Getting started after training,only you and your truck. How stressful was it for you?

I've just got out of a company training,less than a week ago,now it's only me and my truck. And I experience a lot of stress every day being by myself in driving difficulties. Narrow spaces in front of docks,shifting in crazy traffic in big cities (today I've got lost in Dallas,TX because of closed ramps/roads due to road construction) etc. So I'm exhausted after my just first 5 days I'm not complaining,just wondering if the reason for those problems is me or all newbies feel like I do in the very beginning? How were your first days in trucking?

 

My first days were horrifying. It was way too different, even after a ton of schooling, driver training (local daycab work), then out on my own. The key is to remember what you are driving, never get complacent, be realistic of what you can accomplish legally and safely, and learn something new every day. Your comfort will grow as you gain experience. Baby steps ...

 

I got out of training at the end of February. All that anxiety and stressful feelings will get better with time. I still get them on occasion but it is rare (i recognize that I still have lots to learn and this is NOT a career you can master in just a few months or even years) I had some really stressful times when I was out alone for the 1st time. Anxiety when looking up a place on Google maps to get the layout of the building, dock, or area wondering how the he'll I am gonna get in there. LOL. Just take your time GOAL and ignore the drivers giving you dirty looks of frustration when it takes you longer than it would them when maneuvering or backing. It will get a little easier every day

 

How dare you get lost as a truck driver

;D

Finally got to relax. The pest in the seat next to me was finally gone. Could actually turn on the ac! Even the people Boston ma couldn't phase me. Was "broke in" learn to back up real quick running my 1st 3 months around there.

 

Stressful,angry,hated the whole world.Long 2 months and one heck of a back ache because on the hard as a board mattress.Everything but good when I first started till I got a dog and that helped a lot.

 

Please let me give you a piece of advise. And bear in mind, I've only been a real driver for a while over 2 years now. This in no way constitutes me as an expert driver, in any way, shape or form.

What you need to realize, about four wheelers...is that, they are the enemy. Every job has an enemy. Most jobs; it's your competitor. In some jobs, it's other people. In your job, it's both.

You're competing for freight with other companies, other drivers, and battling idiots in sedans that "have been driving for 30 years with no accidents and therefore know everything, about everything, about everything their is to know driving." When in reality, these are the people blathering about on their cellphones, while yelling at the kids in the back, cutting other drivers off, failing to signal lane changes and riding in your blind spots.

These people are rarely truly skilled drivers, rather; they just have insanely good luck most of the time.


With this is mind, you now need to bear yet another fact in mind. Screw them. Screw every four wheeler there's ever been. Screw the soccer mom on her way to drop the kids off at school. Screw the business man that's 15 minuets late to go ride his desk for 8 hours. Screw the college student trying to change the world in between driving. You have absolutely nothing to prove to them, other than the fact that you can competently handle that truck. Part of that, a big part, is safely navigating. If that means you need to hit those four ways, and consult your map or google maps; do it. Sit on the side of the road. Those vehicles will eventually get passed you. If you're roaming around any city, in a big truck, lost; it's more than an issue, it's dangerous.

If a cop stops behind you, explain the situation. Be kind and receptive. I doubt one would ever ticket you for being lost, unless you're on a no-through truck street, and even then you can fight that in court.


The point I'm trying to make, is: SLOW down. Slow down your thinking, slow down your movement, slow down your truck.
Screw everyone's appointment. You are the traffic. They will live, the rest of their day, just fine because you had to sit on the side of a road for a few minuets to figure out where to go.

Outside of that, you also need to start prepping your route better, if you're getting lost.
Call the shipper or receiver and get clear instructions. Check the route in your atlas if you can, review the roads in the restricted section. Verify all of these on google maps if you can, street view is a huge help for checking bridge height and turn radius clearance.
Get a CB, it will help. Not a lot, but in between hearing about a driver with no panties on, you'll be able to ring up a more experienced and knowledgeable driver who should be able to tell you whether or not your bypass route for that construction is safe. But remember; you can always pull over and check.

If you're not sure, stop. Better to be late, than being pulled out by a wrecker, from underneath a low bridge.

 

Oh yea don't rush. If a load is a little late cause you had to take your time in the name of safety then so be it. Most companies understand you are not going to be a superstar with 100% on time deliveries when you are 1st out on your own

 

I went through a company training program at Crete carrier. They gave me my assigned tractor at the Indianapolis terminal. I had to ask another driver how to get back to i-465 haha! It gets a lot easier. Give it a month you will be doing a lot better. You get used to having your trainer there to help when you mess up and takes a while to get used to the responsibility being all on you.

 

The first while will be stressful for you. No getting away from it. Won't be long before everything settles down.

One of my first loads as a truck driver alone, I had a super-b trailer load of screenings (waste from grain elevators) and I got myself stuck on a dead end street with my receiving elevator a couple blocks away in plain sight. Took me a little while and quite a bit of cursing, but I got that beast backed a couple blocks so I could get turned around.

You will screw up! It happens to even the old hats sometimes.

I had some of the same old feelings when I switched to my current carrier. Running grain truck is easier as I didn't have to back into docks or navigate some tight city streets.

But it is sure nice not to have to carry 63 tonnes of truck around.

 

I was in the midwest for about a week and half when I 1st went out on my own (which was pretty nice). The acct I was on was strictly northeast (where I am from) well I got my 1st load to head back east (pittsburg area lots of fun LO) and got real nervous. It was like I was in a different world. Roads alot more narrow, the 4 wheelers where not as friendly or easy to share the roads with. It was like day 1 all over again.