Does a safe MOTORCYCLE rider make for a safe TRUCK driver????

I would say one really has nothing to do with the other. Not trying to be rude or anything. But trucking is totally unlike anything you have ever done. You do seem to have the right attitude, but trucking is so much more than just driving a truck. It goes on for hours and days and weeks and years. Going places over and over that you dont even want to go to. The potential is there for hundreds of accidents a day. And you will never ever be able to let your guard down. I believe most drivers never even consciously recognize most of the hazards they react to on a daily basis. And if you aren't able to develop that "second nature" feel for it, you won't succeed, and won't like it anyway. Not trying to discourage you, just enlighten you. Hope I made at least a little sense....

 

True that.

Now having said that I do think that the good safety awareness that a long-term bike rider develops are a plus. To some that may sound facetious when talking about a 40 ton truck beside a 1000 pound bike but safety awareness is a habit that needs lots of exercise to develop. Bikers develop it faster and better than your average car driver simply because they need it to survive. Get sloppy on a bike and you die.

Car drivers these days have an incredible lot of bad habits to break and unlearn before they can even begin to appreciate the amount of awareness required to become a professional. They rely on "electronic controls" waaay too much. I know, I know.... that's "old fashioned" and "square" and I'm a "dinosaur"...... but I'm very close to the 4 million mile mark accident free. Can you "cool" folks say that?

 

While it may not be directly relatable to truck driving, good habits tend to bree

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d good habits. A safe driving record prkor to your cdl will certainly give you an edge overnight another person new to the industry with a few blemishes. It does demonstrate a certain level of responsibility.j

 

I believe it is an advantage. Having ridden a 2 wheeler in my younger days helped me develop my road awareness much better than driving a car. I have 1.5 million miles with no accidents and I've yet to even have to lock up the brakes.

 

No employer will care about your motorcycle experience, because for one thing your driving record does not say anything about how many miles on a motorcycle or a car you have driven. A lot of truck drivers also ride motorcycles, I think its just like another endorsement! You have a great attitude so that will make you a safe driver. Some employers might even consider a motorcycle rider as a negative because of the reputation riders have of being rebels and law breakers. BTW, I ride and I believe driving a truck made me a better car driver, but driving a motorcycle did not make me a better truck driver, they are too different.

Chances are while you are a new driver you will be an unsafe driver, you will not be looking in the mirrors enough, you will forget you are pulling a trailer that is 53 feet long, you'll be running over curbs, looking at the shifter and tach instead of the road. But once you get experienced, it's almost all about attitude. Are you in a hurry? Good drivers are never in a hurry and they don't tailgate. Does a car or truck ever get on your left/right side without you knowing it is there? Other vehicles almost never sneak up on a good driver, you should know where that small car is even if it is in your blind spot. Do you make your turns wide but don't allow space for a car to sneak by you on your right side? Did you downshift before heading down the steep hill? Sometimes it is hard to shift to a lower gear while the truck is gaining speed. You need to stay constantly alert while driving a truck, and that is something that is very hard for many people to do.

Being safe is all about attitude, and you seem to have that.

 

Do fresh Oranges make good Apple juice?

 

Companies could care less how many safe miles in adverse conditions you rode,drove or walked.What they look for is what's on your MVR and all the places you worked.I don't think you'll ever find a recruiter that has actual time to talk with you wondering how your driving/riding is,where all have to ridden,what adverse conditions have you had to face,ect ect.But you never being in the trucking industry would'nt know that which is understandable.Many trk drivers face dangerous conditions every day but try talking to a recruiter about your past history,you can forget that.Because they don't have time and don't care.

 

Long post.

At the least you will do well telling stories at the buffet! Hehehehee

Mikeeee