Progress

Trucking is 95% mental and 5% physical.

Hamrhed, I keep hearing you say that you want to be the best in your class, I hear you and understand it, I'm sort of an over-achiever myself. I was the top student in my driving school, but I never really even gave it a thought during school. Just go out there and give it your best every day with a confident attitude. If there was anything about me that impressed the other students in my class, it was not that I was skilled, but that I was confident. Example: if I ran over a cone I did it with confidence, if my tandems jumped a curb I did it confidently. Don't let the mistakes you make shake your confidence, allow them to increase your desire to conquer these newly acquired skills. You're not really going to be a professional when you get out of school, nobody is, it's going to take you a year or two of maneuvering that gentle giant truck all across this great country before you've earned that respected title of "professional driver". And even then you'll still be learning and honing your skills. The truth is that when you graduate you're just going to be a another newbie with a CDL , but you've got an excellent foundation to build on thanks to not only your school, but also to Brett and your new friends here at Trucking Truth.

So, in short what I'm trying to say is don't set your sights too far down the road. Your taking baby steps right now, you're just beginning to learn the bare minimum skills to get out there on your own. Do it with confidence, taking in with each day the new challenges, successes, and disasters that will surely come. If you kill a few cones do it with confidence, if you nail a blind side backing maneuver then do it with confidence also. Don't beat yourself up man, realize you barely even know what you're doing, yet be proud every time you succeed at something, be driven to excel, but don't lose that confidence when you have a day or even a week where nothing seems to go right.

Here's a personal example: When we first started doing our blind side parallel parking maneuvers, I nailed it on my first attempt - no one else even came close. For three days in a row I had no problems pulling it off, and then the day before I tested out with the state examiner I couldn't even come close to getting it right. Right before I tested I remember one of the students expressing their amazement that I didn't seem nervous, and I really wasn't, I woke up that morning thinking "okay let's do this". I still remember doing that blind side parallel park - I didn't have to do any excessive steering or over-correcting, it almost felt like something just sucked that truck right into the parking area. And the rather large black woman examiner, who was sitting in the jump seat, opened the door, leaned out of the truck looking back at the trailer tandems and said "I ain't never seen anybody park a truck as sweet as you just did!"

My point is: I might not be able to do it today if I tried. Truck driving is just like that. The main thing is you keep the proper attitude and confidence. You're gonna have good days and bad - it's okay, we're just beginners. We've got a long way to go before we're "Drivers". Enjoy your time at school, don't beat yourself up over mistakes, just do what you can to learn from them, and realize there's going to be a day every now and then that you're gonna look like an idiot with out a clue. The main thing is that you're a confident idiot on those days. Keep it up you're gonna be a great driver one day, and I hope we cross paths one day so I can shake your hand.

Old School, thanks for your last post!! Very good info from the "real" world. I do appreciate it! G MAN

Brett - I sometimes wonder if I will ever be as mature as you. I spend almost as much time beating myself up as I do evaluating. I doubt I've had 5 hours behind the wheel on the pad, and before this week I'd never been in truck before with the engine running. I know I should cut myself some slack, but I don't want to graduate just by the skin of my teeth...I want to be the best there is.

And, Troubador, I hear ya. That's what bothers me the most...the fear of not getting enough practice time on the skills pad. They keep stressing, "this is college, not a trucking school." Well, okay then, in college if a student needs extra help, tutoring is available. What about it? If a student is willing to put in the extra time and pay an extra fee, there should be a way and a means to get the extra practice. But, NOOOooooo! It's against policy.

Starcar...yes, I know, but I have to get out there first!!

Sorry. I just had one of those days that so often follows a good one. A day where I could do nothing right. I really need a restart this weekend!

Bro, I know exactly how you're feeling. My memories are still perfectly fresh from school. I had some days where I thought I was t going to make it, some days I just didnt even want it anymore! I learned how to start when you're stopped on an incline... The hard way. The truck bounced like an earthquake and I'm not even joking. Two of the passenger students were complaining about their necks after that. Try taking the blame for that lol..

I got shipped to Fontana, CA to take my CDL testing. I was shocked! I only test drove like three times and I wasn't getting the concept of the backings. You will never ever get "enough" time on the practice yard. On my CDL test I screwed up so hard on the Alley Dock I had to use all my pull ups and still it was a mess. I actually mentally gave up. I was at such an awful angle I had to blind side back it, which by the grace of God actually worked! On my parallel test I thought I messed it up half way through and I didn't really know how it went in but it did. I wasn't ready.

Training with a "certified" trainer didnt even prepare me! I felt I wasn't ready even after that! When you go solo is when you'll sharpen your skills. When it's 9pm and you have 30 minutes on your clock and there's only one truck stop around you and only a few spaces and you HAVE TO back it in... That's when you learn. Speaking from my personal experiences.

Absorb all you can. Learn the dynamics of how to back up and the concept. Don't worry if you don't ace it every time. I was in your exact situation and I made it, and still learning! You'll make it! You have the determination just keep your head high!

Dang, Old School...you very nearly put a tear in my eye and a croak in my throat! When you're done with this, you and Brett should team up. You two could be the Norman Vincent Peale's of trucking! In the meantime, though, I'll be looking for you in that flatbed. I intend to collect my handshake and buy you a cup of Joe!

And thanks to you too, Daniel B. I think I'll be okay once I get rid of the sensation of turning the wrong direction when I'm backing a trailer! It feels so weird...almost like an amusement ride that's intended to mess with your senses.

I'll get it. I just have to keep hacking away. Thanks to all for sharing your sentiments.

Personally I hope that I get to see everyone of you that is in this forum! You ladies and gentlemen are the greatest! Sometimes I feel like I should just give up this pipeline idea of mine, but then I read these encouraging post (not sugar coated, but straight up legit talk) and I get a renewed spirit! I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when I am in training and away from home missing my daughter and grandson that you ALL will lift me up and help me keep going! Thanks to everyone! Kathy

Hamrhed...I was like you...that feeling you get when you want the trailer to go THIS way, but you have to steer THAT way....yup...been there...SO I don't steer like anyone else when I'm backing up...If you'd like to know how its done, I'll post it in the Ladies of Trucking forum. Its on the old site, somewhere. But if you think that the way they are telling you isn't going to work, its worth a try to give my way a chance.

Hamrhed...I was like you...that feeling you get when you want the trailer to go THIS way, but you have to steer THAT way....yup...been there...SO I don't steer like anyone else when I'm backing up...If you'd like to know how its done, I'll post it in the Ladies of Trucking forum. Its on the old site, somewhere. But if you think that the way they are telling you isn't going to work, its worth a try to give my way a chance.

POST IT PLEASE.....

Hamerhed, something that did help me in school, from one of the weekend instructors. He said remember, you turn the top of the wheel the way you want the truck to go when you are going forward, and the bottom of the wheel for the direction you want the trailer to go when backing. Still has not registered 100% but it is getting there.

Hamerhed, something that did help me in school, from one of the weekend instructors. He said remember, you turn the top of the wheel the way you want the truck to go when you are going forward, and the bottom of the wheel for the direction you want the trailer to go when backing. Still has not registered 100% but it is getting there.

Take what he's telling ya to a test it helps trust me,when sitting still imagine ur backing grab the steering wheel at the bottom and turn it ull see what he means when ya think which way the trlr is goin to be goin and if ya glance at the top of the wheel ull see the difference. Also get a toy truck take it by the nose and back it that will help ya understand how the truck and trlr move.

Best friends I never met!!