TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

gosh I guess your right I can't live with that lolol

 

Everyone feels that way at first. Like Pete said ...YOU KNOW YOU CAN ....you just have to get past the nerves. You are not allowed to give up on yourself ....we know you can do this!
Storms moving in here so gonna have to get offline for now.....

 

the very strange thing about getting nervous in front of people is actually ego
limit ego by stop worrying about what anyone else thinks and go do your job

 

Waynetp
Don't feel bad about how that other driver talked to you. He is just an unhappy driver and doesn't like his job and is narrow minded .He has already forgot he had his first days learning and is so far from being a professional it is scary. You are better and remember to never be like that.
Personally I would have one time asked him to get lost and if he did not go I would have assisted him with a number 10 shoe. Did he help at all? Or was he just using you for a sounding board? NEVER let that happen again. You are a people and not a verbal punching bag. If help is offered accept it graciously or thank them ,but I can do this, thanks again for your offer. That day will come. Rest assured.
If I was there I would offer to assist you by demonstrating when to turn the wheel and which way. When to pull it up ect. I would never call names, degrade or mistreat the person I am helping. I have never forgotten my first days and hopefully you won't either.
If I saw you were getting frustrated, that you were not listening or about to blow a gasket I would offer to back it in for you. It is a yes or not offer. Being new is not easy as you feel you are being watch by every one and criticism can be painful. I really hate 53 foot trailers.

All this aside. It should have been a lesson learned for you.. Did you learn something from this tough back in situation?
Was there room for straight in back or did you feel that you had to do a 90 degree ? So many new drivers do not look the situation over and do a 90 when a near straight back in is better. Schooling kinds of takes over, I understand.

Also you should always carry a push broom on the truck, one of the basic tools for pulling vans.. . Get one with plastic bristles. They don't rot easily and do a pretty good job.
Second , Why didn't you tell the other company driver to drop it where you were parked?. and not allow it to go any other way? If that driver that dropped the trailer did not sweep out that trailer it was NOT your job to do so. but you did. Let dispatch know he did not do his job.

Just because your new to trucking does not mean you are there to do their jobs.
Never drop a dirty trailer unless told to do so by someone with authority.. Never sweep it out on the ground anywhere. That is nasty and so not right.

Every thing you do is a learning experience. Watch other drivers back in to docks. .Observe how they do it. Where do they pull to, to get set up.? 90% of trailer are 53 footers and many places are set up for 48 footers. . Just be observant and it will all come together for you. It won't be over night. It will happen and one day you will pat yourself on the back when you realize it is coming together for you.

I am going to impart one piece of advice you need to heed.
READ THE DRIVERS HAND BOOK
if the company gave you one. If they did read it cover to cover more than once. It should tell you what you can and can not do. It should tell you what you get paid to do and not get paid to do. It should tell you what the dispatcher can tell you to do and not tell you to do.
It is your life line to making money and cutting a lot of frustration out and make your job easier and eventually so much better. It will remove any guess work as to whether or not you get paid for something.
I am sorry you had to endure that horses rear end that erroneously called himself a driver.. He was a jerk first class.
Don't give up. Never stop learning and above all, be observant. You can do it.

 

I hate to join the party but I may be out soon. Yesterday almost got in accident like 4 times then I went to truck stop and was stuck in a parking space half in half out. Dont ask cause I dont know. Last night it took me an hour and half to park then I still had to get help and ihad to go knock on trailer and askguy to help me move truck over. And all that is normal but to day took the cake as soon as I got to ok the wind started and it was like 70 miles I got off road like now then the hail was hitting truck so hard. Im severely afraid of storms. So this may be my down fall we dont get weather like this in the west in nevada so iv never been in anythkng like that. Im shut down the winds blowing and im only 5000 lbs. Im rally not sure right now.

 

whenever you dont feel safe you park the truck

 

Wayne next time if they talk like that say thanx for your help. Dont take crap off anyone.

 

I was worried about you also, krazyhorsechick .....knew you were heading for Oklahoma and the storms. We had the same storms rolling through here and they were pretty rough, lots of wind and hail. You did the right thing to shut down....it's a decision that any good driver would make. What I am seeing here from our new drivers is simply a case of wanting to do a good job so badly that you are making yourselves nervous. You do know how to do this ....You can back that trailer up. You may not know how to back it up under all conditions yet ....that comes with experience. You can only get that experience if you give yourself a chance. You will overcome, it will come together for you, one day at a time and one situation at a time. You can do this.

There are some steering wheel holders out there that have forgotten how to interact with fellow human beings .....they are not worth worrying about.

There are many many more that remember being new to this business and will gladly help. Some of them may give you a little friendly ribbing but the driver Wayne dealt with was just plain old abusive and cruel....not everyone is like that.

 

I did park then they asked me when do u think yall be rolling. Last time I looked I was not mother nature lol. I replied do you want me to drive in this wind. And I got back not if you dont feel safe, keep us updated. Then came a new appt time maybe they looked at the weather

 

We've all been there and done that!!! Let me let you in on a little secret. I also had a rough start with TA, bad trainer and all that, and basically... had to learn everything on my own and with the handbook they give you. My very 1st comcheck I did, came right out of the book, cause my trainer never showed me.

Backing. Everybody is going to tell you, that it's all about practice, and for the most part, it is. All the backs that you will do are all variations of what you have already learned. You'll have to modify how you do things tho, depending on the situation. Now here's the secret I started to tell you. Even with the many backs I've done by now, sometimes stuff happens, and I can't back worth a crap. The one before may have been perfect, but for whatever reason, this time.... I just can't seem to get it in. STOP!!!!!!!! Take 5 or 6 or as many as you need, deep breathes. Shake your head to clear all the crap out out. Get out of your truck and actually look at what you need to do. Heck, I've even gone so far as to walk out the steps that are needed. After you've done all that, get yourself back to the starting position and just start over. All backs, let me repeat that, ALL BACKS begin with the proper set up!!!! If you try to force it in, that's when you start to get frustrated and hit things.

Breathe deep, clear your head, and vow that you will NOT let this beat you!!!!

Now, you have been given good advice by an old timer, and I'm sorry, but forgot his name. Here's some more for you. If your not afraid to get out of your truck and talk a little, look for some guys that are driving their own trucks. Explain to them that you are a new driver, and can I talk to you a bit. You would be amazed, at just how many people are willing to impart their knowledge to you. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. This goes for all you newer drivers.

Wow, been a long time since I typed so much.


Gordon A was his name.

Krazyhorsechick, this post is for you also. Breathe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!