lack of self confindence/want to be a trucker

Don’t worry. I started tractor trailers at 58 yrs old. They like older people more. We have a little common horse sense.
Was in a traffic jam the other day. All I could think was; I got the best seat in the house.
EDIT: I’m enjoying OTR so much. Keep thinking: Someday, I gotta get me a real job.

 

Smithfield might. I think they were bought by China to protect the pork supply in that country.

 

When I started truck school I did not know anything except one thing. I m going to be a trucker after age 6. I had been influenced by a number of them in Baltimore in mostly good ways. And the food? None of that skinny fast food either. Good big home cooking to the table.

Instructors found out I don't do mountains. Well, they made sure that was all I did for the most part. They created a monster.

Even today if I m in a big rig in a little bit of trouble I would hear that voice of a instructor who wants to make sure that nothing is going to get screwed up I should know better. He was a great instructor, but he also learned how I am on the wheel and sometimes would push my buttons until I want to tie him to the landing gear so I can drive in peace. But it's people like that sharing what they knew from trucking things that would be very good to have when the time comes.

As far as the Spouse, Im sorry for your loss.Not too many people will understand when two people are together in life.

You will need to get off your chair and get into a 18 wheeler. All the little butterflies will be taken care of one at a time in that Trucking School first. No one is really bad that they cannot pass the course. If they were.. well..it wont help America when it's time to cross the GWB after 5 days from Yakima WA with good things to eat for the east coast.

 

I’m the same as you. Anxiety about operation of the truck plus all kinds of little things you’d have to think about that the average person has no idea about.

Fear of doing something wrong and losing my job.

What happens if you miss a turn and end up in an area where you can’t turn around to get out? Or you miss a turn and get in an area where you have an overpass with low clearance and you destroy your trailer.

 

Only Swift drivers do that.
Seriously... The truck has brakes. Use them.

 

I am nervous too but during truck school when we parked in a gas station parking area there was an old lady driving a reefer trailer.. if she can do it....

 

If you can stay calm in those situations then you will likely get out of those situations without damaging anything. The problem is most people panic when they get into someplace they’re not supposed to be and that causes them not to think clearly about all their options for exiting the situation.

 

How about if you get in a situation you don’t know how to get out of and you’re out in the middle of nowhere and there’s no one there to ask or get help. I think about things like this that I’d never thought of before and it scares the crap out of me. Thinking team driving might actually be better.

 

If I’ve never been into a place before then I will look at google maps and also use google earth for street view. As far as getting close to the final destination I would suggest a Motor Carrier road atlas as it will show all low clearance locations and truck restricted routes in the front. Don’t rely solely on a gps.

 

Did you forget to take your medication?