Fear & Nerves : How much is normal?

Gee!! I'm gonna fit right in!!! I'm a natural, cause I sure never been 'normal'. Not sure I even understand the concept anyway. Seems to me that normal is stuff that the majority of folks don't do. After all, the majority of the folks I know, are NOT normal. Normal must be a minority thing.!!

 

James T Kirk wasn't even afraid of Klingons

remember that most of the happy guys are busy driving
there are a lot more drivers then the few on here
I'm happy but I think it is the meds

 

Captain Kirk, do not be afraid or scared. But, you must have a healthy respect of the truck and the job at all times. Look, when you go to school there is alot to learn. Most rookies have trouble with shifting, backing and/or logbooks. I had problems with all three. When you are driving a vehicle, you are the sole person incharge of the vehicle.
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Before you commit to a school, check with the companies that you are interested in and find out what schools they prefer to hire from. How many different backing techniques do they teach. Most importantly, how much time will you get at the controls of the vehicle. Time in the truck watching someone else drive does not teach you very much. When learning to drive, you need hands on experience at the vehicle controls.
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.My philosophy is: if you think you have a problem, then you do have a problem until it is fixed or you determine that it really is not a problem. If you are pressured to run illegally just tell your dispatcher that you want to discuss that with the safety department to get their opinion. Then call safety and get their opinion. There is no need to get nasty or scream and yell. Just act like a professional.
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.While in school, you will learn how and what to inspect on your vehicle. Pay close attention to the braking system and take alot of notes. Recently there was a major DOT inspection of trucks on the road. 1 out of every 7 trucks had a brake issue. Learn the steps to drive down a steep grade and take alot of notes on this technique. Get a copy of your states Commercial Drivers License Manual and keep it with you as a handy reference. That manual has step by step instructions on how to decend step grades. When in doubt check your CDL manual and your notes from school. Pre-trip your vehicle everyday. If it is not correct or you are not sure, ask a mechanic. Any mechanic that is worth anything will check out your concerns about the truck.
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.Sorry for the long post. Hopefully, something here is worth your time.

 

This thread has some of the best advice ever about starting a new career, whether in trucking or something else.
Thanks guys!
Mary

 

I only have fear when feeling my truck lean a little bit too much during turns going down a mountain pass at 75MPH while its raining. Which means no Jake usage.

 

Fear is a great teacher as it 'can' encourage caution and questions...However, fear usually appears after you've "oh ****!"'d over something...Like pulling a tanker with 50,000lbs of hot asphalt at night and I thought I was going a too fast for the turn at bottom of hill...Thankfully I wasn't going too fast but that moment of fear changed my driving habits with the tanker for the better...

I think some confuse fear with lack of confidence that's part of doing something new, however,both can cause the same reactions in you, caution and questions...

In this field, experience is the only real teacher and experience builds confidence and respect for what you're doing...Your advantage, for one, is this forum where you can gain some valuable experience from other people's experiences and not just your own...

 

Fear can come from not WANTING to be in a pucker factor situation and using extreme (some times excessive) caution.

 

when I started driving, I was nervous, but not fearful. I was so nervous, vomiting before I pulled out of the yard became pretty routine. Then one day, I realized I was an idiot for worrying about what 'could' go wrong. I learned to take life as it comes, deal with the bad stuff when it crops up, and focus on the positive. The worst hell you will ever face is that which is created in your own mind.

 

thats NOT to say you shouldn't Respect the danger. Or become overconfident. That's what gets a guy in trouble. Just relax and enjoy the ride

 

i would be worried if YOU WERENT nervous....its the "know it alls" who endanger us all......

a lot of ppl seem to think...oh there is nothing to driving a truck.....well driving isnt all that big a deal...BUT BEING A PROFESSIONAL ,SAFE driver is.....a lot of ppl are capable of conducting a truck down the highway.....but there is FAR more to it that that.....