Truckers Are (blanks)

So I am just finishing my first week with my trainer and we have covered numerous miles. Today we were 200 miles from our final and we received a message from dispatch that our appointment time has been pushed back 48 hours.

My trainer instructed me to pull into the next TA and pull forward just passed the pumps, so I did as I was told.

He then looks at me with a huge grin and asks me "Guess what we get to do?" My first response was to get a shower to which he said no. Next response was eat to which he said no.

So at this point I was afraid to know what he had planned. He smiled again with a toothless smile and giggles like an evil schoolgirl and said the dreaded words "backing practice". I'm in no way a bad backer but honestly I need a lot of "practice" but I dread doing it in a truck stop with people watching.

Being it was only about 11 AM there were plenty of empty spots. We picked the back row and after screwing up my first three parking jobs with my trainer coaching me through them he had me pull around the row and instructed me to park between two trucks.

Oh crap what do you mean I can't park with two empty spots on the sides. He said good luck this is the real deal now. He said I was on my own for this one but he would spot me so I didn't hit anything expensive. He said if I could get it in without much trouble I could shut it down and go eat and shower.

He got out and about that time I seen three other drivers approaching and I was hoping they weren't mad. One of them had stopped his truck in the isle so I figured he was upset I was taking too long.

To my surprise they all wanted to watch and give me pointers. Next thing I knew I was on my fourth trip around the row and I had parked in about seven different spots.

One of the biggest things that helped was one of them put an orange marker about ten feet straight out from the drivers side line of the space I was attempting to get in. He said when the tandems hit that point crank the wheel and chase the trailer. To my surprise the trailer went straight in.

I was very appreciative that everyone wanted to help coach me and give me pointers. My preconceived notion that all drivers are rude and hateful was totally wrong.

Thanks guys.

I'm a trucker too, a class A cdl holder, and i must say, it's rare to find a nice trucker, but when i do, i relish the moment and thank my lucky stars. my overall experience with truckers is not good. most have come at me in a negative, narrow-minded, hateful, and/or judgmental way. that's just my experience that i am sharing. it's amazing to me i ever got my license cause i had to deal with so many dill-weeds to get it. happy trucking and i'm glad backing went so well for you. are you a class A cdl holder yet or are you in CDL school? just curious.

So I am just finishing my first week with my trainer and we have covered numerous miles. Today we were 200 miles from our final and we received a message from dispatch that our appointment time has been pushed back 48 hours.

My trainer instructed me to pull into the next TA and pull forward just passed the pumps, so I did as I was told.

He then looks at me with a huge grin and asks me "Guess what we get to do?" My first response was to get a shower to which he said no. Next response was eat to which he said no.

So at this point I was afraid to know what he had planned. He smiled again with a toothless smile and giggles like an evil schoolgirl and said the dreaded words "backing practice". I'm in no way a bad backer but honestly I need a lot of "practice" but I dread doing it in a truck stop with people watching.

Being it was only about 11 AM there were plenty of empty spots. We picked the back row and after screwing up my first three parking jobs with my trainer coaching me through them he had me pull around the row and instructed me to park between two trucks.

Oh crap what do you mean I can't park with two empty spots on the sides. He said good luck this is the real deal now. He said I was on my own for this one but he would spot me so I didn't hit anything expensive. He said if I could get it in without much trouble I could shut it down and go eat and shower.

He got out and about that time I seen three other drivers approaching and I was hoping they weren't mad. One of them had stopped his truck in the isle so I figured he was upset I was taking too long.

To my surprise they all wanted to watch and give me pointers. Next thing I knew I was on my fourth trip around the row and I had parked in about seven different spots.

One of the biggest things that helped was one of them put an orange marker about ten feet straight out from the drivers side line of the space I was attempting to get in. He said when the tandems hit that point crank the wheel and chase the trailer. To my surprise the trailer went straight in.

I was very appreciative that everyone wanted to help coach me and give me pointers. My preconceived notion that all drivers are rude and hateful was totally wrong.

Thanks guys.

You have a real good trainer that is willing to actually put some extra effort and time into helping you learn.

That is a good way to do it too. Have you just kind of figure it out at your own pace while he makes sure you do not damage anything. My first trainer kept waving his hands around telling me to steer this way then that way and honestly I was not learning a thing, just was getting us both frustrated. Never really did learn to back until I signed onto a dedicated account that had me backing into the craziest truck configurations you can imagine about a dozen times a day.

