First Week Solo....oh Boy!

So got my truck Wednesday night and my first load Thursday morning.

Roads were garbage. My truck computer is not usable when driving so having directions to shipper on the screen like I did with trainer wouldn't work. Ended up missing a turn and having to do 20 miles to a safe place to turn around. Not a good start.

Second stop, over weight on steers no matter what I did. Kept going over 34,000 on either drive or trailer. Couldn't get a balance. 6 weight tickets later had the drive/trailer legal but steer were still 400 over. FM said take the load back for adjustment. Get back to shipper and she sends a message saying to Just deliver load as is. Hours wasted.

Auto-start in the truck is preventing sleep. Basically sit up waiting for my 10 hour to end so I can just drive.

Deliver my load at 6am and next pick up is scheduled for 1630 and us less than 2 hours away. Head straight there and get in and out before 1300.

Deliver the load and shoot across the State only to realize I left my lock on last trailer. Oops. That was an expensive mistake. Last load was now a freebee.

Delivery was scheduled for 0800 tomorrow but FM changed appointment time to 1400 because she said there was no way to make it on time. Here I sit 20 miles from consignee and could deliver as early as 0500 if I am awake. Next pick up is preloaded trailer about 45 minutes from current drop.

Even with the things going wrong I am having a blast. I just can't afford to forget anymore locks.

Well dang, that sucks you've had a bunch of chain events happening, one right after the next. I always say trucking is very burdensome due to the millions of things to worry about and focus on. Don't worry too much, I've had some very crazy times myself when I began solo a few weeks ago. I will say this, though, when you miss a turn, panic comes in hard, because you have absolutely no idea where the next area is ahead where you can turn around at. that's a very big issue with driving coupled with a trailer. Bobtail , however, is no big deal, its the trailer that hinders you.

Oh, ****....I just realized I left my lock on the trailer I dropped this morning.....

Oh, ****....I just realized I left my lock on the trailer I dropped this morning.....

You lost another one????

You gotta slow down.. Make a check list for when you pick up and another when you drop... Follow each step till you get a routine down....

Oh, ****....I just realized I left my lock on the trailer I dropped this morning.....

I did what my trainer did which was to write on my note pad with my trip info in really big letters to get my lock. When I drove for Central Ref. we used Enforcer locks. Those baby's were not cheap.

FALSE ALARM! I didn't forget it. Whew! I didn't remember grabbing it but it is in the driver door slot where I always keep it when not in use. You guys are right, those arent cheap. I read the original post about leaving a lock and then couldnt remember so thought I lost mine too. Must be getting to tired. I'm goi g to bed!

The lock is simply a habit you must develop. I'm good at developing systems to cut down on pure memory, but the lock just has to be done.

Lessons on how to not forget the Enforce lock cost $40 each time you forget.

Don't forget.

Here is a suggestion, when you open the doors (have to remove lock to do so), always put it in the same pocket each and every time. If you are dropping a trailer, always do a walk around checking lights etc, remove the lock and put it in the same pocket every time (see a pattern here).

I always put mine in my left back pocket so that when I get into the drivers seat I am sitting on it (very uncomfortable) as a reminder to put it away in my usual storage spot (pocket on the drivers door works well for me).

Ernie