To all my 1-2 year exp drivers! How are you guys doing now??

That is contrary.
You can not be proud if you are not also overly confident.
Think about it.

Pride leads to over confidence, which leads to a fall.
Conversely, over confidence leads to pride - which leads to a fall.

You get too full of yourself and think that you can do no wrong.
And then you get sloppy.
That is where those 4-5 year drivers come in. And you are not there yet.

I was told this right up front as I was entering this industry, and I have NEVER forgotten it.
We don't have the luxury of being prideful or confident in what we do.
We need to be constantly afraid of what we may be doing wrong!

 

Should come to the NE. We had truck bans on highways. Even though the highways were better plowed than anywhere else.

 

Just today I was faced with a hard backing situation.
Close quarters and only about 15 inches on either side of the trailers.

Confidence and pride has NO place there.
It is all about fear and being very, very careful.

 

Blindside?

Did it feature Sandra Bullock?

Your theme is 'fear'....... I'm not getting on with that. Nor should any new driver, nor should any inexperienced driver, nor should any experienced driver. An entirely ridiculous notion to carry thru your career.
If you're going to be afraid of doing the job, as proficiently and, AND, as safely as possible - stay home, please.

 

Yes, it is about fear.

Without fear you can not be careful enough.

It is not about being afraid, it is about fearing.


Without that factor of fear, you can not do your job safely.
It is that 'fear factor' that makes you a safe driver.

It isn't confidence that gets you around that tight corner safely, it is the fear of hitting something.
It is what makes you look in the mirror to make sure you are not about to hit something.
Confidence only says 'I am good'.

 

Maybe we're differing in semantics here.

Maybe you've worked for Swift for too long?

I will never be fearful.
I will always be cautious.

My pride says 'I am good.' - you're right about that. I can drive it. I can back it. I can set, reset, pull out and around to do so, GOAL and do everything possible - including knowing when I'm beat and giving up - to avoid smashing #### up....... But I'm not afraid.

Edit: I think your trying to hit the adage: Pride before the fall, Moose. I grant truth to this. But I also think you have to know your capabilities and limits. If pride doesn't let you give up when your gut is screaming 'NO WAY!' - yes, that's foolish.... but if you know when to quit, and save face because of it... I say take pride in knowing that maneuver wasn't yet for you.

 

Yeah I don't think you should be in a constant state of fear. It has it's place but it's not something you should be regularly experiencing. Maybe you mean to use a different word that implies stimulation but you shouldn't be fearful everytime you get behind the wheel...it's not a state of mind you're perpetually supposed to be in.