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2 weeks of school left, scared to drive local?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Rmetal, Mar 3, 2016.

Page 4 of 5
  1. Mar 3, 2016 #31
    deep south

    deep south Light Load Member

    51
    22
    Jan 19, 2016
    fayettenam,GA
    0
    yep when you stop being scared of your wife,oh were talking abut otr.
     
    deep south, Mar 3, 2016
    deep south, Mar 3, 2016
    #31
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  3. Mar 3, 2016 #32
    CallOfTheWild

    CallOfTheWild Light Load Member

    159
    145
    Oct 17, 2014
    0
    I'm saving screenshots, so that if this guy crashes, and you guys bash him...I can call you out on it.
     
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    #32
  4. Mar 3, 2016 #33
    Sho Nuff

    Sho Nuff Road Train Member

    1,175
    1,401
    Apr 9, 2015
    0
    I'm not saying OTR is any easier, but your probally gonna deliver or pickup at an industrial area, where your only gonna piss off shipper/receivers, or other truckers. In LTL, not only are you gonna make P&D in industrial areas, your also gonna do residentials and the small mom and pop stores. If your making a delivery downtown, and your taking 10 minutes to backup, doing GOAL and what not, not only are you gonna create backup, but your gonna have impatient drivers going around you, everytime you restart, which is only gonna put more stress on the driver, and he may have an accident as a result.

    I'm by no means Pro OTR, only did it for a year myself before I went local, but I do want the OP to have the best chance of success, and getting some experience before going local is safer than being thrown to the wolves.
     
    Sho Nuff, Mar 3, 2016
    Sho Nuff, Mar 3, 2016
    #33
    Bob Dobalina and CallOfTheWild Thank this.
  5. Mar 3, 2016 #34
    CallOfTheWild

    CallOfTheWild Light Load Member

    159
    145
    Oct 17, 2014
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    Someone who has common sense, something that is seriously lacking on this thread. Its nice to see someone with a brain.
     
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    #34
    Sho Nuff Thanks this.
  7. Mar 3, 2016 #35
    rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

    3,374
    7,785
    Jul 11, 2012
    in the bush somewhere
    0
    Be a milk tanker driver doing farm pickup. At night. You'll get good at backing real quick. Then you can do anything
     
    rbrtwbstr, Mar 3, 2016
    rbrtwbstr, Mar 3, 2016
    #35
    Tonythetruckerdude and CallOfTheWild Thank this.
  8. Mar 3, 2016 #37
    Rmetal

    Rmetal Bobtail Member

    6
    2
    Aug 23, 2015
    Toledo, OH
    0
    Thanks for the good points here guys. To answer some Q's, yes I think OTR would be 'easier' but like someone said, you still are going to end your run in a city and have to do the same stuff.

    I'm not scared of driving, I'm scared of hitting ####. My backing up is very good IMO, but backing around cones in a open lot is much different then into a dock with other people and #### around me. But I'v done the backing up maneuvers on the range for over 30 hours. I know how to control the truck. My biggest nervous problem is making turns through intersections. But I only have 1h road time with trailer, and simply the other people on the road.... So it may be that I haven't done it much.

    I know how the CDL mills do, which is why I paid out of pocket and went to a private school. I feel the training is top level, after all it really comes down to is getting the time in truck and figuring it out yourself with the instructor telling you your cutting to short, you need to clear that intersection, watch this idiot, that's a stale green get off the gas.

    All the LTL jobs postings have 4~6 weeks with a company trainer, start at $16-19hr. Yes there is the Pepsi, Sysco, etc. There is a few flatbed LTL. I live somewhere in the woods between Jackson, MI and Toledo, OH. Its about a HR drive to either. The schools jobs are mostly in Toledo but also have a few around Detroit. I'll get a picture tonight and grab some more names for you guys. But I'm glad to hear people have done fine out of school and LTL. I'm not excited about unloading myself but I'm not even 30 yrs old and have just a bit of manfat. So I should be able to work into it.
     
    Rmetal, Mar 3, 2016
    Rmetal, Mar 3, 2016
    #37
    Sho Nuff Thanks this.
  9. Mar 3, 2016 #37
    Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Road Train Member

    2,360
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    Apr 8, 2009
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    There are many good reasons why one can OTR can be harder. Most OTR is not industrial areas. You will do plenty of mom and pops, downtown, and even residential. All of the stops will be far from your area of expertise and with no instruction. OTR has plenty of retail, strip mall, and large shopping mall that has all the difficulties of traffic that happen in downtown. Industrial is actually a rarity in OTR.

    Mind you I am not saying LTL is easy. What you get for maneuvering difficulty comes more frequent in LTL delivery because you make more deliveries. But, then you have a 28' and a single screw daycab.
     
    Toomanybikes, Mar 3, 2016
    Toomanybikes, Mar 3, 2016
    #37
  10. Mar 3, 2016 #38
    CallOfTheWild

    CallOfTheWild Light Load Member

    159
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    Oct 17, 2014
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    When it comes to turning....MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS...If you have any doubts...don't do it. Go Forward more then make the turn, take up another lane if you have to, do whatever you need to do. Biggest thing is MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS, don't let TRAFFIC rush you. If your unsure, STOP and check again, traffic can wait. Go with your GUT, WATCH YOUR MIRRORS. Have I said WATCH YOUR MIRRORS? MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS. Don't RUSH, take your time, traffic can wait, MOST people know (but don't like) that trucks take WIDE turns or take a minute to do it, If you have to CONTROL the intersection or the situation so you can do the turn...DO IT. Don't let TRAFFIC or PEOPLE rush you. MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS!

    I'm not sure I said MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS enough, MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS!
     
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    CallOfTheWild, Mar 3, 2016
    #38
    bottomdumpin Thanks this.
  11. Mar 3, 2016 #39
    Rmetal

    Rmetal Bobtail Member

    6
    2
    Aug 23, 2015
    Toledo, OH
    0
    I understand that but when I'm looking out the mirrors i still have that "I dont know what I'm doing" feeling. First few days of backing up I felt the same way, but it clicked and I figured it out, and I feel like I know what I'm doing for the most part and not just following instructions. In class though I'm one of the slowest drivers, even driving in a circle around the pad the instructor knows its wide open and theres nothing to worry about I'm still going 5mph creeping through a turn. I'm in night class so getting ready to roll.

    Its snowing and icy tonight, I'll let you know how it goes tonight. Thanks again guys
     
    Rmetal, Mar 3, 2016
    Rmetal, Mar 3, 2016
    #39
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