over-confident rookie driver let go for preventables

Just apply at USA truck....I hear running into/ over things is a job requirement

 

OK.....If I read this right you have already punished your self for what happened , believe it or not that's a good thing. By admitting that in-experience coupled with over -confidence and being a little nervous about the NY , you have just made a giant leap into the real world of trucking , did it with -out hurting anybody or your self too ....another good thing. Now you will more than likely have a harder time than some finding a job , but it's still possible. Keep knocking on doors , going to see people at terminals face to face , don't just send an app in by computer, go talk to the folks , tell them you have learned from your experiences, and now realize that you were being ####y , and over confident. Show them that you are ready/willing/and capable of taking that experience and using it to do much , much better. In other words pick your self up and put your self back into the game.

 

I don't see that he ha accepted his responsibility or accountability.. he is still playing victim and making excuses which means he is not learning anything from the experience except how it has hurt or inconvenienced him..

I also ride a motorcycle.. and I get just as annoyed by the rubs who cry and complain about some cager cutting them off or Such.. the point is, you should expect it and be prepared... Same in a truck, as a driver you have to expect and anticipate cars rushing to get around you, or whatever, and be prepared to respond... That is where you lacked responsibility.. you were not prepared to respond appropriately...

I would be much more understanding if you at least stopped making excuses and took responsibility and accountability for your part in it... And realized that the mail box, pole and dock you hit with someone elses truck was careless.. someone else paid money for them... And all you are concerned with is who will pay you to carelessly drive one of their trucks...

I am sure you think I am being harsh... But honestly, if you untrusted your car to me and I vit 3 things... I am sure you would think differently...

 

I disagree. Often times noobies are placed with "trainers" who basically do all of the backing for them to save time. Then they throw them to the wolves with a few successful daytime, straight line backs and call it a status upgrade. It took me a while to master the backing; eventually I did. But I definitely would have preferred to have a buddy there in a couple of those "city situations" early on. Thankfully I never had a preventable, but some of these people I've seen upgrade to solo...man, I feel sorry em'.

 

my trainer made me do a lot of backings but I didnt get much better at them until I went solo and had to do them all myself. He told me I would get better at everything once I left his truck and had to learn on my own and make mistakes, he was right and I learn from every mistake I make. The best you can do is just practice, I still have days where my backing irritates me and then I have those days where I get a difficult one in the first try.

I watched a trainer last week at a terminal I was stopped at have his student repeatedly go around and back into a spot next to me for practice, I got out and talked to them since the trainer impressed me some verses some others I seen, he kept calm and cool, never raised his voice and the student stayed calm as well, he showed the guy what to look for in setting up, taught him how to fix over jacking etc. He said thats what 13 years of training gets you, I have seen some trainers who yell at their students and thats the wrong way to handle it.

 

I agree that teaming (if you don't like it) can be a real test of fortitude, but I did it for the first year of my driving career, not because I wanted to, but because that was the JOB at that time. And that was in a short wheelbase Freightshaker with spring suspension, no power anything, and a single 34" bunk. Oh, and 300 HP.

I did it because I wanted to be a truck driver, and figured I would have to start at the bottom and work my way up.

IMHO, way too many people today want to start at the top, without paying any dues at all.

 

Yep, G.O.A.L. and always pay attention to your mirrors so you know what is happening. Something my brother told me not to do as a new driver, and I found myself doing, was don't get comfortable and become complacent. Almost ran my trailer into a large rock lining a parking area.