For those of you who just received your CDL

Does it scare you to get behind the wheel and get to work? I just passed my written test. I am a bit worried to be honest. I see a lot of truck accidents on the news lately.

 

99% of the job is driving straight at a set speed on the interstate. I get nervous in industrial areas and small towns sometimes. I'm afraid my address won't be right or I'll miss my turn into the shipper/consignee and end up somewhere I'm not supposed to be and have to call police to back me up some little road. Highways, drop yards, truck stops I'm very comfortable.

 

I didn't get behind a wheel yet. I only passed the written test today. It crossed my mind what if I missed my exit. Its not like a car where you can go up couple lights and get back on the highway. But you're right, straight road and watch your speed.

 

Wow...thought I was the only one with anxiety issues...thanks 4 your honesty.

 

I dont care who you are and how good you are. When you Qualcom beeps and it says Destination Hunts Pt. Market the Bronx. You GET anxiety attacks haha

 

I haven't started yet. I'm nervous. I have my cdl. I'm checking out companies

 

I used to delivery groceries to Kroger stores in the southeast. The one on Ponce de Leon Ave in downtown ATL used to give me nightmares.

 

I take it you've never done logging, mining support, or sitework?

Regarding the OP's question, there'll always be moments when your nerves will be on edge, even after you've driven for years. And it's not a bad thing - it simply means you haven't allowed yourself to become too comfortable. I think just about everyone is nervous when they first get behind the wheel. You'll get over it. Just don't go into panic mode, "OH, ####! I CAN'T DO THIS! OH, ####! ####! ####!", and accept that you're in the learning phase (and you'll continue to learn, again even after years" and don't beat yourself up if you're not getting everything done perfectly while you're still in school.

 

I've had my CDL almost 10 years and been driving for 8 of those 10.

The first time I got behind the wheel outside of CDL school was nerve racking to say the least. I compulsively checked all the mirrors all the time, kept the radios off, and drove like my life depended on it. To put it mildly, I was extremely nervous the first few times.

It's completely normal - don't worry about it. you'll get more comfortable with it as you get more time behind the wheel.

 

That Kroger is literally known to locals as "The Murder Kroger." I dispatched ambulances in Atlanta for years before I drove OTR. It's a scary place.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_Kroger