Experienced drivers.. Remember when you were new?

I live to say this, "you can go down a mountain 1000 times to slow, but once too fast" I'm a chicken, I don't know what is too fast. With my luck the "sand box" will be closed for repair.

 

Please don't tell me you obey that sign that says no jakes....:smt108

 

Backing into a dock will be one of the least things you end up be worried about. Don't worry about that.

 

And he FINALLY says something I like.

*marking this on my calendar*

 

Every trailer is a different job. Learn to drive and learn to work the truck. Pride,focus and skill can take you anywhere you want to go.

 

To the OP some great advice here from those guys posting before me. Please....always remember...you NEVER, EVER , learn all there is to learn. You can...with a little time and experience , get comfortable doing some things , backing , going down steep/long grades , driving for extended periods , driving in nasty/slick weather...but whether your career is only 6 months , 6 weeks or 60 years...you always continue to learn...every single solitary revolution of those wheels should be a new learning experience for you. Never let complacency , or over-confidence get you or someone else killed.

 

Perfect post for the OP right here......Retired now but until the day I did retire , I was continuously learning...and making mistakes......LOL

 

taking the 70 to the 50 is beautiful too, just nerve wracking going through the canyon and the sheer cliffs


you will hear tales from everywhere, what might be a horrible experience for one driver is not for another...

it takes some time to get good at backing, hell I have seen some drivers who drove for years and cant back worth a crap. What helped me was when I was helping do a lot of local shuttle runs doing several backs a day and right now im helping with a dedicated route and getting 2-3 a day. The best thing you can do is practice, make sure you get a mentor willing to learn, my mentor I had made me do a lot of the backings just for practice and sometimes if we were parked for a day he still made me do at least a couple. ALWAYS remember to goal and you shouldnt ever have a problem, get out as many times as you need, dont worry about the vet across the way smiling at you or the impatient driver wanting to get around you, get it in that spot and dont hit anything, thats what matters at the end of your day!

 

20 Plus years driving trucks, and guess what, I'm still new. New type of trucks, having to put that blue S _ _ T mixed in with the fuel (DEF I think), young kids texting while driving. GPS tracking us around day and night. Cameras in some trucks, The DOT and FMCSA telling us when to sleep and eat. No more freelancing with the truck. (bob tailing hear and their) No more makeshift parking, truck stops only. The CB, no one talks to you anymore on it. (not as much anyway) Flashing your lights is starting to fade out, don't think that's a good thing. All this new S_ _T with the trucks and laws, but will the bridges stay up as you cross them. Self adjusting brakes, ok, cool. With the 9/16 socket or wrench, it made you look at what was under your truck and trailer. Just a few things that seem new to me, so all in all, I feel you will be just fine. Safe Travels and Good Luck !!!