I am learning how to turn around.

perhaps a garden variety test that actually screens for common sense and problem solving capabilities could weed out those that should not be employed under the job descriptions pertaining to that of a truck driver. common sense out here is lacking it seems.

edited to add: the new female drivers that i witness and speak with are far superior to the new "men",used very loosely,yet still retain whatever level of femininity that they choose to reflect. I would much rather run with a female driver than most males as the males are the know it all's that actually know little. the women get out out and actually perform a pti while the male drivers just wake up and go.
the above is my observations and experience.

why is that i wonder? are the women trying harder because they are in a male dominate industry or are they more willing to learn as they go?

off topic.sorry for the jacking of the thread.

 

It is no more than a reflection of what the whole country, (or perhaps world,) is coming to. You can have all of the "book learning" in the world, but until you have the real time experience, it doesn't mean a whole lot. My own opinion is that there is an extremely small percentage of people who can learn from other people's mistakes. Most of us have to learn things the hard way, or the lesson just doesn't stick there.

I started trucking late in life. I did go through an ATC training school. And then I made a total of ONE trip with a "trainer." (That was from St. George, to SLC, to Sugar City, ID and back to St. George.) Then I was on my own.

Fortunately, I'd had enough "life experiences" by that time, that I had developed at least a little common sense. But you learn by making mistakes, and boy did I sure learn a lot!

Society in general is attempting to move to a "zero defects" mode when it comes to jobs. Everybody is looking to sue someone, and employers are quick to try to take steps to cover their backsides. So we see all the mollycoddling and hand holding. But all it is really doing, is prolonging the agony of getting out there and learning how to do the job, by making bad decisions, as well as good ones. Because we all make both kinds of decisions, no matter how long we have lived, or how long we have been in the business.

 

Now I know how the fairings on those trucks get damaged or come up missing.

 

I am learning how to turn around.


just place yourself in an area that requires turning around and you will learn rather quickly on just how to extricate yourself. That is how i did it prior to videos and schools(I've seen zero videos and did not go to a driving school) and all that new breed of driver jazz. I did not put myself into the situation purposely either. It just happened,time and time again and I still get into tight arse situations pulling a 40' steel end dump and a 268" wb truck so on a weekly basis i get practice in on extrication of truck and trailer.

practice.practice.practice. and any driver will get their share of practice by actually driving.

 

Exactly!

Martin

 

I wouldn't attempt that u-turn with a daycab and a 45' trailer.

 

Wow, that was tough to watch. Mainly due to having to watch that fella completely trash that rig. I slightly felt a tad bad for him but after reflecting on it, he's just not a wise guy at all. Gees.