Things you noticed during training ?

Biggest thing is getting the autonomic mind set for that trailer. Having that picture and habit of always driving those trailer tandems. Will take a while to train your mind this way.
I understand... like you... I drove a trash truck for 7 years. Tight clearances doing rear load dumpster... in alley's and such. Less than an inch clearance on a daily basis. I was so confident with that truck. Then... comes tractor trailer. Takes a while to get that autonomic mind set. More than a year. Gotta keep thinking and calculating while driving in the mean time.

Backing sight side 90 degrees... Open the door and lean out. Or look out the window. It will give your mind a much better image of backing that trailer. Will more easily make it realistic in your mind that you're driving the trailer. Not the truck.
But keep watch to make sure the truck don't hit anything with your mind wrapped up on the trailer.
Also... keep fearful of the blind side. Any doubt whatsoever. Stop, get out and look. Biggest problem I've seen with new drivers. They won't get out and look. They think their butt is glued to that seat.
Had a (probably new) driver freak out one day at a truck stop. I was cutting the sight side close to his right front edge of tractor. He came running out. I got out of the truck. Asked him what the problem is? I can see him clearly. All my angles are perfect. All I'm worried about is the blind side. Making sure I don't hit that other truck on the other side. I'm confident on your side. I can see it. What's the problem?

 

My wife doesnt like to ride in the car with me while I drive because I have a tendency to do this a lot.


Wife: "Hey we need to turn to the right here"

Me: "Whats it look like I'm doing?!"

Wife: "Youre not driving your truck, the car doesnt even have a trailer hitch!!"

 

What does she say when you automatically pull into the weight station?

 

I had a little car, a Colt or someting. A 1600 pound car. Not even a full pallet.

Get out of the big truck on friday PM, hop into the little thing, crush the steering wheels. mash the stick shift, punch the little pedals through the floor Stick my head through the fishbowl glass etc etc etc.

Crane around like a stupid fool thinking Ive still in a big rig.

Over speed out of town. It's stupid.

In about a day I can drive a car.

Thats one reason I have the truck that I have now. I climb into it and I don't crush the wheel and it's big enough to be a truck. Not much of one but still.

 

I do that to.
Its just ingrained into me to swing wide.
Heck I do it on my motorbikes lol

 

Your poor cats.

 

Don't become incontinent like the SST.

 

Years ago after driving my truck (manual transmission) for almost 2 weeks straight, I accidentally shifted my car (manual transmission) into reverse while driving trying to get into top gear.