Hear I go

I know how it is to be critical of yourself I am extremely hard on myself. But if your trainer does not say anything then you are doing good. You said he told you that it is not your driving but your confidence. I am sure the trainer can tell if you are going to be a good driver or not. Just relax and take it easy. If you grind a gear or jerk the truck take a deep breath and it will all come out in the wash. Just don't quit over this. You will look back on this and laugh when someone else ask the same question to you later on.

 

When I started I was one who could not do anything right with an instructor or trainer in the jump seat. Grinding gears hitting curbs. While out with my trainer same thing. When my trainer jumped into the sleeper it was a much smoother ride.

All I can say do not give up. Bear with it and you will make it.

 

To get anything worthwhile in life, you have to put forth effort. Don't be so quick to give up on you. Feel the gears. When the engine and the tranny are moving at the same speed, it feels as if he gears have quit turning. The stick will fall right in gear with very little effort. If you miss, go 1 gear lower and blip the throttle with your right foot.

now, go and kick yourself in the butt for quitting. No more quitting.

 

I am in school right ow and test on Tuesday. I understand about being scared. Heck I came from not ever drivng a stick or hauling a trailer so I scared to death to go out on the road with my instructor. I was lime you, when something went wrong I would freak and forget everything, but what helped me conquerer that is my instructor was driving us to the place we were going to leave from just showing some things and he missed a shift. He didnt panic. Just found the gear he was in before. Nothing horrible happened. No one wrecked or died. That really put things into perspective. You will be fine.

The next trainer you go with ask him if he will let you drive at night, maybe on interstate when there is not much traffi. To build your confidence. Do it for a week then start normal driving schedule and you will be fine. Im sure your trainer is h derstanding of being scared. He is there to help. Just stay calm and relax. If you are religious pray and go from there. You will be fine man. Take care. God bless.

 

Check with R.E. West in Lebanon, TN. This is a TN based company with lots of business and the biggest customer is probably A.O. Smith in Ashland City, hauling water heaters nationwide. They hire newbies.

I strongly recommend you go to their terminal in Lebanon and talk to them face-to-face. No phone calls. R.E.West safety dept. needs to see who they are dealing with and so do you.

 

Now this post is a real confidence booster,lol.

 

just stay calm and try to "do your thing behind the wheel." im hardly the one qualified to offer advice, however, I am not far ahead of you. I have only been on my own for about a month. do I grind gears? heck yeah I do, although not as often, so did my trainer (20 years experience)! my point is, when I was with my trainer I also missed, grinded and every so often "got lost" while running up through the gears. it happens, WE are rookies. these old hands make it look easy but they too were also rookies at one time. just ignore the cb ridicule from the drivers that were born with a shifter in there right hand. when I was with my trainer I would often become frustrated when I did something wrong just like you. the key is knowing what you did wrong so you don't do it again or as often. its all experience. I finally felt as though I wasn't progressing anymore with my trainer in the jump seat (plus I needed to start making some money), some of his ways just didn't click for me. he was very patient and helpful and taught me a lot but as for the driving/shifting it just takes time. you will learn your own little technique that works for you. I struggled doing it my trainers way, ive now learned my own way and don't have nearly the grinding issues. it seems much more relaxing when there is nobody sitting beside you observing your screw ups! you will do the same. head up and get after it!! ive learned lessons everyday ive been on my own and im sure tomorrow will be no different. I guess that's why they call it experience...........

 

BigBear, a lot of us went thru this. Your gonna hate the only cure for it. Practice. Get back in the drivers seat. Take your took time. Ask a lot questions.

Best thing you should do is after your time with a trainer, team until your confidence improves.