What important skills of truck driving did you learn after your first year of trucking?

Here's the deal no matter where you have to back, get out and look, if you do not know whats there do not back up till you do. I have to back on streets all the time part of driving, I have lots of deliveries that involve back up streets. You have to use your head. Thinking about what you have do, then doing it, part of driving is think ahead, plan where your going before you get there . If you have not been there before look it up on google maps. Just no reason for being uninformated now.

 

Actuallly I did learn all 10 of those things my first year.

 

That's wonderful.

 

On my epiphany thread, moosetek pointed out that if you get out of the truck and look and clear yourself (which entails either stepping many feet to the side of the truck or walking many feet towards the back of the trailer), another car or motorcycle could zip up in the time between when you clear yourself and when you walk back to the truck and climb back into the truck. There is no way to keep your eyes on the blind spot the entire time when you walk back to the truck and open the door and step back in the truck. I agree with moosetek on this.

@Hammer166 and @tscottme do you agree with Moosetek and me about this?

 

I stand corrected.

 

For istance I had to deliver to the Westwood (near UCLA) Rite aid store, you have to make a left into the alley across thet street, open your doors then back across a busy street into the store. You get out an look, sure but as soon as you walk away the situation changes again. No easy way sometimes. I also carry colapsible cones under the bunk, and actually cone the street off while I back across it, no one likes it much, you have to do what you got to do to get the job done, but bottom line if you can't figure a way then drive away.
No matter what we cannot teach common sense, A driver either has it or not. I have called CHP for assistance at this store, and the cone thing is what they suggested, however peop[le in cars will pull around, can stop everything just pay attenetion, watch closely and no when to say it can't be done safely .

 

Yes! Exactly

So CHP wouldn't block traffic and spot for you ? I am surprised.

I have never had the police or DOT refuse to block traffic & spot for me when I needed it.

 

Put one of these signs on the back of the trailer. If someone gets backed over and squashed it becomes their fault. You're welcome.

 

The reason they’ve never refused to stand out and spot for you with at least 8-10 squad cars blocking all roads is because they knew right off the bat they had a very unique individual that after 10 years of driving and no telling how many millions of miles under your belt is still learning the basics he should have learned in his first 6 months of driving
Jus sayin!

 

In Westwood they claim its the stores responsibility, normally theres only a couple of people on and they won't leave the floor. I try when I have to go there to get backed in about 10 or 11 the night before and sleep there. It's Westwood no real worries about safety.