what is the hardest skill to learn?

Not rolling the truck over...only u can teach that to urself.

 

That's very good advice, sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, But, when your coming into the Truck stop at "roosting time" no one has patience to wait for you to get your set up right, everyone wants the same parking spot! LOL

 

Alley docking was the toughest for me. On my very last day before the DMV road test, I finally picked it up.

The method that worked for me was to go SLOW, and make the necessary adjustments to the trailer.

My boss' was downshifting. Just had a lot of trouble coordinating it.

 

Business and negotiating skills

 

Like the majority of the members here,I would say it was backing.If you remember this whenever you're backing it's not so tough.You're backing the trl into the dock not the trk.So treat it as such.

 

That used to be my signature.
"Patience is the hardest thing to learn."
Once you master that and realize your training time is crap then its pretty easy after that.

 

Keeping your head out of your behind and paying attention to everything, EVERYTHING around you.

 

To heck with other drivers' patience. Don't EVER let that dictate the manner of which you drive, back, etc. Make them wait. The second you allow someone else to influence your driving habits is when you will have problems, sometimes with dire consequences. Make 'em wait ... ALWAYS. Take your time.

 

Yep, learning to be very patient and have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations is not taught but learned with experience. Those two things will make your job easier quicker.

Besides that a blind back 90 on a tight dock.

You can't rush training. School is just to get you to pass and get your CDL. The real training begins when you go out with a trainer. Learning everything is a process and every day you get a wee bit better. So don't get frustrated if you have problems in the beginning. Practice makes perfect.

Your training doesn't stop there either. You will self learn many things and shortcuts over the next five years. Mainly the first couple years. But even older drivers pick up little tidbits here and there.

 

Can you do a "Johnny Carson" and roll-over back on your wheels?......Now that my friend....Is a real "skill"....