Student Driver Who get's nervous while driving!!!

I never started out perfect Danacrogers, go back and check, I didn't say I did. I never intended to say anything to be judgmental about you. Sorry, I am sincerely sorry if I came off that way..and I publicly apologize for that. All I was going by was what you posted, and it seemed that you were having problems coping with learning to drive, I guess I read more into your post than I should have. But don't come onto a professional drivers forum and expect those of us that have been out here for a long, long time to sugar coat our comments...especially when you ask for opinions. I'm 63 , and I stated driving at a very young age, helping my uncle. And while like I said I didn't start out perfect thats impossible for anyone to accomplish...I DID finish that way with over 30 years of accident free driving behind me. I'll apologize once more for ruffling your feathers sir...Be safe and enjoy your career.

 

From one newbie to another, I'd say that makes you......about normal! lol

I'm in my second week on the trainer truck. Tight rights I do NOT look forward to...but they have to be made. Slowing down/down shifting to take an exit at a safe, slow speed?? I'm still doing it too fast & have a difficult time getting down into 5th...so I've tried to cheat on it a couple times (when not loaded) & stay in 6th or even 7th. Not good. Not only am I too fast going in, but then too slow coming out of the turn, lugging the motor. And all that does is make me even slower, the very thing I was afraid of being in the first place. My trainer's helping me with it as best he can, & even sent us on part of a route today that'd force me to work on it. My problem is having it in my head I'm going to hold people up. Gotta get that out of my head, and as one instructor put it before we'd head out for shift training, just "do what you do".

I do feel more confident each time; a little more comfortable. Like my trainer, as well as my CDL instructor, says, "it just takes more seat time." You'll get it. Like someone else said...breathe.

 

Untill you start feeling less nervous you should have your trainer up front with you.Getting nervous and trucking go hand in hand.It takes times.

 

Ah, don't sweat it, you'll be fine. Most likely the reason you're like that is because you can feel the responsibility. When I started, I couldn't even talk and drive at the same time… I just sort of blocked speech capability and was fully focused on what I was doing (or trying to do,lol).


One thing I will say, I got my pilot license before my CDL and driving the truck was harder because of the responsibility on your mind. You screw up in an airplane, most likely the worst you do is bore a smoking hole in the ground and the world shrugs and moves on. You screw up in a truck, chances are much better that you kill someone. That is always on my mind, but you get used to it and pay close attention to avoiding those situations.

 

The more you drive the more comfortable you'll become. Just relax and dont try to force yourself to "get it"

 

Never, ever get to the point that you are not thinking about your speed as it relates to hill, curves and exits. I talk to 100's if not 1,000's of drivers a year and many are Million Mile accident free drivers. One thing they all have in common is they take it slow. They are the ones doing less than 15 mph in a truck stop, have cut the off ramp posted speed in half, drive fully loaded down a hill in a single gear and could do it without an engine brake.

Keep practicing and you will get it.

 

I say that driving truck is like kids that play golf. The reason they are are good at it is because they dont over anilyize (sp) it. they just grab a club and take a swing. So as with this, you have to be a kid, Its a fun thing if you 'let it be' and we all know when its fun, its easier. Just a thought!

 

@Danacrogers Im in my fourth week of CDL school and I had that problem a lot my first few times in the Truck. I learned it helps me immensely to talk yourself through everything you are doing. Talk yourself thru your down shift, talk about what signs you see, talk about what you see ahead (curve, down/upgrade, traffic, bridges) It helps me to focus in so I can't even think about being nervous LOL. Hope this helps.

 

I was always nervous. My instructors couldn't believe how worried I would get. I was afraid I would make a mistake and kill someone. The more I did it... the easier I got. The confidence will come with time. Ask your classmates for advice on how they do turns, alley dock, etc. The more tips you pick up... the fast you master it.