first day in the truck tomorow and nervous as a mf

It's like riding a bicycle. Really big, bicycle.

 

Take a deep breath.

When backing look at how much trailer you see in each mirror... Equal amount in each equals straight line.


You'll be fine. Get some sleep

 

R.E.L.A.X.! If it is your first time in a truck you instuctor better be out there guiding you thru straight line backing. If not, steering is backwards. Want the trailer to go left, turn right. Wanna go right, turn left. And small movements. You arent spinning the wheel all the way. As far as driving a manual, forget what you did in your grand dads t-bird. No fuel *accelerator* is needed when starting. You just let the clutch out slowly. Dont bother giving it fuel when backing either. It WILL screw you up. If you hit the road shifting will require double clutching. Once again your instuctor better be teaching you.

I also noticed your from ankeny, ia. My company's training yard is there and head terminal is right over in des monies. Are you going to the local community college cdl course? If so i heard good things about it when i was out there.

 

Try not to stress it. Remember to turn into the direction of the drift when backing. If you see your trailer coming around in your right mirror then you want to turn your wheel to the right. Also what dirtyjerz said about not using the accelerator, just let the truck crawl on its own.

 

Watch your wheels and not just your trailer when backing.....

 

I feel for ya John. It's completely normal to be nervous and all that. Actually, a certain amount of that is good, because it shows you're taking it seriously.

A couple deep breaths and try and relax. Don't make things more difficult in your mind than they really are. You're not the only one learning!

 

Chill dude, you're learning... you ain't supposed to be perfect.

Before long you'll be on here giving advice to newbies just as nervous as you were.

Heck, before you know it you'll be joining in the "I dunno what's wrong with this generation" crowd.

 

Relax and keep in mind ALL drivers had to start somewhere. NO driver ever came out of the womb with a wheel and stick in their hand not even the super trucker.

 

A few on here think they did...