Stacking the deck in your favor Pt 2: Getting started on the right foot.

I'm not new, been driving since May 08 and many family members before me and with me. I still fail, still feel I am out of my relhm at times as well. I can picture all that I should do, see the light at the end of the tunnel but just never seem to get there. Now I can chalk it up to not being good with my money in life, always spending it when I got it and wondering where it is when I don't. Now that is on the worst end of the spectrum but over the last 5 years of getting serious about owning my own rig, I have dialed it down a bit. When I started the L/P of my last truck, I worked my arse off to make that work and although I was broke, my bill's were paid each and every month and I was able to eat, clothe myself and keep trucking. That failed but not because of me and I just went back to being a company driver for a year. Than I bought an older truck out right, which I paid cash money for. Also paid cash for the 2 tow's and clutch replacement. It is mine, paid for with title in my name. But, I spent all my saved money to get it on the road and even though I knew things would need replaced over time, I put it on the road anyway. I owe $6K to a shop and I have had zero income for 4 weeks, got my first settlement this week which caught everything up, praise The Lord! That happened because I quit my company job too soon, and the company I am pulling for now took too long to get me rolling, that's my fault. Since putting it on the road, I have had to repair something every single day and weekend. If I have a roadside breakdown, I am done! I have no money for a tow or tire repair. I have repairs right now that need taken care of; a cold fuel leak ($600), a cold coolant leak (?) and some parts that are rusted pretty good that need replaced, ($1400). Also have a couple cross-members that are cracked and have spent money trying to weld, just to have crack again, ($500 each). Logic dictates I park the thing, get a company job and fix over time. When it is 100% ready than put it on the road.... I am seriously thinking about doing that right now. I have a run today and tomorrow, and I will make my decision over the next couple days. I don't think the breaks, cracks or failures are going to stop anytime soon and the fuel & coolant leaks are going to HAVE TO be repaired asap. At the same time, I have monthly bill's that HAVE TO be paid each and every month, plus the $6k I owe a shop needs to be paid asap!

I guess my point is this;
You can do all the research, Q&A and number crunching you want. Do what all the experts say, follow rules, listen intently and all that jazz, and I suggest you do,,, but when it comes down to who succeeds and who fails, it is a game of chance. If my truck never broke down, I wouldn't miss a day of work and would be making enough money to build up my maint account. I know some would say buy a brand new truck and I wouldn't have to worry...lmao First of all, I can't buy a knew truck, 2nd of all I wouldn't want to and 3rd... New trucks break down as well and their breakdowns cost big money! You take too guys, same everything who buy the same exact truck with the same exact specs. Will both make it? Will both fail? Truth is no one knows.

Wasn't trying to take over this thread or change the OP's subject, was just trying to show that even if you are one that listens to people like the OP, and take their advice,,,it doesn't always go the way we planned. I don't need any help on anything really, I know where I am at 49, what got me to where I am and it all points to me. Sure, I was raised for the first 17 years of my life but my dad was an alcoholic and didn't really teach me much. I didn't have people around me ever, telling me about what to do in life to succeed. So, I went where I felt comfortable and hung out with who I felt comfortable with. Bunch of ignorant folks hanging out. I followed my dads footsteps and as I got older, I realized that. With 5 kids, one doesn't take much risk and that is where I was when I figured out what I was doing wrong. Slowly turned it around but it takes time. I was actually a dept free man once, by the time I started that L/P. I than made a plan, wrote it down and worked towards it. But than life happened and I lost the truck so, plans changed again. For me, plans don't seem to get to the finish line, at least big plans anyway. In fact, that happens so much in my life, I am scared to commit now...lol I do anyway but as I get closer to the end, I start wondering if I will actually make it. Like my 10 acre's of land, only have 6 more payments and it is mine! Got plans to build a house on that 10 acre's but nervous that I will actually pay it off.

 

The one thing about plans is that they are always subject to change. It's how you adapt to those changes that determines the outcome. Even good people get knocked down.

 

But they always get back up again.

 

Yeah I too saw the light at the end of the tunnel once...turned out to be a freight train!!!
One thing I would also like to add for the new guys. Stay calm! When you get over excited and worry about what everyone else is thinking you make mistakes. Sometimes big mistakes!! And also flying thru the parking lot or the construction zone or the school zone really ain't going to get you anywhere faster!! In fact when you crash or get pulled over its going to cost you alot more time than it saves!! Just my $.02...I could be wrong.

