hard to break .Just learn from the school and as you go along ,Dont be afraid to ask ? ltr on in your career,Lifestyle .Driving a big rig is an all out adventure .If someone says they know every thing thier is to know ,they are full of it .Common sense goes along ways .Dont try to be a hero.If you try to be a hero, You will be in a bind and get frustrated .

 

This worked well for me and still does too this day, but when i get my load too the docks, shipper or rec, i asked for a higher number too unload, then set back with my popcorn and wacth the gear jammer's , get into these tight dock's and wacth and learn first,

 

Respect............................





Good Luck in your new adventure !!!

 

your attitude is good should help, always be aware whats going on in front of you & not forgetting about that trailer behind you! common sense as stated is so important in this feild, I started as green as you got a job my trainer after 1.5 weeks quit when truck blew head gasket in Denver the company had a old coe at sapp bros, told me to take that truck & go to work! I asked alot of ? from seasond drivers also had a good teacher that was a retired otr driver that taught at the school, his way of giving back to the industry he told me. also life on the road takes awhile to get used to got to give it a good year to know if its for you! like i said with a attitude like yours you should do just fine!!!!!!!

 

Don't do something permantley stuipd

Just because your temporarily pissed off!