How long till everything becomes natural and the nervs die down?

Two weeks ago in Chicago ... fortunately I saw the 12-6 sign before I committed to going straight ... made left and terrorized ... I mean toured Chinatown.

 

It takes a good couple months before you start to feel comfortable.You did the right thing calling the cops.Once you get the exp you'll be showing the 4wheelers whos boss,lol.

 

I still catch myself hugging the zipper on sharp left curves from time to time

 

It probably took two months after the end of training for me to feel comfortable. I made some stupid minor errors in that time period. After two to three months actual driving the truck should start to get instinctive. If you get in a position where moving without direction will cause an accident then definitely get some help. No worries you're doing just fine

 

I did that once. The big lady in the minivan had pulled too far forward, then about six cars behind her had also pulled up bumper to bumper. Took my space setting up for the tight right turn and there they were, all blocking the lane. I just sat for a minute and let them all figure it out. Slowly it dawned on them. I made one little brushing back motion of a hand signal and sat there, looking at them all in the eyes. They slowly figured it out and the row of cars began backing up, creeping back until there was room enough that I could finish my turn. They had crept up about ten feet ahead of the white line that's designed to prevent such things, so, you know.
They eventually got the idea.
It was an awesome moment in my short trucking career, handling a crowd like that.

 

I have been doing this for a little over 12 years now. I would not give it up to save the world. And I still have days that I am nervous, or jittery. Over thinking what I might experience or have to do. You did the right thing. You slowed down and thought it out.

I have had the police hold an intersection so I could back out of a situation before. It was an elder care facility that was under construction and was at the end of a dead end street with nowhere to turn around (even my day cab, and a 53'). The police were happy to help.

They would rather assist you, than clean up after you.

 

When people ask me what I'm doing i always tell them "just driving in circles" as it is what us truck drivers who cover all of North America do.

Anyways, a load planner called me up asking if i was going to need a relay as i was about 2/3 of the way through a 3200 mile trip with no reset in the last 2 weeks. She asked what i was up to just making small talk.

I replied "driving in circles" and she angrily told me that's why i was going to run out of hours LOL. I ended up finishing the run with no relay.

 

I'm still in school and city driving is a white knuckle ride through hell for me. It's always a joy losing a gear right in the middle of a busy intersection.

 

better there than on a 8% downgrade

 

I've been driving 2 years now, and just last month something clicked, and I began thinking less and acting more. Experience does that to you. When you're a new driver you tend to think too much. you double and triple check everything, not to mention doubt your decisions.

I can hook up to a trailer in seconds without needing to re-position.
I am, for the lack of a better term, whipping around corners when making left and right turns
Serpentine-ing my truck is a non-issue for me ("Nope, not that dock, next one over"...2 minutes later I serpentine over and am backed into the next dock.)

Many other things. You'll get it. Keep trucking!