What things should newbies never do

don't wear flip flops while on duty, save them for the shower.

 

delete

 

Never believe EVERYTHING you hear on the cb radio or read in the forums. Some lie [for whatever reason], others are just plain wrong but don't know it. So, try and seek out the prevailing thoughts or broader concensus, and go from there.

 

Never believe your GPS 100% of the time. They can make "mistakes" too. Look over it's route ahead of time and something looks peculiar, look into it. Also, all "trucker GPS" units ship from factory in "car mode" so never forget to properly set it up for your truck configuration.

They are an extremely valuable tool but must be used properly and you must learn that they all have their quirks and weaknesses.

 

Never underestimate the value of thorough and accurate trip planning. Always double and triple check your work and thought processes that went into it.

 

When taking a break near a time zone change line and when using your phone as an alarm, never expect it won't change sometime during your break, potentially making you an hour late.

If in doubt, turn off auto-update-time feature then set alarm accordingly.

 

Never run your fuel level down to low levels during significant winter wx events. Fuel trucks stop running or run late, and truck stops run out of fuel in a matter of hours. Also, icing events can cause widespread and long lasting power outages. Never put yourself in a situation where you can't drive at least an additional few hours if your planned fuel stop is offline.

Never run your DEF level below half. Top off at least every other fueling is a good and wise practice.

 

Never lose your temper or cop an attitude with the shipping or receiving department personnel. Learn "diplomacy" when a situation seems to be developing and perhaps needs some action on your part.

 

On long, cross-county runs, especially in winter months, never "drag your feet" when the going is good. Always be running when roads are good and you have hours. Get there early then you can relax.

I.e.

"Make hay while the sun shines"

"Get while the gettin' is good"

Also, NEVER let a significant winter system catch you by surprise. Keep abreast of weather forecast for multiple days into the future for any/all applicable regions where you are projected to be. Even if it's warm and sunny outside, presently. Never expect the weather to remain the same without consulting dependable weather forecast tools first.

 

And keeping with current winter wx discussion -

If you're not going to chain when/where it may become required, then never proceed into terrain and conditions where chains may be [or likely will be] required, and park for extended durations at chain pull-outs. Instead, stay well back and in the truck stop if you're not going to cowboy up when/where conditions deteriorate. I.e. Never use chain up areas for a place to wait out chain conditions.

This gets us back to an earlier point - know what's ahead before you get there, especially if it's going to be a deal breaker for you.