For those of you who just received your CDL

I've been out here for a little over 5 years now.
I was very nervous for the first 2 or 3 years, never knowing what to expect from all the new situations I might encounter.

Not so bad now.
Not SO bad.
There are still places that I do not want to return to.

You get more dangerous with more comfort.
It is a fact (I think...) that drivers with about my skill/experience level get in more accidents than drivers with only one year experience, because they get too comfortable and complacent.

There will ALWAYS be that new experience, with a dock or driving situation, that you have never had before.

Always be unsure as to what you will encounter, and you will always be more alert for what you may encounter.

When driving always be prepared to slow down and/or react and move quickly in a controlled way.
When backing always take your time to assess the situation, both before and during the backing.

The things that are smart and essential for new drivers are the exact same things that are required for more experienced drivers.

 

I'm testing on the 22nd of this month.. my biggest fear is getting through that. The stress over that test is bad enough.

 

I will pass on my 2 cents here for you to chew on. I work full time for the fire department here and drive part time as a fill in driver for a couple of local companies. I have worked for them over the years and decided to do my own thing for a while on my days off, so my driving has slowed down. That being said, I also help train new firefighters to advance into driving positions (25 year CDL holder, 23 years full time firefighter, 20 years holding the rank of Fire Driver). Over the years, I have come up with some training aids that get incorporated into our classes.

1. If you don't know, don't go. Here's the explanation. If you don't know if you'll make the corner without hitting something, dropping off into a ditch, etc., don't go. If you don't know if the road is passable, don't go. You can insert any driving situation into this.

2.Take as much room as you need. Whether you making a turn, backing in somewhere or attempting another maneuver.

3. Sit through a stop light or two if necessary to let traffic clear so you can make your turn. I have done this in a tractor trailer as well as a fire truck.

4. GOAL. Get Out And Look. I found this on here and I like it. It is getting added to the next class coming up in a month or so. A couple minutes spent looking beats a couple hours spent doing paperwork for a screw up.

5. You have the company name stuck on the door, it's not hard for someone to find a phone number to call and complain. There are plenty of people who are looking to cause trouble or sue the big dollar companies. We all have a big bulls eye on us. The same thing applies to the fire department. I stress this to the new firefighters who think they're driving race cars and are invincible/above the law. Some of them still don't get it.

I realize I got a bit off track, but the same things apply to each of us who drive a vehicle. What it all boils down to is common sense and thinking through your challenges. Granted you don't have lights and sirens on your rig and I do, but a lot of my driving is in non emergency situations where I have to follow the same rules of the road as everybody else. I almost prefer it that way, because people get stupid around emergency vehicles.

Take this information for what it's worth and use it as you see fit.

 

I got my CDL-Permit about 3 weeks about and have gotten behind the wheel already with a instructor . First time was in NYC, was scared at first but I was used to it after a while some of them turns was hell but hey thats part of the career, Best of Luck

 

Talk about being thrown in the fire lol

 

I would like to think that most everybody is nervous about the "what if's" when first starting out. just stay alert, know your surroundings and take it easy. comfort will come eventually. I was nervous as all get out the day the Dmv man climbed into the cab with me for my road test. then even more nervous my first day on the job when we loaded a 50 thousand lb coil and my trainer gave me the "nod" that It was my turn to drive. (no loaded trailers at my school). you will likely encounter many uncomfortable moments, just try to relax the best you can. when planning a trip use every tool available, google maps has been a lifesaver for me, atlas, gps (for street names) and I try to always call the customer for their recommended directions, actual shipping/receiving hours, onsite parking, neighborhood etc etc, when searching for a place ive always used the "when in doubt just pull the heck over and assess the situation" method before one wrong turn becomes a major situation.

 

Or you go Flat and forget that Hunt's Point BS.......

 

Driving a heavy truck does not have a "comfort zone" you are in a service industry the customer should be the most important thing on your mind............if you can't back.....LEARN......The only way to learn is experience, if you want it easy this career is not for you do something else. Plan your trip, call the customer if no luck use the net to find the off the wall out of the way customer. YOU....... are paid to provide service that is what a drivers job is. Learn the trade and stop whining or just do the public and all the drivers on the road a favor who.........WORK. and turn your license in, that way there are more loads for the men and women who can do the job.

 

I only went in 3-4 times taking produce from Laredo. Not bad once you know where to go. Deivered into a place once in Queens that I thought for sure I was screwed. Some of those streets werent made for 18 wheelers

 

I did not know that. To get in the dock, you have to blind side back around the corner of the building and there's a 20' high retaining wall on your left which, when done correctly, there will be about 8" between your bumper and that wall. The store is very busy, so this blind-side blind-corner back with super tight clearance must be done while 4-wheelers are zipping around in front and behind you from both directions. It made me want to murder those people who couldn't wait 2 minutes to let me get backed in the dock.