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New Driver Looking for Advice

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Oct 16, 2015 #1
    GiantBeard

    GiantBeard Medium Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2015
    Petaluma/Indio, CA
    0
    I don't know if this is common, but I kind of feel dropped into a big mess here.

    My boss sent me to a trucking school and I got my license in 3 weeks. Simple training, 28ft trailers, 10 spd volvos.

    Now I am immediately shoved into driving a 50 ft trailer from Indio, through La County, to San Francisco, up to Petaluma, and back to Indio, twice a week.

    I feel optimistic, but there is so much I do not know, and not having a trainer, like I see all you guys talk about, feels odd. My boss said he'd pay to have someone ride with me once, and only one way, but that I'd have to figure everything else out on my own.

    So, I guess my question is if there is any need to know stuff, like how slow should I go up/down the grapevine with a reefer full of produce? I did a small run in a box truck last week and it seemed fairly hectic, with most drivers on the 5 being extremely aggressive with the passing at speeds between 60 and 65 mph.
     
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    #1
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 16, 2015 #2
    HorseShoe

    HorseShoe Road Train Member

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    Jun 29, 2015
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    The megas call them "trainers" but they are really teams. The trainer might give the rookie tips on shifting and reminding him to scale his load...But theres not much they can train....Grab a GPS and some common sense and you'll be fine. Hell, half the drivers don't even have common sense
     
    HorseShoe, Oct 16, 2015
    HorseShoe, Oct 16, 2015
    #2
    BUMBACLADWAR Thanks this.
  4. Oct 16, 2015 #3
    GiantBeard

    GiantBeard Medium Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2015
    Petaluma/Indio, CA
    0
    Thanks. I'm just kind of nervous, now that its actually here. Hell, I was supposed to be on it right now, but things got pushed back, and if that hadn't happened, I would have been in that mudslide on the Grapevine!

    I'll take the good luck where I find it!
     
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    #3
    HorseShoe Thanks this.
  5. Oct 16, 2015 #4
    lagbrosdetmi

    lagbrosdetmi Box Monkey

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    Jul 1, 2014
    Detroit
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    Do you really have a giant beard

    Or are you dating a lesbian
     
    lagbrosdetmi, Oct 16, 2015
    lagbrosdetmi, Oct 16, 2015
    #4
  7. Oct 16, 2015 #5
    lfod14

    lfod14 Road Train Member

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    Jan 9, 2014
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    Don't over think it man, most of it is common sense. I went to school as well but then right to local driving so no driving trainer. City driving, tight spot, crazy backs into places that a truck had NO business being. You can drive the truck and that's the big one. Longer trailers are easier to back than the short ones, and going forward is easy. You'll be fine but there's tons of great advise here when you need it. I'll be enteringy 3rd year soon and still always learning great tips from this place. Just made the switch to flatbed so now tons more to deal with but thats the fun part.
     
    lfod14, Oct 16, 2015
    lfod14, Oct 16, 2015
    #5
  8. Oct 16, 2015 #6
    lots of character

    lots of character Road Train Member

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    Aug 12, 2015
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    I want to see this beard. My beard is reared up in defense at the possible threat
     
    lots of character, Oct 16, 2015
    lots of character, Oct 16, 2015
    #6
    Dreamboat and HorseShoe Thank this.
  9. Oct 16, 2015 #7
    Straight Stacks

    Straight Stacks Paper Cha$er

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    Jul 18, 2015
    Alabama Gulf Coast
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    image.jpeg
     
    Straight Stacks, Oct 16, 2015
    Straight Stacks, Oct 16, 2015
    #7
    Longarm, HorseShoe and lots of character Thank this.
  10. Oct 16, 2015 #8
    GiantBeard

    GiantBeard Medium Load Member

    323
    343
    Oct 16, 2015
    Petaluma/Indio, CA
    0
    Okay, it may not be giant, yet. I'm working on it. Big beard.jpg
     
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    GiantBeard, Oct 16, 2015
    #8
    Dye Guardian, roadmap65, lots of character and 1 other person Thank this.
  11. Oct 16, 2015 #9
    lots of character

    lots of character Road Train Member

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    You may stay.
     
    lots of character, Oct 16, 2015
    lots of character, Oct 16, 2015
    #9
    Dreamboat, w.h.o, austinmike and 1 other person Thank this.
  12. Oct 16, 2015 #10
    Longarm

    Longarm Road Train Member

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    Jun 2, 2011
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    With a beard like that, I'd roll down the grapevine in Georgia overdrive.
     
    Longarm, Oct 16, 2015
    Longarm, Oct 16, 2015
    #10
    reefer75 Thanks this.
  13. Oct 16, 2015 #10
    Florida Playboy

    Florida Playboy Road Train Member

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    First there was techno viking and now there is trucking viking.
     
    Florida Playboy, Oct 16, 2015
    Florida Playboy, Oct 16, 2015
    #10
    Dreamboat Thanks this.
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