experienced driver wants to tell newer drivers some things

I have been driving for twenty years I have driven so many different trucks I could not possibly remember them all,old ,new well maintained and not so well ,sometime even with my experience I have been the new guy at a new company so you just suck it up and drive the old truck. The greatest compliment that I have recieved as a driver on more than one occasion is "he was the first driver to get a full week out of that old truck". Drive what they give you without whining,do your best and the new truck will come.

 

Love it when you hear GOT a TRUCK 500 - 700,000 miles on it .

Heck I worked at places that the NEW fleet was another FLEETS hand me downs , we fought to get the tractor with 1,000,000 miles on it on it.

They had their own paint shop and DID NOT have a spray gun but a ROLLER and some paint jobs turned out pretty darn nice

 

I've been driving almost 8 yrs now but still call myself a newbie, you can always learn but do to my young age get lumped in w/ the "fresh outa school crowd" but never defend my driving record couldn't care less. I'm at the dealer and had an Experience driver walk in and can't help but throw back at the original poster since we like to lump groups together and too many "experienced" drivers are like the guy that came in sooooo here we go DON'T PROCEED IF YOU HAVE NO HUMOR

1) I don't give a #### about your divorce or how much you love lot lizards

2) take a shower my wife's horses smell better then many "experienced" drivers

3) if you have 20 yrs as a company driver and are complaining about it the. Quit, I don't care or want to hear about it

4) Why do the gloves get brought up? They look rediculous and help with nothing. No steering wheel is slippery enough for them to help (vinyl, leather, wood)

5) Opening the door to back? REALLY?? Yeah in the truck you had 15 years ago with the twin stacks it helped, you have a volvo w/ a weed burner exhaust just use your mirrors like everyone else does.

6) Complaining about CSA weight/sleep apnea rules at the truck stop? Here is a thought to for only 3 trips to the buffet instead of 10 and stop making your own spot by the CAT scale so you don't need to walk

7) Sweat pants are COOL, When your 3 years old or after a surgery!! If you want respect from younger drivers don't dress like your in an institution for people who had labotomys (they take out a part of your brain) they make stretch waist jeans now atleast go with those

8) Shirts, they are suppose to have 3 holes, 2 arms and a head, if you have holes in your XL shirt that show when you remove your 4XL coat throw it out and hit up a thrift store

9) don't sit at a truck stop and talk about your skills for an hour and then say you don't go to NYC, Boston, Jersey, Baltimore, or Canada because you "don't work for a bottom feeder and wouldn't ever stand for it" just say its because you can't deal with the traffic and trip planning

10) LASTLY.... GET A SENSE OF HUMOR relax, realize we are all in it together and if you want newbies to get better don't ##### about it on a forum and bash them on the radio but try and teach your wisdom to the new guys in a truck stop

 

Good post and so very very true

 

dont y'all know?? havent you heard??? the noobies could teach us older drivers, all new tricks....OR SO THEY THINK!!!!

 

TriX are for Kids not RABBITS or is that TRICKS are for Hookers or Halloween .

 

Shut off the cb unless traffic stops and you'll be much happier.......

 

Very very well put, I hear these guys everyday that will come up with some smack to talk just so they can say how long they have been on the road.

I don't by no means consider my self a veteran but Im not near a newbie either, but It still irritates me when I hear these guys saying how bad all the new drivers are, I think it's because it really shows there ignorance, because who in there right mind actually believes that a guy who grandfathers in with a shuafers license, and the first time behind the wheel of a big truck is there first day of work was a better thing than the guys coming in with at least two months of training.

Is there some bad driving newbies yeah of course, but there are also bad experienced drivers.

To put all new drivers, or all experienced drivers, in one group really shows the simple minded, and ignorance of a person.

I'm pretty sure it will never happen, but I would really enjoy the day we could go back to helping each other out regardless of years on the road, I think if someone shows you respect you owe them respect.

 

the newbys can have the new trucks--well i am the newby where i work----but i beg to not have my over a million mile 379 traded in--its still to new for me--a truck should have vent windows--a door that you open to remote control your mirror--2 piece windshilds and stacks on the side

 

and I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard a 20+ year veteran driver argue with a new driver, or critisize them instead of offering to lend a hand. Some of you old crusty drivers just hate change and fear anything new. Not saying it to be mean but sometimes you have to come into the NOW. It's not the good ol' days anymore and you will need to adapt to survive or retire.


PS, don't get all riled up, your blood pressure can't handle it