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What should I focus on to teach myself how to drive?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by VinnyVincent, Oct 7, 2018.

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  1. Oct 7, 2018 #1
    VinnyVincent

    VinnyVincent Light Load Member

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    Hello,
    I work in the office at a company that has a lot of tractors and trailers, and my plan is to move to a job driving a truck by early next year. I'm almost done studying to get my CLP, I've gotten my medical card and just this morning I drove a tractor and trailer around the lot for the first time to practice shifting and making turns.
    At lunch time I plan to practice backing up.

    This isn't formal training by any stretch. Basically it's Sunday and the bosses are out, so me and the dock foreman are riding around in the tractor and he is teaching me some things. He doesn't have a CDL either, but often moves trailers around the lot.

    Is there anything I should be focusing on while I have access to the truck to teach myself? I assume it's a good idea to get very comfortable with backing? Is there any structured way I should be teaching myself?

    I am eventually going to have to attend a school in order to use their vehicle for the test, but I am trying to get a jump on the learning curve.
     
    VinnyVincent, Oct 7, 2018
    VinnyVincent, Oct 7, 2018
    #1
    Lepton1 and Rideandrepair Thank this.
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  3. Oct 7, 2018 #2
    pmdriver

    pmdriver Road Train Member

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    Get out and look is not just for backing. Learn to see the whole picture and relax, getting tense and worried only slows you down.
     
    pmdriver, Oct 7, 2018
    pmdriver, Oct 7, 2018
    #2
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  4. Oct 7, 2018 #3
    GreenPete359

    GreenPete359 Road Train Member

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    Driving my recliner
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    Learn it right the 1st time. If you plan on going to a school, don’t make their job any harder by teaching yourself bad habits now. Wait and learn it right.

    If you are only looking to a school to rent a truck from for your test, then that’s a different story and you’ve come to the right place.
     
    GreenPete359, Oct 7, 2018
    GreenPete359, Oct 7, 2018
    #3
    VinnyVincent Thanks this.
  5. Oct 7, 2018 #4
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    Learn to back well. At the end of virtually every trip, you must back up. Some easy some not so easy. Driving forward is easy. Making tighter right hand turns requires some learned skills. Backing into 12 foot wide spaces with cherished money makers on both sides requires lots of learned skills. If you can’t back up, you may as well not even start a trip.
     
    STexan, Oct 7, 2018
    STexan, Oct 7, 2018
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    VinnyVincent Thanks this.
  7. Oct 7, 2018 #5
    VinnyVincent

    VinnyVincent Light Load Member

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    So you don't think it'd be beneficial to get a little bit comfortable with backing and shifting ahead of time? I definitely do want to learn to do things the right way, but I just wanted to get a little bit familiar with driving so that it's not so overwhelming when I do attend school. I'm not looking to completely teach myself at all, just want to get used to some of the very basics and not be so nervous when I first start driving at the school.
     
    VinnyVincent, Oct 7, 2018
    VinnyVincent, Oct 7, 2018
    #5
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  8. Oct 7, 2018 #6
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Practice backing and always knowing where the rear of your trailer is when you're driving.
    The biggest challenge will be the pre-trip inspection. memorize it word for word because the DMV will fail you quicker than how you drive.
     
    Chinatown, Oct 7, 2018
    Chinatown, Oct 7, 2018
    #6
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  9. Oct 7, 2018 #7
    dptrucker

    dptrucker Road Train Member

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    If you gonna practice backing...learn the 90, 45, parallel, and off set backing. These will be on the test. Grab the commercial booklet from your DMV and read up on pretrip and airbreak test. Then do it repetitively on the truck.
    If you are shifting and not grind g them, then you are doing that right lol.
     
    dptrucker, Oct 7, 2018
    dptrucker, Oct 7, 2018
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  10. Oct 7, 2018 #8
    Clyde07

    Clyde07 Heavy Load Member

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    Focus on not hitting anything.
     
    Clyde07, Oct 7, 2018
    Clyde07, Oct 7, 2018
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  11. Oct 7, 2018 #9
    Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

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    Keep at it....there is a lot to learn, and the more hands on experience the more you will learn in cdl school.

    Here are few things you will learn in cdl school, that you can get started on:
    Do you know how to use the clutch?
    Do you know how to double clutch? This is required to get your license.
    Learn the gauges.
    Do you have a dot manual to study for the cdl test?
    Have you read the manual?
    Start taking the cdl tests on this site.
    Study the air brakes section of the dot manual...you will be tested on it for your written test and your skills test...study it hard.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Oct 7, 2018
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Oct 7, 2018
    #9
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  12. Oct 7, 2018 #10
    pmdriver

    pmdriver Road Train Member

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    While you are driving around the yard you do not have the crazies zipping around doing the Darwin thing so learn how to concentrate while keeping a eye on them who are rushing for the end.
     
    pmdriver, Oct 7, 2018
    pmdriver, Oct 7, 2018
    #10
    VinnyVincent Thanks this.
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