Today was my first day ever driving a Tractor.

Some of us are our worst enemy. Trucking is hard to know about as a newbie. Even when you start working you don't know what is normal fr all of those other lone truck drivers. It's easy to think perfect is the only acceptable standard. Especially with backing or shifting you should want to become better, but if you are very hard on yourself for minor imperfections you make it even harder to learn. I had that problem a lot. My go-to thought when doing something is "that's not perfect you suck, what the H is wrong with you? That's not helping anyone. Even when you have years of experience there will be days you have to take a few attempts to pack into the easiest spot you have ever seen, or you will grind gears when shifting. It's a manual skill like swinging a baseball bat or golf clubs. There will be days you can't mess up, no matter how tough the situation, and other days you can't get it right no matter how easy the situation. Often the most conscientious people are their worst enemy. Perfection isn't required, it's a goal to strive for, not the minimum-required.

 

It's much easier, not easy, to back one long trailer than one short trailer. The shorter the distance from the 5th wheel to trailer axle, the fast the trailer reacts to any steering inputs.

 

You should have seen me trying to back a 10 foot uHaul and a car dolly. Took me all of 2 seconds to jackknife it.

 

Absolutely.

 

Same in my 4 wheeler.

 

Wow a 10 speed huh, wait till you get in a 13 or 18 speed that'll really test your skills out, the good thing is at least your learning to drive a manual gear box with a road ranger, when you get really good you'll be about do so without using the clutch. Except for standing starts. Practice makes perfect though, the main thing with driving is getting used to looking at the back axles when you turn right at an intersection to make sure the back of your trailer is not taking out a light post or a pedestrian on the corner. Learning how to drive defensively will also do wonders, love to know what kind of things these CDL schools are teaching new drivers when it comes to defensive driving. Which is probably more important than changing gears.

 

Gotta get Your Self out of yer Head.
It's a Science and You'll Love it when You "get it".
Stop Beating Your Self Up!! Once aggravated, the aggravation continues.

The Tachometer for every gear has a range that sliding into a gear is allowed without "scratching" (grinding) and not using Mr., or Miss Clutch.
Don't bother with "double-clutching".

Most Transmissions will allow Driver to "float gears" usually between 1200 to 1800 rpm's, sometimes lower or higher. It's a "Trick" you'll learn. Doesn't work in Reverse and do not back up in High Reverse.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

CHEERS!!​

 

You’ll always make mistakes. As far as learning stuff, it takes almost nine months minimum for the human brain to insulate neurons. Nobody expects you to be perfect. Hell we don’t even expect you to be good. I failed my first driving test and I’ve been killing it