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

First thing I learned, or realized, is that I will be the first person at the scene of a head on collision while driving this cabover Pete!!

 

Why were you driving that fast on a football field?

 

Interesting question, personally its a lot different when you have to drive OTR in another country so its almost like learning all over again. [1]. How to drive on the right hand side of the road, [2]. How to slide back axles, [3]. Having to organize lumpers to unload, [4]. How to fill out a different type of log book as I'm now only allowed to drive 11 hours per day instead of 12. (5) Adjusting to different speed limits per state,[6] How to tip at Flying J, [7] How to order a subway, and not say capsicum their peppers, [8] How to say no to a Lot Lizard [9] How to find a parking spot at Flying J after 3 PM [10] How to sleep on an on ramp when the rest stop is full [11] How to pass a driving test on your first attempt [12] How to get someone to listen to you on the CB when you have a foreign accent.

 

Make sure you have time on your calling card BEFORE you get in line at the phone room.

 

That basic grasp seems to be non-existent nowadays. One equipment manufacturer started doubling up pins on locking collars because the idjits were leaving posts almost flat, not understanding what that does to the load, and bending/shearing pins.

One of my pet peeves is using least common denominator standards instead of teaching the proper way.

"Trying to make something idiot proof is vastly underestimating the power of stupidity."

 

After the 1st year?

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

A seeming Paradox with broad application. I tend to use a bit different phrasing when I was teaching new guys, but the idea is the same:
It's not about fast, it's about efficient.

 

There are two things that I see. I really like improvements with trucking equipment, ones as they have disc brakes now and two that button you push for the tandems, I like both of those , much easier in my life. That’s always the first thing that DOT wants to do is find a crack break drum or a shoe. Getting in and out of the Tractor, pulling that bar to pull the pins out a trailer . I can’t tell you how many miles I must have going back-and-forth to the truck in and out to get the pins right.