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

I learned all roads lead to Jabroni street.

 

At least without OJ floating around...

 

I do not mean to run you down in any way, I just think you’re way in over your head and that trucking may not be for you!
I’ve driven all my life and I’m still learning something new everyday, however all the threads you start are basic stuff that was learned in the first six months of driving.

 

That kinda hurt, I may just take my bat and ball and go home

 

Let me unlearn you some of the things you "learned"...
#1 is called "skinnying up" your trailer. You ONLY want to do it when you absolutely have to. Why? The more you move your tandems and fifth wheel the more you are likely to have problems in the future. Its a lot easier to back up if your stuff is always in the same place and you know how your rig is going to react.
#2 if you cant see down the tracks or have a haz mat load, yes. Otherwise all you are doing is making it harder on every other truck driver in the world because everyone you encounter doing this will think all truck drivers are complete newbies.
#3 trolley valves? You mean the Johnson bar?
#4 red button doesnt deploy the pins on a manual trailer. Doesnt ensure you have no damage to the trailer rails. Doesnt mean the pins are actually seated correctly. ALWAYS check your pins.
#5 not true. There are some states where it is, but not "most" by a long shot. If you ever run through Minneapolis and you ARENT in that 3rd lane, you are an accident waiting to happen. Check the laws in the states you are going to run through.
#6, see number 1. Also, the longer the trailer, the easier it is to back up. Want proof? Drag a set of doubles around for a few years and tell me the difference between putting a pup on a door vs a 53 footer.
#7 dont buttonhook. Thats something they HAVE to teach you in school that you should never do after you pass the test.
#8 look for leaks EVERYWHERE. Esp on the ground.
#9 if you are loaded this is true. But the number of times you need to slide your 5th wheel are few and far between. Cant remember the last time I slid my 5th wheel. I dont think I have at all on my current truck (which is 5 years old).

If you have been out there as long as you say, I cant believe you would say this stuff...
40+ years experience. 39 years without a chargeable (thats 4 million miles). 25 years without an accident of any kind. 20+ years without a ticket. Owner operator for 8 years. CDL instructor for 3 years in case you are wondering.

 

But but but... think of all the yellow cars and motorcycles you probably backed over without even knowing!!