A Month Already!

I can't believe it's been a month since I started my first driving job with Olympia Sports! I know it's usually customary to celebrate after a year on the road but a month is pretty exciting to. I've been so busy learning that I've missed how much time has passed. I know i've got a ton more things to learn too! And let me tell you I have had some downs as well as ups in this first month.

Like for instance the first time I tried backing a trailer into one of our loading garages. Let me paint a visual for you. Our warehouse has 5 large indoor bays that can each hold two either B trucks or up to two 48' trailers. It was about 2:30 in the morning so still dark and the garages are not very well lit. So after I pull my assigned trailer out of one of the bays, one of my coworkers says "hey why don't you put that trailer sitting outside in that spot so they can unload it when they come into work later". So as eager as ever to impress and learn some stuff I made the attempt. Lets call it just that "an attempt". I began backing the trailer in at a slight angle because they go straight in. I think everything is going well until... I proceeded to crush a wooden shelving unit that was right next to the bay I was backing into. My biggest mistake, was in all my excitement to do this for the first time I forgot to GOAL! Had I done that I would have noticed the shelves and probably not have crushed them. And yes they were crushed. Luckily the trailer was just fine. So after that I left the trailer outside. Now at this point i'm freaking out because I wasn't sure how my bosses were going to react to this situation. So I left a note and voice message explaining what had happened. I got a call a few hours later while on my run simply saying "it happens". Huh? Wait. I just destroyed a set of shelves because I wasn't being responsible enough to GOAL. All he said was that it was just a wooden shelf that can easily be fixed and will give the maintenance guy something to do. And that the other driver shouldn't have asked me to back that trailer in because they typically wait few months before they ask new drivers to back trailers in because it can be tricky. He said I reported everything the way they like and that we'll just learn from this. I couldn't believe I got that reaction from them. Boy was I relieved! And boy was it a lesson learned.

On a more positive note though I'm starting to get some high praise from both my bosses and the stores from which I deliver to. One store last week said they were so happy it was me who showed up because they had a lot of things to send back and they knew the other older drivers would give them fits about having to load it all. But they knew I would be just fine and happy to help them out. I also had another store in PA say that they were going to call the warehouse and request me. I thought that was quite a compliment. So all in all everything is going very well. My wife loves that I can be doing a job that I love and I'm still home virtually every night and always on weekends. My kids love it too.

I just love driving a truck!!

P.S I know it's not a big deal but a felt a rush of excitement the first time I got to drive through a weigh station. Our trucks are never overweight mainly because of the product we carry so I knew I would pass through easily. But it was still fun!

That's awesome man! Thanks for sharing your first month's experiences and your excitement! Very cool that you got a gig that gets you home that frequently, especially w/ having a family. Good for you ;)

Grats on one month mark Heavy.

Hey congrats on the first month and on finding a job that gets you home to the family!

I always say that in trucking you have to make sure your mistakes are small ones. We're all human. We all make mistakes. You just have to make sure they're not big ones. And make doubly sure you don't make the same one twice.

Your boss was super nice about it. He should have made you go from the driver's seat to the back of the trailer 50 times and write, "When in doubt I will GOAL" on a piece of paper 50 times.

Just keep in mind you've used up your one fender bender for your career. That's it for the rest of your life. You must never bump into anything ever again. Keep that in the front of your mind forever forward.

I know it's not a big deal but a felt a rush of excitement the first time I got to drive through a weigh station.

I think everything you do in a big rig for the first time is a big deal. I remember the first time I got in one, backed one up, drove one on the highway, got in one at my first company, and even the first time I ever pulled into a truck stop. You should be excited! Driving a big ole American Big Rig is one of the coolest things on Earth. Enjoy every moment you can out there.

Thanks! I couldn't believe how they reacted to that. Now like you said I should never hit another thing as long as I'm driving. I already notice how much more I goal then I did before the incident. So I'm learning from it. Everyday has something to learn and I plan on learning it, whatever it may be.