One Year In......

You need to get into a routine. Most everything we do is repetitive. Do it the same way every time. I pull a pneumatic tanker. When I unload, I start at the front of the trailer and work my way to the back. I do everything in order every time. Same when I'm done unloading. I do the same steps in the same order every time.

Figure out your routine for the tasks you perform and do them the same way every time. Then, it becomes second nature.

 

if you dont mind me asking what is the policy as far as incidents for your current job? how many do you get to have until you're terminated?

 

It's learning from your mistakes & seeing areas you need to improve on (the near misses). We all have questioned ourselves in life, I know I have not just with trucking skills.

The beauty of living is grow & learn. Don't give up improve & keeping it moving. I had a bad year many years ago. I don't believe you would have hired me to ride your bike to deliver newspapers (obsolete now). I improved & kept in moving. I want you to do the same.

Apply to old dominion if that is who you want to run with. There is nothing wrong with some extra training & mentoring so you can get better. OD may be able to help in this matter. You stay at your other job improve & then move on. All the best to you on your journey

 

In my opinion it takes about a year to get used to driving a truck. Every day you are improving your skills.

 

Alike others said get a routine, always, always check your fifth wheel, I visually look at the pin and go under the trailer to make sure it’s locked. Always get out and look, plus you are getting excessive, some places I get out and look about 30 times, but I haven’t hit anything yet.

 

Thats not so bad.....really.
You recognize your mistakes, therefore, its unlikely that you'll do them again.
Nobody comes into this life or leaves it clean. You're in good shape.

 

Are you questioning your skill or attention to detail? If you didn’t have the skill you would have far more incidents than what you have.. The incidents you do have are detail oriented.. somebody should told you that in trucking you trust nobody. Meaning if there’s a spotter still get out and look.. you walk into a store, before you hop into that truck make sure nobody pulled your kingpin. Your truck just rolled out the shop check to make sure they actually fixed what it was in for while not goofing something else up.( more common than you’d think) you’re also part of that “nobody” if you have to ask “did I xxx?? Double check it... it’s in the details

 

^^^^^ yep the devil's in the details