Scared nervous and just a big mess!

I think it's ok to be nervous. Realize the OP being out of the truck a week and then screwing up his shifting his first day back isn't really as much cause for concern as some have made it out to be. A week out of a truck when you are in school is a lifetime and his brain hasn't gotten to the point of an experienced driver to where shifting is like riding a bicycle and we can do it even if we've been out of the truck for an extended period of time.

Sounds like with with a few days back he's getting his confidence back and if he just relaxes and doesn't let it overwhelm him he will do just fine.

 

[QUOTE

Sounds like with with a few days back he's getting his confidence back and if he just relaxes and doesn't let it overwhelm him he will do just fine.[/QUOTE]


That is what I am thinking.

 

I'm not saying it isn't stressful, but we are talking about two different things. You are talking about poor management, and I'm talking about micromanagement and most people's fear of judgement. The dmv tester will be watching for every mistake the noob makes in the truck. This is downright scary for most people, especially people starting out. It's instant judgement by a superior. I'd much rather a boss yelled at me from afar about some issue beyond my control than have that same boss literally watching my every move for the smallest of mistakes while I'm trying to do my job. Your supervisor probably won't give you a hard time for pulling up twice when backing into a dock or taking a turn just slightly off, but he or she will probably tear you apart taking longer than their computer program or whatever system he uses says you should or not fueling at the right spot or whatever. See the difference?

 

Say man did u pass!

 

??????? How did it go ??

 

Well no. There's a reason people are blowing up your phone. Maybe you should think on it a while.

A little fear is healthy. Fear is what keeps us safe out there in the world. Fear makes us cautious and careful, and by "careful" I mean the opposite of "careless." I wouldn't want to ride with anyone who was without fear or without care for what they were doing, including driving a big truck.

I was as nervous as I've ever been on my DMV test day. I've skydived, scuba dived, been in scrapes in airplanes and in canoes, but I nearly had an out-of-body experience due to the nerves on that day. I have perfect performance anxiety, as well as bad boss syndrome after a really bad experience with a past boss who had this zero-defect management style. Anyway, there was a lot riding on this DMV test, including future employment, time and money already invested, my family had expectations, and all that.

I'm 51 years old and it wasn't easy. It's still not easy in any sense of the word, but I'm dogging it out with my first company, trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can. I got my CDL and less than six hours later I was in my present company's office scheduling a test drive with the company owner. Will I succeed?
You bet. Failure is not an option. I'm having some shifting issues, but I'm getting it. I've been let off the leash of being with trainers and I'm doing local work out on my own in the truck. I'm messing with gears and floating some now and then and there are low moments, humbling moments, when I think I've got it and my head isn't 100 percent in the game. I'll drop a gear or grind or barely catch a recovery or oversteer while backing and take pull-ups galore. But I'm learning. I'm much more relaxed and comfortable in the truck, but it's a process. I sometimes have to remind myself to breathe as I'm waiting for the light to turn green and I've got a heavy load on, like 44K lbs or so. You start in first and just go up through the gears, making the turn or heading out across the intersection in what feels like slow motion. I've learned not to shift with the jake on and to lift off the fuel just a fraction of a second before I start my double clutch and I've learned to slow down my double clutching and narrow the RPM range in which I shift. I've learned to float and that was a revelation, like a secret you only "get" revealed to you once you understand how the gearing and shifting really works on a truck. Really, I went from May to June to the middle of July before I floated my first gear and when I finally did I couldn't stop smiling!

So much to learn. I've got nothing but respect for all you drivers out there, now that I'm really learning to be one myself. We need to help each other out and pass on the wisdom and knowledge of this trade, not each other names.

I hope the OP passed and is out there eating some miles now.

CDL class is only an admission ticket to more learning and practicing...

 

Hey snjtrucker,

I too was pretty scared at times in the beginning. I would try to gird up my loins mentally and say, "I am not #%*&%$#@ scared!!!"

Also, try to know exactly how to do each procedure, and practice it in your mind beforehand.

Wishing you the best, and keep trying: the only one who fails is the one who stops trying!

God bless.

 

It is normal to be nervous. I was so dang nervous leading up to and during my skills / road test that I nearly blew all of my allowable points on the first skills test - straight line backing, of all things. I can back 10 miles straight up if I need to, but that day I was shot with nerves. I took a deep breath and blew through the remaining items flawlessly.

Don't let it get to you. Realize that you have been taught everything that you need to know - it's just time to execute what you already know.

 

A lot of people are missing the point I think. Sounds to me like most of your fear stems from things outside of driving the truck... "i need to support my family", "that guy is sitting there judging my every move", "the money I spent...". You need to block all that out and focus 100% on driving the truck. I know it's tough, we don't live in a bubble, but it's what you have to do. Good luck. You'll do fine. I'm sure I was 10 times more nervous/scared than you. Been doing it for two years, haven't killed anyone yet. Again, good luck.

 

Appalachian Trucker , great post. But I think you are confusing " fear" with "respect". Fear can cause those things that you fear. Respect makes you aware of what can and " will" happen if you don't give this profession/job , and the huge responsibility it represents the complete and total respect it warrants and demands. Good Luck to both you and the OP.