Sorry to hear about your unloading time getting screwed.

Thanks Justin but I guess this is part of the job. Feels good to relax for a while. I have driven about 1800 miles in five days.

Missi I actually have my CDL but I am out with a trainer for five weeks before I go solo, as long as I get all my computer work done and tests complete.

I was very appreciative that everyone wanted to help coach me and give me pointers. My preconceived notion that all drivers are rude and hateful was totally wrong.

Well you're going to find that a small percentage of drivers are just "undesirables"......they have little or nothing of value to offer anyone, nor are they interested in doing so. You'll recognize the type before long and you'll avoid them altogether if you can.

Most drivers are at least decent to talk to for a while, as long as they don't get started on a complaining rant. You just have to steer them away from trucking themes and talk about something more positive.

One thing you'll find is that people are far more willing to help someone who is humble and is clearly giving it their best effort. It's a waste of time trying to teach someone when they're obviously not going to listen and learn. But when someone is clearly looking to get better and they're taking the right approach then an experienced driver knows the time they spend on that driver will be worth it.

Just completely ignore the jerks out there. Remember, the obnoxious ones are looking to get a reaction out of you so don't give them one. If they make fun of you, start ranting on the CB, or anything of the sort just smile and ignore it. Don't even respond. Any response you give is a victory for them.

But you'll find plenty of great people out there. Most drivers are decent people most of the time.

I was very appreciative that everyone wanted to help coach me and give me pointers. My preconceived notion that all drivers are rude and hateful was totally wrong.

Well you're going to find that a small percentage of drivers are just "undesirables"......they have little or nothing of value to offer anyone, nor are they interested in doing so. You'll recognize the type before long and you'll avoid them altogether if you can.

Most drivers are at least decent to talk to for a while, as long as they don't get started on a complaining rant. You just have to steer them away from trucking themes and talk about something more positive.

One thing you'll find is that people are far more willing to help someone who is humble and is clearly giving it their best effort. It's a waste of time trying to teach someone when they're obviously not going to listen and learn. But when someone is clearly looking to get better and they're taking the right approach then an experienced driver knows the time they spend on that driver will be worth it.

Just completely ignore the jerks out there. Remember, the obnoxious ones are looking to get a reaction out of you so don't give them one. If they make fun of you, start ranting on the CB, or anything of the sort just smile and ignore it. Don't even respond. Any response you give is a victory for them.

But you'll find plenty of great people out there. Most drivers are decent people most of the time.

When I asked my trainer why he doesn't have a CB on his truck he asked me if I really wanted to listen to the super trucker wanna-be talk trash about me when I was trying to back up.

I just laughed and said I can only inagine what they were saying. I'm good not knowing.

When I asked my trainer why he doesn't have a CB on his truck he asked me if I really wanted to listen to the super trucker wanna-be talk trash about me when I was trying to back up.

I just laughed and said I can only inagine what they were saying. I'm good not knowing.

You my friend are very lucky. Your trainer sounds like a real gem. Practicing your backing skills in a truck stop during off-peak hours is one of the better places to learn and I applaud him for taking his job seriously and helping you in this way. The true professional will not chastise a student when they are learning (we were not born knowing how to do this), and like you experienced, many will offer some assistance and/or encouragement. Your trainer is doing you a huge favor by forcing you out of your comfort zone. It will pay-off in spades when you are out there on your own, negotiating tight loading docks and congested truck stops.

When I asked my trainer why he doesn't have a CB on his truck he asked me if I really wanted to listen to the super trucker wanna-be talk trash about me when I was trying to back up.

I just laughed and said I can only inagine what they were saying. I'm good not knowing.

You my friend are very lucky. Your trainer sounds like a real gem. Practicing your backing skills in a truck stop during off-peak hours is one of the better places to learn and I applaud him for taking his job seriously and helping you in this way. The true professional will not chastise a student when they are learning (we were not born knowing how to do this), and like you experienced, many will offer some assistance and/or encouragement. Your trainer is doing you a huge favor by forcing you out of your comfort zone. It will pay-off in spades when you are out there on your own, negotiating tight loading docks and congested truck stops.

Thank you. At first I didn't think we would get along but so far he is pretty cool.

This morning when we got up he told me to get some coffee because its going to be another long day if backing practice at the truck stop, since our load doesn't drop till tomorrow.

I am very greatful he is pushing me to learn instead of just making me drive.