I'm almost four months in to a gig I got right out of CDL school hauling 48' smooth bore tankers of milk. I run loads over the grapevine numerous times a week into L.A. and though it's getting better, when I get down into L.A. traffic loaded, I'm still always hyper aware, and puckered up lol. It's probably a good thing to be non-complacent in that situation, but #### it's tiring.
Do the nerves ever go away?
Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Twistin' throttles, Jun 13, 2019.
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slim shady and shatteredsquare Thank this.
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Better to be that way than to get careless or arrogant and make a mistake that could cost you your job or worse...
MayhemTrucking, Tb0n3, Twistin' throttles and 5 others Thank this. -
L.A. is a breeze, driver. At least people there (for the most part) pick a lane and stay in it instead of weaving back and forth looking for the magic fast lane that nobody else is using...
I much prefer West Coast drivers to most other places.
Be glad you don't drive in Atlanta, Chicago, or Miami. It's like driving in a third-world country.
And yes, you'll get used to it.
Always remember, "A safe following distance is yours to maintain, not defend..." LOL, so don't forget to leave that 8 seconds of following distance, as if there were 8 seconds of empty highway anywhere in L.A.MayhemTrucking, ethos, ChevyCam and 5 others Thank this. -
but when the day comes that you know everything, and take things for granted............
park the truck, and walk away.Twistin' throttles, Gearjammin' Penguin, shatteredsquare and 2 others Thank this. -
the nerves are what's keeping you from making mistakes, and allowing you to compensate for the mistakes of others, and allowing you to anticipate the potential mistakes of others before they manifest. the nerves cost energy, energy is a renewable resource. Keep the nerves, monitor your energy levels to maintain mental and physical health...with more experience you'll be able to keep the same level of awareness using less energy. With me, the day I decide to get comfortable is the same day I start making really dumb mistakes, and for some reason, everyone else decides to start making dumb mistakes in front of me on that same particular day. It's like the psychological tension is contagious to those around you, for better or for worse. If I start the day on the lookout for catastrophe, catastrophe gets nervous and never shows its face.
Twistin' throttles Thanks this. -
This is a very routine hill for me. Going up. Coming down. Next.
You need to manage your stress levels, as in ok, you are running mountains today like you did yesterday and will do again tomorrow. If you let the stress get you will BURN OUT. Then something stupid will happen for bad for all. You first.Twistin' throttles Thanks this. -
Fairweather, slim shady and Twistin' throttles Thank this.
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You always want to be vigilant. But the best thing you can do is just sit back, maintain a healthy following distance, and stay the hell away from everyone else on the highway as much as you can. I know in Los Angeles that's a tough thing, but do what you can.
I drive in one of the cities that was described as a third world country earlier in the thread, and I have 16 years with zero tickets, accidents or incidents. I was a nervous wreck when I started, but that served me well. It kept me from taking stupid risks.
Now that nervousness has been replaced with healthy distrust. Stay away from me, let me drive my truck, and we will both go on our way.Twistin' throttles and shatteredsquare Thank this. -
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