File Under "Rookie"

It's been.... Interesting this far in my career. Three weeks in and there have definitely been times I've already questioned the wisdom of my choice to drive big rig for a living. Ha. High points, i do really enjoy cruising along the highway late at night, music playing, just enjoying the sights. The times that i Tully realize what i am doing. Driving a truck. Looking in my mirrors and fully comprehending the size of the trailer i am pulling behind me. As a complete rookie, it is quite an amazing feeling. The downsides are.... Frustrating tho at times. Missing an exit, having your drive twenty Miles out of your way to find someplace to turn around, an error that i probably wouldn't admit if it weren't for the people here, your all great, a turn coming up, a street just before that i mistakenly took, well, no big deal right? Lol it dead ended in a McDonald's parking lot... And not a huge one. Took me a few minutes, and a whole lot of stress and cursing under my breath, but i turned around in this tiny parking lot without damaging anything. Slight victory after a big screw up. I picked up a load way down in southern PA, scrap cardboard. My gross weight was 77,893 lbs. If you've been down there, you know the hills are murder. And lots of them. Well, first hill, gather speed to get up it, 9th gear to 7th, to 6th, speed dropped, to 5th, to 4th... As I'm trying to drop into third to limp my way up the hill, i miss step on my clutch, stall the truck... Oh no!! I need another foot now to hold my break while i restart the truck and try to get moving and not roll backwards... Of course i pop the clutch too fast, stall again. Others waiting behind me, heh. Ignore them, try not to let the pressure and stress get to me. Finally get rolling again. Took about half hour but finally found a scale. CRIPES! I have 42,000 on my rear tandems! Thank goodness there was another trucker who was kind enough to realize a rookie was in trouble, helped me out a ton. And after some great advice i was on my way again. Legal like and all lol... Saving grace is being able to come here and see I AM NOT ALONE. Home now for a day or two, gather my wits and go back out with a little more wisdom....

Relax and enjoy the home time. Thanks for sharing this with us.

It's been.... Interesting this far in my career. Three weeks in and there have definitely been times I've already questioned the wisdom of my choice to drive big rig for a living. Ha. High points, i do really enjoy cruising along the highway late at night, music playing, just enjoying the sights. The times that i Tully realize what i am doing. Driving a truck. Looking in my mirrors and fully comprehending the size of the trailer i am pulling behind me. As a complete rookie, it is quite an amazing feeling. The downsides are.... Frustrating tho at times. Missing an exit, having your drive twenty Miles out of your way to find someplace to turn around, an error that i probably wouldn't admit if it weren't for the people here, your all great, a turn coming up, a street just before that i mistakenly took, well, no big deal right? Lol it dead ended in a McDonald's parking lot... And not a huge one. Took me a few minutes, and a whole lot of stress and cursing under my breath, but i turned around in this tiny parking lot without damaging anything. Slight victory after a big screw up. I picked up a load way down in southern PA, scrap cardboard. My gross weight was 77,893 lbs. If you've been down there, you know the hills are murder. And lots of them. Well, first hill, gather speed to get up it, 9th gear to 7th, to 6th, speed dropped, to 5th, to 4th... As I'm trying to drop into third to limp my way up the hill, i miss step on my clutch, stall the truck... Oh no!! I need another foot now to hold my break while i restart the truck and try to get moving and not roll backwards... Of course i pop the clutch too fast, stall again. Others waiting behind me, heh. Ignore them, try not to let the pressure and stress get to me. Finally get rolling again. Took about half hour but finally found a scale. CRIPES! I have 42,000 on my rear tandems! Thank goodness there was another trucker who was kind enough to realize a rookie was in trouble, helped me out a ton. And after some great advice i was on my way again. Legal like and all lol... Saving grace is being able to come here and see I AM NOT ALONE. Home now for a day or two, gather my wits and go back out with a little more wisdom....

Andy...since you're basically a neighbor "Buffalonian", what school did you go to or did you do company training. Curious.

Looking forward to reading more of your "rookie" posts. I'm sure I'll be running into the same things in a few months. Be safe out there. Go Bills!

I would not file this under Rookie. I would file it under Just Being A Driver. It happens and will continue to happen throughout your career. Wrong turns go with driving. As long as you can correct it and not hit anything then you did well.

Really really appreciate these type of posts. Know your not alone and stuff..........happens. Thnx

Andy...since you're basically a neighbor "Buffalonian", what school did you go to or did you do company training. Curious.

Looking forward to reading more of your "rookie" posts. I'm sure I'll be running into the same things in a few months. Be safe out there. Go Bills!

Jimbo, as buffalonians we know the "Aww crap" feeling. How many super bowls? Ha... I chose Roehl trucking based on recommendation from a friend who drove for them. They are a training company, but great people. I put this all under file under ROOKIE, but seriously, the achievements are great too. Backing my truck for the first time into a dark enclosed dock, a blind side back around a corner (seriously!) without a hitch. The fist pumping hoot and hollar things that just make you feel great. I put my errors out because we are not alone. Poop happens, just clean up and move on. Wouldn't change it for the world!

It happens to everyone.... I missed my turn and took the next one to go around the block....... One block into the street.... NO TRUCKS!

Dark and raining, pulled into the first place big enough for a truck to turn into and cop shows up asking what is going on. Well he goes back and blocks the road so I can back around the corner to get turned around. It happens and it will happen again.

Ah the memories, even though I'm just now coming up on my first year lol.

I remember my first trip solo like it was yesterday. I had blazed through school and earned the top gun spot. Excelled with my OTR trainer and graduated in the minimum time with confidence. Climbed into the truck to go solo, lost all confidence and thought what the HELL am I doing! Found my way to the shipper and was assigned my dock. Pulled around to see it was conveniently placed between two trucks with not much room out front. Took my time, got out and looked several times, missed the mirror on my right by inches, and finally bumped the dock. Set there with a very satisfied feeling until I realized I forgot to open my freakin doors!!!

Calmly pulled out and did it all over again. Thus was the start of the great adventure.

Woody

Luv it! I like to think I only do something stupid IF I have an audience, Do something awesome no one sees it lol.

So glad I'm driving team. Luckily, I'm not the one driving when we get lost so I can take out my iphone to look at the map and find a safe, alternative route.