FOR THE LOVE OF ALL ....HAVE MERCY!!!!

Everybody is watching and rooting for you. Biggest thing they want you to do is learn. Get out and look even if it’s just to look like a real pro.
When I first started. They had me do a dry van load. I do pneumatic tanker. I don’t know why? I couldn’t back that dry van straight to save my life. I ended up with the van straight to the dock. But the tractor turned. I swear there was something wrong. Had to be.

 

I started out with a large carrier that was mostly drop & hook. Since I rarely had the same trailer more than two days in a row, I would get another trailer sometimes in horrible condition. Consequently, I've seen trailers with the tandems so far out of alignment, you almost couldn't back up in a straight line. Every time a driver drags the trailer tires over a big curb or rock, it goes a little more out of alignment. I see some trailers going down the freeway off tracking a foot or more moving in a straight line.

 

I see those old guys whipping it in like it’s nothing. Just think one day that will be you. If you drive with CB on turn off when you get ready to park so you can concentrate. I can only back at a truck lot at an angle when there is more than one spot open without help. Right now I am on my 6 th week. If there are two spots use both and just get it in there. Then you can pull up and straighten yourself out. It makes it a little easier at least for me.

 

Had a guy park on my right. Two spots open there. Told him he was smarter than the 4 who tried and gave up on my left. He asked why. I said it’s because he chose the easy spot.

 

A 18 inch metal angle 90 on each end plus a little bit of bright spray and a light source gives me a line at any dock.

They might not like it too much but it's been done.

There was a time I had 22 docks to pick from and couldn't do any of them. It was a mess.

You will have those days. Never you mind the radio.

Some of the worst offenders were the auto assembly plants that will tell you that your one inch gap in one corner at a dock is no good. It needs to be square. That one plant, I made it square, it only cost me a few bolts for a door up and down on one side and their overpadded protection on that side as well.

(Which was next to a 220-400 volt electrical mains for that section of the factory too... the idiocy of engineers who build warehouses are beyond understanding at times.

 

Hand, put your supertrucker hat on. Walk into the truck stop like you own it. Go sit down with a group of truckers and talk about all the steering wheel holders.

 

Turning off in that situation is fine. Royally stupid not to install one tho. That's your most important piece of safety equipment. It's saved my life many a time.

 

It gets better with time.

 

I haven't had one in my truck in years. As far as it being stupid to not have one, I disagree. For me, it's one less distraction.