TIPS FOR NEW DRIVERS

Here is one mistake many drivers make, they don't know what's going on around them and don't care.

This morning I am going back home, there is a long on ramp that was created where trucks are to accelerate so to merge with traffic. This idiot gets on the ramp with what looks like an empty trailer and just goes down it slow, he gets near the end of the ramp turns on his four ways and then just gets over almost causing an accident with another truck and car. But that wasn't the bad part, this idiot decided that he needs to get into the Middle lane, he is going about 40, so off goes his four ways, left turnsignal goes on and he acts as if he has right away, doesn't even see the two cars in the lane and just gets over.

This is not the first time I've seen this happen, it seems to happen quite a bit lately and not just that ramp either.

The other thing that happened this morning was another driver doesn't know when to slow down and plan the lane change, the truck doesn't own the road.

I am three cars behind the lead car, the lead car is behind a pickup with a trailer with 30 feet or so and there are two trucks in the right lane. The rear truck has no space to get over and is two truck lengths behind the front one but this idiot doesn't even turn his turnsignal on, he just gets over between the pick up and the lead car. The lead car slams on his brakes, I do the same thing and so on but the car four cars behind me plows into the car in front of him, so a bunch of us stop and helped out.

 

On a serious note. Find a veteran driver in your company who you can call for any reason without feeling stupid. It takes at least a year to learn every single procedure and practice. Many normal things drivers do every day are not taught to them by orientation or the safety team. You need a trustworthy phone-a-friend 24/7.

 

This is one reason why I promote Stevens Transport as a good training company, despite their many faults. Almost every employee a driver can reach by phone is an experienced driver. That can make a huge difference if you are the type of person willing to ask for help.

 

I second what everybody has already posted here. As a fellow female driver, may I say be very careful while outside your truck at any stops you make. I try to park on the first row at truck stops, preferably facing the pumps or building
And I will pull up to the fuel island for my pre trip just so there's plenty of light and clear view of truck and trailer. Be safe and good luck!

 

I don't know if he or she is.

But I can tell you or actually warn you that there are going to be situations (As if...) you are going to run into men or women who have not so nice things in mind for you. I hate to say it but this industry is always been difficult for women in general. Even my spouse learned that lesson a time or two with me.

You would think someone who was a Sgt for Desert Storm ready to go overseas at a moment's notice with a number of other Marine riflemen under her for a period of time as replacements for expected combat losses during that war would be able to handle whatever trucking threw at her. She did ok for the most part but several times I come along and have to get predatory against the bad guy in a hurry.

As bad as that was, it's really bad on her when a pretty gal asks me if I would like company up in Rochester in Guiness Ale in the waiting area for tractors I told her no thanks but wife probably heard you through the open window. She took off. Wife stayed put because I already taught her that would be a possibility at that particular location because I had loaded there decades ago and ran into the same problem.

I'll share one more thought, and before I say it I beg the tolerance of the Moderators which already indicates the thought I intend to share will upset some people in this day and age. So be it.

I don't have a problem using wit, fast thinking or other ways to reasoning to solve a problem presented by anyone at any time which may or may not be welcome. However. If the person asking for a date for money happend to be the same gender as me instead of a female for example which was more common than most people realize it becomes a REAL problem.

In my last year or two on the road I grew absolutely convinced that society has changed and become way too open in certain vices as I would call it. I don't worry about it or stress over it, that's not what I am trying to get at. The best thing I can explain I suppose is to express a thought that one of these days we will be in the hands of a angry God in Judgement for the deviancy that we have become as a filthy Nation unfit to know him or each other.

Ultimately it should not matter who does the trucking. Women have been doing it successfully long before I showed up, especially when you go back into war time history when they drove trucks with bombs in them. Doing things I wont do. (But should...) It is unfortunate as a industry viewed by Society as one that is not as a positive view that probably was held back in the 60's and 70's where we were indeed Kings of the Road who took time to help one another. I like to think we still do. But somewhere along the way for whatever reason we have lost our humanity or desire to do the work well, earn a good paycheck and take care of our families and homes when off duty.

Somewhere everything bad has gotten mixed up. That's never a good thing. And you are going to run into that problem now and then in this industry. How you come out without getting hurt, attacked or disabled would be up to how you handle these situations when they come up when you least expect it.

I hate to be difficult or negative. Trucking is fun. Always will be. However like anything in life there will always be scammers, moochers, parasites and others who prey upon anyone related to trucking for a variety of not so good motives. That's unfortunate.

 

Very snide comment, goodluck out there.

 

It actually would be funny if it were a man telling you to just “play along” for your own good.

 

DoNT do drugs

 

Regarding certain dock setups.

This is something you will run into at some point, especially if you do temp control hauling. The key about these docks is recognizing them and being aware of their potential hazards. In the daytime they’re much easier to recognize and back into. But in the dark and with little lighting, always know what you’re backing into BEFORE you begin.

These only have 3-4 inches clearance on each side typically (with reefer doors). You want to pay very close attention to both sides. If it’s dark, you’ll need to check with a walk-back and a flashlight several times as you get closer

These will easily do a lot of damage to doors with even slight rubs. A solid hit and the door will be completely torn up and torn from hinges. Also, these don’t tolerate off-square approaches very well. Off square and the little bit of tolerance you had is now gone.