Frustration Is The Enemy

Let my story from yesterday be some brain food for my fellow newbies. Had a 1,000 mile haul and had a tight, at least for me, window. I thought I had left early enough to avoid Atlanta's morning rush traffic. WRONG. Spent an hour to move 15 miles. I kept hitting construction and wrecks, and kept getting further behind. I stopped for my 30 to grab a quick shower. It was a small Pilot, and it seemed every driver in Alabama was there. I was in line just to get in and pull through. I would take a shower later. Kept waiting behind this one driver who kept sitting there. He finally waved me around him. Oh my. The man is taking his 30 in the street, holding ME up!

I was so mad and frustrated that I didn't stop to take in the whole situation. Got around break man, got around a guy who was in the lot but parked by the road. There's a guy parked in one of the entrance ways. I see a curb and move to miss it. Then my truck started making a skipping motion. I FINALLY look in my mirror to see my trailer bounce away from another driver's trailer. I went from frustrated, to sick. Fortunately, I have a job today. Fortunately, the other drivers trailer wasn't too damaged. All he got was some scratches on the corner, and the part that normally hits the dock looks like it hit the dock too hard. I'm going to have to get some minor repairs done to mine tomorrow, I'm very embarrassed. And my dream of a perfect collision free career is dead. Could have been worse. Fellow newbs, don't let frustration take you out.

I drive through atl once maybe twice a week. There's almost no time when it's not ridiculous. I'd say after 9pm to about 5 am is a safe window. Occasionally you can squeak through at noon but rarely for me anyway. 75 is a disaster cause it's under construction all the way through the city basically.

I feel your pain. My first Atlanta run I left at 0400 and crazy traffic already. Go figure.

A dream of accident free career is not realistic. Take a breath and tomorrow starts a new day to accident free.... Day by day week by week year by year.

I had an argument at the Birmingham Al pilot cause all three guys in the fuel island were doing PTI and washing trucks in the island. They used the squeegees to wash the truck and tires. Grrrrr.

The Braselton Ga pilot was jammed pack full two days in a row at 1000. Wtf?

Relax and learn from it. Leave asap, check mirrors and go slow. Don't beat yourself up about it

Sorry to hear that Sam. Just pick yourself up, learn from it, and move on. You'll be all right :)

First off Sammy - DEEP BREATH.

No one is holding YOU UP SPECIFICALLY. They are butt-clowns that are doing it to EVERYONE. So don't personalize.

Frustration leads to inattentiveness - leads to stupid mistakes - leads to ACCIDENTS. Which you found out FIRST HAND.

Atlanta is one of my favorite cities to hang out in - least to drive in (well, next to MIAMI).

I used to spend a lot of time there, when I was managing a band based out of Stone Mountain. In the car - I would turn the GPS to HIGHWAYS OFF, and let it navigate me on surface roads only. Unfortunately - can't do that with a TRUCK, as many roads through the city are restricted - and many of the main thoroughfares are as bad as the interstates traffic-wise.

Sorry you screwed up your accident free record. Having gone this long WITHOUT ONE, is probably the reason you still have a job now after this one.

But you don't get too many shots, even in year one.

Plan your clocks and routes as best as you can - and you're going to get there WHEN YOU GET THERE - regardless of how impatient or frustrated you get.

Rick

Frustration is only the "enemy" if it causes a loss of concentration and focus. It's rare that I go an entire day without something not going right. It's like crowd noise to a professional athlete, you must learn to block out the frustration and all of the associated baggage.

As a new driver one of the most difficult things about operating a semi is knowing where your trailer is at all times, especially in congested areas. As a rookie, until you develop "intuitive trailer sense", do not allow any frustration to become a distraction and always, always, always; "watch your wagon" and take your time. Don't allow your self to rush.

Thanks for sharing your story, it took some guts. Forgive yourself, but never forget.

And on the bright side; you missed the MAJOR traffic tie up the day before when some idiot led cops on a high speed (100+mph) chase on 285 that resulted in a shut-down for a while.

Thanks for all the responses. I will keep all the wisdom shared. I just hope others can read this and not make a similar mistake. Stay safe everybody.