New guy scared of what ifs......

Again, take it slow and easy. You will get used to the size of your truck. It is true that residential deliveries can be a real challenge. Just getting into and out of some of the residential streets, with overhanging trees, tight corners, narrow streets with cars sometimes parked on both sides can make you sweat bullets.

What kind of a rig are you in? Are you in a city tractor w/pup, a road tractor with a big box, or what?

 

OK so you are pulling a long box. That means you have to be EXTRA careful on narrow streets/tight turns. Just take it slow and easy, watch your mirrors, and if you have to back up to make a turn do so. Traffic will just have to wait for you.

There are some areas that you might actually want to park your truck and check out on foot where you will be going. This can save an awful lot of headaches.

I think that once you get used to your truck, then learning your stops should not be too difficult. By the time you've been doing this for a couple of months, you should have your confidence up, and know where you are going.

Also, as far as winter time is concerned, pulling a long box is MUCH better than pulling a set of pups.

 

Take your time in the winter.

Big Don had a great point about walking in to check things out, I do that whenever I can at any new reciever, park in the street, walk in, check in,find out where you going to need to be and check out your options for setting up your back up, found out the hard way a few times when I pulled in before I knew where I was going and had to do some major manuvering to get out , spent almost an hour one dark night in a VERY tight parking lot with a ton of obstacles to finally back up to a door only to find out in the morning I was on the wrong side of the building !!, I was stressing myself out for nothing, lost over an hour of sleep time and wore about a thousand miles of rubber off my tires trying to wiggle it in for nothing. lol

 

Glock

I'm newbie, too. Just did two weeks of driving and backing and hating architects.

For the most part, I agree completely with everything said, so far. Except one thing. In bad weather, find where you are comfortable and feel in control. Then slow down some more. It's far, far better to be a little slower and maintain control than to be at your comfort speed and suddenly find that conditions have changed and you are instantly in way over your head.

I was coming out of Lincoln NE Wednesday night. Beautiful lighting all around, and very heavy rain. I was comfortable at the truck's governed 62, but I backed it down to 55. Then backed down a bit more, because even at 55 I could feel the tires come up off the pavement.

I'm glad I did - there was a truck (still upright, fortunately) dead square in the middle of the median (westbound, not that it matters) up to the belly of the trailer in the mud. I couldn't see the landing gear, but I bet it was torqued. So, in addition to the tow bill, that driver's gonna face equipment bill - and probably a job hunt. Definitely preventable in my book..

Long winded -but there it is. Always drive below your comfort zone.

The load is also never so late that hurrying won't make it later. Take your time, get it right the first time.

Finally - I assume this has already been done, but I'm gonna put it in here, anyway. Make sure your trailer tandems are as far forward as legality allows. It allows for tighter turns...

I owe my trainer big for that one. STUPID #)(*&$^*(&#$ company we picked up from in Macon, GA requires that all trailer tandems be slid all the way back before they let you on the property. Then, immediately through the gate, you have a *tight* left followed shortly by a *tight* right. No problems with the tandems forward, but a stone cold... problem with them all the way back on a 53 foot box. I mis-read the first turn and almost bought them a new guard house. Possibly a new guard, too. Trainer got me stopped in time.

For the record, I hate places like that more than I do those with blindside backs.

Anyway - putting it where you want it is easy, if you just TAKE it easy. Take two deep breaths, exhale, and slow down.

 

u know i am i the same situation wnd wondered the same thing.thanks for the re assurance man.

 

Glockman, there is some darn good advice in the above posts that I doubt I can improve on. Simply let me reassure you. When time comes for the snow to fly your driving skills and comfort level will have increased tenfold. That isn't nearly enough to let you get sloppy, but it will allow you to anticipate more than react to your surroundings. Just as you look 10 to 15 seconds ahead, you ought to be planning your speed and lane position minutes and miles ahead. For instance, during heavy traffic you know that the on-ramp at mile marker XY is quickly congested, so you anticipate this and make your lane changes early. If weather is a factor, earlier still. Also, as your comfort level increases and you can pay attention to other drivers. You can use their actions/reactions to anticipate what they may do. Is a driver hunched over the wheel because he couldn't be bothered to scrape his windshield this morning? Give him extra room, he will never see the guy in the 4x4 who is certain he can never spin out on snowy roads, change three lanes at once. But you will, you anticipated it. These are simple common sense things that will come to you naturally.

As your experience builds and your body becomes accustomed to doing what it needs to do without being told (no more throttle - clutch - shift - clutch - throttle; simply 8th gear - 9th gear) you will have more control over your surroundings and thus you will be a safer, more comfortable guy.

Personally, I have gotten to the point where I would MUCH rather drive a big truck in bad weather than a four wheeler. It takes a while but a guy/gal can get there.

 

Glockman,You can either be in a cubicle at work or you can be in a cubicle on wheels.I prefer the one on wheels.Like any other job once you learn it you start to like it and feel more comfortable doing it.Never feel embarrassed about asking another driver any questions about driving.I started in 1980.I had no clue.I couldn't back up,no idea on how to go down a long grade nor driving in bad weather.One thing though,never get over confident.I can back up fine now but if I go down a grade,I still have white knuckles and a high heart rate.Same with weather.You'll learn it.

 

LOL - I LOVE going down grades - even loaded out and shifting gears. It's going UP them that gives me knuckles!

Don't ask, I can't answer.

 

Thank you guys for all suggestions and advices. :smt023
I am in a delivering company and driving 2 axles Ken. I am 1 class Driver but my driving experience with semis is only from short driving course and some training with friends, truck owners. But our company fleet contains 18-wheelers too and one day I know they will tell me "take that long truck and do that task". And I don't know what season it will be. But hope my bosses as former and sometimes still acting truck drivers will consider my experience...