Why I am nervous about trucking

It is the most dangerous transportation job, it is more dangerous than being a cop, it is more dangerous than being one of those guys who used to hook up train cars 100 years ago.

I know this goes against the the common myth that it is a good and easy job but it isn't.

Driving a truck is easy now, it is like driving a large car but most drivers don't know what to do when something happens, this is where the danger crops up. Just watch those truck crash videos.

 

Here is a perfect example of that.... Article and video, crash happened this past winter in Wyoming.


Intense live stream video shows just how dangerous a job truckers really have

 

@hopeful eyes just as an FYI... The road and weather conditions in the video I posted above are pretty standard in Wyoming during the winter. The roads can be like that for 50 or 100 or even more miles.

If you dont think you can handle driving on those conditions... At least long enough to get to a safe place to park, then you may want to reconsider trucking as a career.

 

I understand where you are coming from.

A couple of things from my experience. I came from an office type work, not much blue collar at all.

When you first approach them they look huge. But when you get inside them and sit behind the wheel, they do not feel like they are as large as you originally thought.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you will get training while you are going through the driving academy, take everything you learn and hear seriously. If you really want to succeed then hang on to every word, like I did. They will teach you how to turn wide in school do other things that will keep you out of trouble.

When you are out on your own, keep all those things in mind all the time. Keep looking in your side mirrors all the time. Not because you doubt yourself, but because you don't want to take any chances, ever. And then when you back up, that's its a whole separate animal. And when you back up you need to shift into your back up mindset. I like to unbuckle my seatbelt, and roll down my window. I might sit there for half a minute, or a full minute and just think about what I am about to do. Then I proceed to do it... slowly. After doing it for 2 and a half years I am only barely capable of doing it without turning a lot of heads.

Two weeks ago, I waited while another driver backed into a tight spot. He got out twice and look behind his trailer to make sure he wasn't going to hit anything. It took at least 10 minutes, but he got it! When I drove by, I gave him the thumbs up, and he waved back, lol. I don't know if I could have pulled off that back. But he had the courage to do it, and he made with patience and getting out and looking and he didn't worry about drivers waiting. So I had plenty of time on my clock, but I understood that driver wanted to get a parking spot safely, get a free shower, and a sandwich before he started his next clock. So most of us get it. The few that don't, do not worry about them.

 

My first three months of driving or so, I didn't even want to get off of the interstate.

 

that’s what she said

 

I often look over the truck when walking back from the truck stop etc just to remind myself how huge the vehicle is I’m driving? Why? Because after two years I’m more comfortable driving this huge thing, then I am any tiny 4 wheeler. I’ll take this huge beast anywhere without a second thought. Lol you’ll be surprised how second nature it becomes. That said, never forget what you’re driving. There is no such thing as a little mishap in one of these things. What might be a scratch in a 4 wheeler, could mean death or massive destruction in one of these. Always remind yourself of that. You’ll get used to it’s size in no time.

 

I went to truck driving school almost 2 years ago when I was 20 (21 now); I don’t own my own vehicle, nor did I have much driving experience at the time and I still made it; I remember sitting in the driver seat with a severe case of cottonmouth, almost dreading the moment I’d push in the tractor/trailer brakes because I knew it was time to go; however, I would describe it almost as riding a bike for the first time, you’re fearful you might fall off but once you get going you never look back and at some point it becomes nothing more than hopping right back in the saddle and taking off as if it were nothing; you’ll be fine.