Day by day on 1st driving job

I know I came on a bit heavy with my first post. Its just that green drivers can be hit with serious situations that can affect their jobs right out of the gate and the limited time with a trainer just don't prepare you. One of the first things is that feeling of loneness as you look across that tractor and see an empty seat where that trainer was. Get a good Motor Carrier road atlas ASAP. This will help you avoid low bridges make sure you use it when you trip plan off the interstate network. Learn patience in docks and truck stops. Don't listen to the truck stop attorneys you will encounter. If you have a question about the hours of service or proper logging ask your safety dept NOT mack the supertrucker. When you go to a shipper or receiver always remember to be nice, even if they are not. Make your appointments. Learn when not to drive in case of weather or not physically up to it. I can't sit here and go point by point on how to be safe but it is critical you do. If you can develop a good relationship with the mechanics in the shop. See if you can get things like a mud flap, an extra headlight bulb (remember never touch it the grease from your fingers can cause it to blow), An assortment of small light bulbs, and a bag of those gladhand gaskets, and a tube or two of 5th wheel grease. Go by safety and get an extra log book or two if your company is still using paper ones. If your company uses those scanning sheets get an extra pad of them. Try to keep emergency cash too. As you travel especially in areas you have never been in limit your cell phone conversations and keep your eyes and ears open for sudden route changes and things like low bridge ahead signs. There are maybe a thousand or more places where the route will make a hard right or left and go around a town. If you miss these signs you might find yourself in a truck prohibited place and its almost impossible to get turned around. Above all use your head and learn this! If you ever find yourself in a hole STOP DIGGING! Most of the time when a driver does something stupid its trying to get out of a hole.

As time passes you will gain confidence in your abilities as you learn the ropes.

 

He was messing with you (sarcastically) because he was crucified here for sharing when something went wrong when he first got started. His point was that some people can be dicks around here. The lesson is to try not to take anything personally, especially on this forum.

Nice job on the steer tire blowout, by the way. I'm still waiting for that dreaded day, 12 years later.

 

Keep a large coffee with you driving night's. And multiple vitamins it keeps you alert . Some truck stops sell truckers choice nutritionals Turbo Power. I used that when I was sick in some BFE truck stop. It works I wasn't sick 30 minutes later
. Ester C keeps you from getting sick on the road . Bee Caps TA and Petro sells also works for alertness

 

Good job on the blow out handling hope I don't have to go through it Who do you call when that happens ?

 

Good job on controlling the truck! Question: When you do your pre trip what do you guys do when you check the tires? I really hope you check the PSI and not just hit a baseball bat or kick a tire. A tire can look good, but inflated which down the road can cause it to be eaten up and explode on you.

Otherwise keep up the good work and good luck out here!

 

Hey, you had a steer-tire blowout and didn't hit anything your first real day. I pronounce you DRIVER. With all the BS, amenities, crappy dispatchers and insane hours that title carries with it

Seriously, good job on the blowout. And like the other guy said, ICE is the enemy. Snow is no big deal.