Nervous about heading out on my own. Any advice or help?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. You asked your teachers back in school didn't you? Don't be goaded into doing something you feel is beyond your ability. For example,in snow or bad weather pay no attention to the #### idiots that are running eighty miles and hour and telling you to hurry up. Don't be pushed passed your limits by dispatchers etc. You will learn that a so called "hot " load doesn't pay a dime more ,and will not cool off lying in a ditch somewhere,or a dispatcher wants you to do something underhanded because he /she owes someone a favor. Favors are to be handled by the parties who enacted said favors.. Always be aware,be aware,be aware. Stay away from the seedy characters. Stay strictly to business. Treat it like any other job, you're not doing it because it's healthy or necessarily fun ,it's the income. Take the slow but steady pace philosophy. If it don't look right,feel right,sound right etc ,there's a reason. Don't worry about "fitting in" with the mouth running, steering wheel holding cowboys and modern day road monkeys. Look sharp,be sharp act sharp. You' ll be alright.

 

Do everything like you know what it is your doing, not ####y. Walk with purpose, drive with purpose, talk with purpose, not ####y.

If your haveing a problem backing to a dock or parking space, get out and look, if it's 20 times.

Get into good habits, drive slowly at shippers, receivers and t/s's. Just because another driver is being a mules behind trying to pass at 1mph faster than you can go, doesn't mean you can't slow down to let the fool by. Safer anyway.

Sugar works much better than salt with your DM ( or whatever your company calls your dispatcher) get to know him/her. . . Stop by the terminal and say hello. A good relationship with them can go along way.

Always be polite.

Don't ###-u-me anything, check it out.

 

The fear is natural. You should be scared, it's road respect. You have a lot of responsbility on you. When you get too nervous, it helps to get out, walk around, do an inspection, but you should always have a sense of fear whenever you turn that key. It should never really subside or go away. If you ever stop feeling that way completely, you need to get off the road.

At the same time, that fear is what will make you great...keeping your eye out for the general motoring public. Don't let your nerves fool you, you may be more excited about the opportunity than fearful or nervous.

 

Soco, while I agree with your premise wholeheartedly, for operating safely is our most important task every day; fear is the wrong word, the wrong state of mind. Fear is reactive, it puts you in a box controlled by others. And if you're going to be successful as a driver, you have to be proactive, you have to be thinking ahead. A stupid four-wheeler trick is a possibilty you should always be conscious of, so that when it happens you are already aware of your options.

Cautious, yes. Respectful, too. And definitely conscientious. But not fearful.

 

I heard that SNI has a mentor program for drivers. Essentially there are some drivers that volunteer to be available for questions if you are in a jam. Seems like a good program to me, perhaps checking into that might put your mind at ease a little.

 

One of the biggest thing to remember is.. If you miss your turn dont panic. If you have to drive 20 miles out of route to turn around, its ok. If you are going to be late , let your dispatcher know. No need trying to rush if you know your not going to make it.

Always write the directions down, before you start out. This will save time , so you dont have to pull over to get them.

 

Do some meditation that alwys helps

 

For my rookie days, I made a list. Check it before moving.

As for driving. I was more comfortable after upgrading to first seat driver. I was good enough to be hired. I passed training and the company written and driving skills test. I was good enough to start learning the real world.

Take your time. Drive as far as safely possible the early days of each run. That way you have the time to take time, backing in to a tight shipper dock, backing into the last tight spot at the TS, etc...

When possible, get up and roll early, like 4am. That way when your hours are up, and you are fatigued, there will still be spots at the TS and you will be doing your backing in daylight.

Mikeeee

 

when parked... right?

Mikeeee