I'm worried I can't do this job

The bad thing about trainers is that they are sleep deprived. They are to monitor you if that is the set-up and then have to drive also; don't know if this is the case about the company you are driving for.

The main thing to remember is you can only drive most generally 11hrs at a time and you have a 14hr window that once is opened, it closes 14hrs later. You have to have 10hrs off for sleep. I am not even going to get into split sleeper berth equations.

At a lot of the shippers/receivers you may have time to get a nap in if you do not have to monitor the load going n or out. Get a nap in if you can. You didn't say if you were driving dry van or reefer; with reefers you may end up at some shippers and have a 10 put in just waiting for them to get you loaded, so be it, just get some sleep.

Soon it will be mandatory for a 30min break for every 8hrs you drive; plan on driving and taking that break, even at a rest area would be nice, get out and walk around if you can, but be very aware of the area and what's going on. If you are going into a busy area like say Atlanta, GA, you know rush hour traffic is going to be murder, but on the chance it might be a little lighter if you stop and take 30min off, then do so, work smarter not harder.

Some loads may be on a very short, driving time where you don't have time to lollygag around. You drive your 11, have a 30 min break, do your truck inspection daily, fuel, etc and you might be pushed to only have a 12-13 hr day, this is jam packing it in with no play time for staying in the truckstop for very long, you might even have to delay the shower till the next day (keep a supply of baby wipes on board, they work great for adults too.)

If your not jam packed on time, then you take a nap as you need if you get tired, even an hour is better than nothing. The 1st few weeks will be very trying and stressful for you to handle all the planning, routing, and driving. A lot of companies know this and some will start you out with loads that are timed with appointments set out further giving you more time to make it there. I hope your company does this, if they are smart they will.

To make your job easier make sure you have a notebook to write all the load information down in just in case the qualcomm goes down. Write the route solution route numbers down, fuel stops you are going to. If you have a laptop you can google the addresses in and see the whole picture. If you don't have a computer then get the road atlas out (should look at it too even with a laptop), a laminated one with a dry erase marker works good, you can then trace out the route you should be going on. Large paperclips are at truckstops and even Walmart now, and work good to paperclip the pages of each state you will be going through. Rehearse the map in your mind. A GPS is good, but use it only after checking the route, looking at the road atlas, etc.

You'll make it. I don't know if all those local jobs really have jobs, esp after you fill out the app long form and you don't have much on the driving end.

 

well at 33 yrs that may work for you and at 22 it works for me nice though you found everthi g bout my statement wrong just goes to show ya we would not be driving partners nope no way...

 

Wow so many people on here concerned with my safety..I have been out here 22 yrs I think I know whats best for me.. Drive your own trk...