I Am Now A Rookie Solo Truck Driver.......

I am happy to say that I have passed the written and driving test to go solo driving and I had over 205 hours so I had extra training, and now I am waiting to get my truck. There is a Kenworth T680 here at the Oregon terminal so hopefully I can get that one if not I'm good. I like the Freightliner plenty so that's not a problem. And I found out that I can also do a manual transmission if I wanted to.

But I am excited if I get the automatic too because it will make it easier in traffic. I have to go get a load and take it to Phoenix Arizona which is probably around 1200 miles or more. Then I will get my securement training for flatbed and my truck will adjusted to what a flatbed truck has to be situated like. Now to get by my 90 days after training without any wrecks tickets or points on my record. One thing I heard today was that Freightliner and International have the best maneuverability but as far as reliability it's the Freightliner that comes out on top. But I'm used to farm equipment that doesn't turn super tight so I could deal with the T680 and be alright. I can tell you now that when I got off my mentors truck it really sunk in that I'm going to be all alone in that truck unless I take a passenger with me.

At first I was very depressed because I felt like the solitary would overwhelm me because I wouldn't be able to talk to my family very much unless I got a Bluetooth. And I do plan on getting one. I feel like this has been the best decision that I have made concerning God's will for my life and I will not regret this I know. I am so happy that I have run into Trucking truth.com because if it wasn't for this site I think I would have been more unprepared than I was and I wasn't really all that unprepared.

I knew what I was getting into and still that's how I could handle it so much better than most who did not run to this site and read the things that Brett Aquila wrote about. His podcast have really helped too. On top of that everything that I have read and heard from both my mentor and truckingtruth.com has been absolutely on point and that is why I am so grateful for the information I have found on this site. I can't wait to see what God has for me this is by far the most independent I have been in my entire life.

Thank you all you moderators and thank you all you fellow Truckers you have helped me and have guided me. I will try to keep you posted as much as I can as I will be super busy and if I get a 34 reset I will have plenty of time to update you!

I am definitely nervous about going on my own. I know I can do it but that thought that I have no one else to help me on this unless I call them, is sort of intimidating but I am going to get better at this. Again I will keep you posted and God bless.

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So youre going from OR to AZ which means you might be going through Sacramento.

Damn, I need to be careful next few days theres another rookie on the road!

But seriously, congrats sir!!!

Congratulations Victor. I know how you feel about going solo for the first time.. I was terrified when it completely sunk in. At least I knew help and advice was a phone call and a trucking truth forum away.

If you have any questions or need advice, lot's of people are more than happy to help out.

Go slow. Take your time and don't get flustered or stressed. It's when you get stressed and try to hurry that you're more likely to make mistakes. Scale every load until you get a better handle on your weights because those tickets are very preventable, not to mention expensive.

Good luck. You got this!

Congrats Victor on your big day! Of course you're nervous, but just keep taking deep breaths and do exactly as Sue said:

Go slow. Take your time and don't get flustered or stressed. It's when you get stressed and try to hurry that you're more likely to make mistakes. Scale every load until you get a better handle on your weights because those tickets are very preventable, not to mention expensive.

Getting in a hurry is by far the #1 cause of rookie mishaps. Specifically, getting nervous about taking too long or looking foolish when backing into a spot. Listen, accept the fact that you're clumsy and foolish while backing up and everyone is going to know it. Going a little faster or refusing to get out and look isn't going to make you look like an experienced veteran, it's only going to cause you to run into things.

So leave your ego at the door, relax, take your time, and maneuver very slowly in parking lots and tight places.

Don't hit anything and learn all you can. That's it. That's all you really need to focus on right now. The skills will come with time and things will get easier as you go.

And finally, come back here and ask a lot of questions. Let us know how things are going, explain any interesting situations you've found yourself in, and we'll be glad to help you understand all of this a little more quickly.

Go get em!

Congrats Victor. You got this. In time things do get easier. Pretty soon you are nervous because you begin to become comfortable maneuvering that 72' long behemoth down the road.

Congratulations Victor! It's been fun watching you progress to this point. Now is when it suddenly gets very REAL.

As the others have said, the most important thing to do is be careful, slow down, and DON'T HIT ANYTHING. You can make mistakes in many other areas and recover from them easily. Accidents will kill a career faster than anything else.

Good luck on your first solo run!

Ditto! Congratulations Victor!

Congratulations Victor. Good luck, stay safe.

Congrats Victor!! GOAL and don't hit anything (are you sensing a common theme here?). And most of all ENJOY!

Congratulations Victor!! You got this!