scared to go places

Wow I remember feeling like that...I never did the truck driving school thing I just got in,practiced around the parking lot,next day took test,next day went and bought my 1st truck.got under a load from Austin tx to Reno,nv..once I got to Reno,I figured out the gears, lol and let me tell you me and that darn freightliner were best of friends in just a few months after that..I literally had to park parallel for a long time in the truck stops.That was my 1st run and my dispatcher had me running fromMiami to Wa to Me,I was water to water right out of the gate..My 1st run I seen a white out on Cabbage,threw chains on and went across like a big girl while most vets were siting at the bottom staying warm,my #### defroster AND wipers went out going across that darn mountain with snow hood deep I had my window open and my jacket tied onto the wipers to operate them...lol ,let me tell you,it was FESTIVE coming down Cabbage when there is a white out!!!

i could go on and on,but one day you just back into a spot like nobody's business,and then you realize,"hey I DID IT!" And somedays it's like it's your first freaking day! Lol..But I PROMISE you EVERYONE has and will go through what you are feeling now...I'm sure if you ask on this forum,people will gladly offer you suggestions without all the macho crap...
I didn't have anyone to help me,besides I don't listen very good anyway...lol but one thing I learned that I was doing wrong in the beginning...ALWAYS PULL UP AS FAR AS YOU CAN,AND GO EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT. If there's room,.til you can see China back there...
dont give up and take your time... Best wishes

 

Dang did I do it ### backards...lmao...1st day I received license I bought a truck next day,geez I was so green,but you couldn't tell!
i hit the ground running,I often wonder NOW WTF was I doing and how in the world did I do all that? Amazing how you can do stuff and then later,think about how difficult it really was with zero training....( walks away scratching head)

 

awe I loved that !!!

 

Just ask another driver to back it into the hole for $10 bucks or so...

Reminds me of the time I received a QUALCOMM message. Company wanted me to run team with a girl for a month
that was having trouble backing. We had some real fun and adventures together. I would mostly stand on the running board and tell her what to do. She ended up eventually becoming a trainer. I was darn proud of her.

 

It does get easier but some places will always be a pain in the but because trucks are now larger than when the facilities were built. I go to one place that is so tight that you are not allowed at the dock. They make you drop and hook in the yard and they have a yard mule deal with the docks.

 

Sammy, just pretend that you're backing into a hole at a truckstop, or your company's yard.

As far as buying a truck, wait til you've got at least 2 years' experience to learn about this business.

And if you still don't want to back up, you can pull doubles, flatbed, or tanker.

 

DO NOT DO THIS TO YOURSELF.

Leaving now, without gathering the necessary experience to atleast say "I can do national non-dedicated OTR" will be a massive pain in your ###.
I can promise this, having first hand experience.

I was in your shoes about a year ago. Hated going to new places, tight docks ect ect.
But you know what, I stuck with it. I learned to live with it. It made me a better and stronger person, AND TRUCKER.

You approach a tight dock and you know what? You learn to deal with it, go slow and do it often.

The biggest issue I see with new drivers (and I do still consider myself a new driver) is jumping ship trying to constantly finding something better, and new. Everyone is so fixated on the idea that the pastures are greener on the other side of the fence. They're not.

You need to stick with this. Inter-modal will not be better. Pay your dues, and find a dedicated route if you feel you still need to avoid going to new places down the road.

 

Still nervous about backing sometimes.
When I first started, If I pulled into a TS and couldn't find a pull-thru spot, I would keep driving.

Get on a dedicated Walmart Acct or something, they will be mostly easy backs....but you'll get plenty of backing practice.

 

Most truck stops always have pull-thru parking available... they even put soapy water buckets out to wash your windows when you get going in the morning.

 

About two months ago I had a delivery in Brooklyn, Fountain Ave. Had to back into a building, facing the street, jump the median and back across all four lanes of traffic and a sidewalk... at about 7:30 am... I was never so glad to hit the hole on then first try as I was that day. Still had to pull up twice to get square but then I was only dealing with traffic in one direction and could time it with the red light.

It can be a challenge out here. The worst I have seen is Ralph's in Compton. Mellisa's in LA is not necessarily a fun time and some rinky dink place I delivered to in Inglewood took the cake.

Once you have a few under your belt though you will start looking at some and thinking to yourself, "I've been in worse than this" and you will have more confidence in yourself.