End Of CFI Training

I’m on my last five days out with my trainer, and if all goes well, I will be upgrading July 6th. The journey has been challenging and exciting at the same time. I’m nervous and looking forward to driving my own truck. My only apprehension is my backing. I still struggle with backing and is turning me into a nervous wreck. My trainer at CFI has been great and patient with me, and he says that with more experience my backing will improve.

I want to thank the members of this website for their wealth of knowledge, which made my decision to join CFI and easy one. Any tips for backing? Again, thank you all!

I’m nervous and looking forward to driving my own truck. My only apprehension is my backing. I still struggle with backing and is turning me into a nervous wreck.

You are feeling what every new driver feels. Take a breath, relax, and just take it as it comes. There is no way you are going to be fully confident in any of this for a good while. Your first three months will be equally brutal and thrilling. It is that way for all of us. Those feelings of anxiety are there to protect you from acting like a fool. Listen to them and be cautious. You've got plenty of time ahead to work all the details out.

Any tips for backing?

Just keep doing your job. It is going to come to you eventually. It takes repetition. A lot of repetition. Practice is what you need. We go forward all day every day. That's the easy part. We back up about twice a day for a brief few minutes. We can't get ourselves proficient at that rate. It will come, just make sure you are cautious and careful to not hit anything. Do Not allow yourself to be pressured into hurrying while backing. Getting into a rush is not the way to learn this stuff. Take it slow and G.O.A.L. as much as you feel you need.

MrZ is MrNervous:

My only apprehension is my backing. I still struggle with backing and is turning me into a nervous wreck. My trainer at CFI has been great and patient with me, and he says that with more experience my backing will improve.

This is true in both parts: nervous about backing, and as you to it more, it will be easier.

The good news is you can steer and pull up as often as you please. Get Out And Look as many times as you need to. Don't worry about the CB chatter you imagine as you try to back in at a truck parking spot. #1 The chatter doesn't really exist and #2 all those drivers around you were newbies once themselves.

The bad news is those aren't cones anymore - that's a company Cascadia on the left and an O/O in his Pete watching you on the right. It's ok to be afraid, GOAL because your career depends on it. I figure it took me 18 months before I was comfortable with an alley dock.

Welcome to the world of OTR trucking life.

You are better than you realize. All will work out. GOAL and never be afraid to GOAL. When I first started I got off my trainer's truck and forgot most of my backing. I still managed to figure it out, you will too. Relax. Where are you upgrading.

You are better than you realize. All will work out. GOAL and never be afraid to GOAL. When I first started I got off my trainer's truck and forgot most of my backing. I still managed to figure it out, you will too. Relax. Where are you upgrading.

Words of wisdom right there, man

Congratulations. Glad your trainer is doing a great job. My trainer at CFI was really great! We got along very well and he taught me a lot in those few short weeks. The idea of backing may seem daunting to you now, but I believe all new drivers feel that way. Your backing will improve weekly. My only suggestion is take every backing opportunity as a personal challenge. When backing, give it your 100% attention and take your time! I cannot stress this enough. Getting in a hurry will only cause more anxiety and could lead to a big problem that could have been avoided with patience. Also, If you have ANY doubts about where your trailer is in relation to an object or another tractor/trailer, do not become complacent and tell yourself ahhh, it will be fine"," because the next thing you may hear is a sickening "crunch." G.O.A.L...G.O.A.L....G.O.A.L!

I still love challenging myself when backing into a dock or space I have not been to before. Some places, you may think to yourself, "there is no way I can back into this spot." If you take a moment to get out of the truck, look around your surroundings for obstacles or something you have to contend with, you will feel more at ease. And once you get that tail "into the hole," you will give yourself a big "YES!" and high-five!

I’m on my last five days out with my trainer, and if all goes well, I will be upgrading July 6th. The journey has been challenging and exciting at the same time. I’m nervous and looking forward to driving my own truck. My only apprehension is my backing. I still struggle with backing and is turning me into a nervous wreck. My trainer at CFI has been great and patient with me, and he says that with more experience my backing will improve.

I want to thank the members of this website for their wealth of knowledge, which made my decision to join CFI and easy one. Any tips for backing? Again, thank you all!

You are better than you realize. All will work out. GOAL and never be afraid to GOAL. When I first started I got off my trainer's truck and forgot most of my backing. I still managed to figure it out, you will too. Relax. Where are you upgrading.

Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement. And yes, I will definitively take heed to all your guidance and suggestions. Thank you for the support. Big Scott, my trainer thinks I’ll upgrade in Joplin. However, with the upcoming Independence Day holiday upon us he is not sure where. Although, he says that I’ll be ready to upgrade next week. I’ll be biting off what little I have of my so called nails until then.

If your upgrade is delayed due to the holiday, it gives you more time to practice. If you upgrade in Joplin you will use one of the safety trucks. Your finisher can always get the keys for one to practice with.

If you upgrade anywhere else you will use his truck to upgrade.

Good luck.