Progress Update

Good luck man take your time

 

Always know we’re all the points of your trailer are at in relation to what’s around you. There’s never an excuse to bump anything or touch anything. Literally none! That’s why it’s an instant fail. There’s zero room for this aspect in trucking. During the first three months I was out on the road driving myself, anytime I had any doubt whatsoever in my freaking head that I might be next to something and I couldn’t see? I’d get out and look. This included an intersection with cars behind me making a turn at 2 AM in the morning and I couldn’t see the rear corner of my trailer. In my mind I was pretty sure I had the room to make the turn as I swung it out wide. But I couldn’t see it and I stop the truck, put the flashers on and took a quick look. I got honked at and I didn’t give a rip. They’ll get over it. I made it down the street safe without hitting anything and a year and a half later I’m still out here driving earning a paycheck. Hit something? You’re done. Remember that! BE SURE where your at, not kinda sure! Don’t let your pride or thoughts about being embarrassed get in the way when you’re starting out. Those people were all there at one time too and they don’t really care. If you hit something? They’re going to care.

 

I've bumped a few curbs while I on the road. lol. it's a very minor offense. You just pull up and correct.

But when I'm on the road with new guys I tell them not to do it because I can see there is no reason to hit the curb. You have plenty of room to work with.

As you gain experience the room you have to work with feels larger.

I have come into a few instances where it feels like you have no choice but to take the curb, either for turning going forward or backing. Usually those curbs are already worn out from other trucks that have done the same thing.

 

Awaiting updates, either way. Wishing you the best already, as ya know~!

 

Well said, man. Very. Spatial existence and 'ownership' of such, comes with experience. Didn't know you were a trainer; KUDOS for that!

ps: Only 'curbs' I tend to 'borrow' are these danged 'roundy rounds' here in Ohio...

Curbs, curbs, everywhere...and no Real Estate to spare! (Lima, Ohio btw...) Weren't thinking about 'usn's' when they made THIS ^^^ no doubt~!

 

I do not do the 6 weeks training. I haven't been on the road even 3 years. But occasionally my employer commands to train newly upgraded drivers on paperwork and such.

I am told that I am only to train them on paperwork and things specific to the division I drive in.

But you can probably imagine the amount of other things I still end up having to teach, or try to teach anyway. The guy that's on my truck right now went through his entire 6 week training period and did not back up one single time... according to him.

But this kid is learning how to back very quickly and has shown himself to be a quick learner. And he hasn't backed down from the challenge. I have been impressed with this guy and am not upset that they left him on my truck. It has been rewarding to watch a guy learn a new skill. Especially a young guy of early 20s.

 

Dude those things are everywhere! There's one in Arizona right on the Mexican border in San Luiz, the GPS will tell you to drive straight down it, but if you try to you will murder everything on both sides. There's a different route with a couple of extra turns that's much more truck friendly.

Fortunately, I didn't learn that the hard way. But one of my partners did. There were city workers there and helped us to work our way out of the problem. But yeah, roundabouts are terrible for trucks.

 

Job well done, sir. I'd not have the patience, nor the wherewithal. Trained my wife almost 10 years ago, on a TANKER pulled with a Petercar. Yeah, nope. One trainee, passed. One and done! I'm prematurely gray, but for my balding spot, haha!

You have my respect. I enjoy your posts. If this kid gets backing rather quickly, should be a bird in hand... imho. A 20'something'er has the guts, and can choose to have the glory; I agree.

Keep'on!

 

We have FIVE OT in Ohio... and .. yeah, read THIS: Roundabouts Reduce Crashes. OH Really?

 

Roundabouts are confusing. You can't get people to conform to even simple procedures, now are we going to get people to navigate multiple lane roundabouts?

Even then, you are probably just going to be rear ended anyway before you even get into the roundabout for yielding and there's no red light that people are used to seeing.

And now we are in an 18 wheeler and we have to pass through a busy, two-lane roundabout? I've done it a couple of times and it wasn't fun.