 

My plans for the day were shot to hell 1/4 mile after turning out of my driveway when the DOT flagged me down to weigh me on the portables. 30 minutes later, I'm back on the road with a clean level 3 and a warning for 600# over on my drives. I knew my gauge was showing right there at the limit, give or take. Drive the 22 miles down to where I was delivering, and had to wait for an hour and a half for someone to be tracked down to check in the load. Get unloaded, drop the customer's trailer and bounce down to our yard to hook to the new connestoga. "See the shop to go over a few things." During my pretrip, I find a couple auxiliary lights not working and proof of the annual inspection missing completely. Shop's at lunch, though, so here I sit waiting yet again. Fun. I should've been reloaded and almost to the receiver by now and I still haven't left the yard. So much for "plans"...

Want to hear God laugh? Tell him your plans.

 

This.

When that adrenaline starts flowing because you realize you're in over your head, it messes with your judgement and bad decisions are made. (Cue the USA U-Turn video). If you haven't tore anything up yet, you're not in trouble. Take a deep breath. If you got in, you can get out. Think. Don't react to panic. THINK. What do you have available to help in this situation? How can you use that to get through this? Is there anyone around who might be able to assist? Can you call someone to assist (police, etc...anyone who can spot or block traffic while you maneuver)? Examine ALL of your options, and when you think you've thought them all through, walk around the truck and try to think of a few more possible solutions. It's NOT the end of the world. Nothing has been torn up yet. Take your time & relax. You'll figure it out.

 

I have two things to add, to piggyback off what others have said here already.

The first thing is, expect a steep learning curve, especially if you don't have any experience in any aspect of this field. None of what your average truck driver does is particularly difficult but it will be for you because you're learning a whole new skill set. Shifting, driving, backing, learning where to go at shippers and receivers, who gets what paperwork, how to tarp coils, any number of things. You'll probably get frustrated early and often but that's okay. You've done this a hundred times before from learning to write to switching from a T9 flip phone to a full keyboard. Know that it'll get better with time and try not to get too exasperated.

Secondly, learn from your experiences. Seems like generic, fluff advice and yet, most people don't really do it. I watched a Ted talk given by a former stealth bomber pilot some time ago and he said for every mission they flew there were three parts. Planning, execution and debriefing. Most people only do the first two but the third one is critical to your success. There are multiple opportunities throughout the day to get better. Maybe it took you fives tries to get backed in at the truck stop. Maybe you looked at google maps traffic before you left and were able to avoid a huge congestion. Always be asking yourself, what happened? What went right? What went wrong? Why? What can I learn from this? If you're just starting out, you probably can't answer those questions by yourself. Ask a senior driver. Watch backing videos on YouTube. Come on here and ask questions but always be learning from your experiences. The knowledge you gain from asking yourself those questions today will make you a better driver tomorrow.

Ted talk embedded below for those who are interested

 

Here's a question for you folks. A big city to me is like 65,000 people. I recently went through a major city (about 1,000,000 people) in my personal vehicle. How the hell do you guys know where to go, where not to go, etc? I made it around ok using the nav on my pickup but a lot of the streets had low overpasses and such.

 

some more insite for New and experience Drivers.

Your Appearance!!!


this is NOT how a driver should dress for work. i am sorry, if this hurts your definition of style. You are in the wrong profession. Goto work for starbucks, or some retail location.
Being a professional Driver you represent a select group, that moves America. You also represent your company and your family.


this is proper clothing (Long Pants, complete shirt, work boots)

i have been to many Large company yards. One site has sheets of plywood, with a large picture.
It showed a picture of hard hat, long sleves, long pants with work boots. all showing words with arrows pointing to each item.

I cant count how many times in a fuel island just outside a facility. i see drivers jump out wearing flip flops and Hawaiian shirt. After i was in line with this driver in the facility.
Keep your Appearance up, keep your standards up. This is a profession, you drive a large 80k lb truck that can destroy at a moment's notice. Keep an open mind when you are a professional.
This is not a delivery job for the local pizza place. Keep up the standards wear the proper attair. Dont lower the truck driving standards. keep up your Appearance.
You represent US!!!