When did you get comfortable?

Probably 6 months to a year in. There's still plenty of times I get nervous and plenty of tight spots. But judging where it will fit or how to take a corner, I'm way more confident now. I still think backing is the toughest part

 

Probably around my 1 year mark....very comfortable but always cautious

 

As soon as I see Ft Collins in the mirror heading north. There are some real winners in the Denver area.

One of the other drivers calls it the greater Denver area. I keep telling him that greater and Denver should not be in the same sentence.

 

Caution to the wind!

Load it like a freightcar; drive it like a racecar! (my dispatcher)



Seriously tho - it's easier to get comfortable in a truck you've been with for a while (an advantage to yourself? - familiarity breeds.... contempt, as the expression goes). As a slipseater, you get familiar, then get an alt ride <repeat>. But ultimately, I don't get too comfortable. Stupid lurks around every corner.

Concerning confidence in my driving capabilities / backing capabilities: Maybe a year... likely a little less (yeah, I've dinged some things - nothing catastrophic / game ending). Give me a guide (a line, a trailer in an adjacent hole, something....) we're good to go most often. Might take a reset: a draw out, backup, re-angle, maybe even a tour around the building.... whatevs. It's the 'perfect' drivers you need to watch out for. Luck has an end.

 

Don't get too comfortable. When you do, you loose that ' edge ' that keeps you on your toes. Confident you can do the job safely ? A year or two. Comfortable ? After 30 + years , I am still looking for that day.

 

Comfortable?

That's easy, the day I got my first truck. I would say the first day the owner who trained me went to the sleeper to sleep for a while but it really was the day I got my first truck.

Complacent?

Never.

To me these are two different things.

 

10+ years and only time I feel comfortable is parking truck @terminal before I go home. Way too many distracted drivers and people who don't give a flying rhymes with Duck

 

Probably about 6 months ago. I now have enough steady, regular customers I can live on the road if I want and I am doing awesome. Financially speaking. Even though I am now saddled with big payments, reality is meshing with expected outcome on paper. I love it when that happens. I am now one of these vanity douches with the hood and I am a bit more of an a hole because everyone seems to want to park as close as possible....GO AWAY lol. Already had it whacked once almost took out the left light and other time lucky I was nosed in so he whacked my trailer.

Complacent? Never. Easy does it and never bite off more than I can chew for a days work. Steady as she goes!

 

To get comfortable is to get bored and lazy.

To settle in and have a good day putting away 600 miles or whatever wthout trouble or problems is a good day. Otherwise you were always ready for something to come up and cause a problem. Sometimes right after you essentially left the office (Truck cab) mentally.