Comments on: Don’t Let the Little Things Bother You….Just Roll On http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on Helping Those Who Are Considering A Career In The Truck Driving Industry Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:01:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: CatKiller AKA Tami http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-1047 CatKiller AKA Tami Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:59:00 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-1047 lol...Training isn't bad....Trainers are. However, there are the few exceptionally good ones. Most trainers anymore are just out for the money. I always had the philosophy of teaching them to drive like I do. I am a perfectionist so I don't know if that is always good though because I did always push them harder than most trainers do. But the upside of that is everytime I talk to one of my old trainees and they tell me that I taught them to run hard or I taught them this or that. That gives you a feeling that no one can take away. I extend to you again the offer for you to contact me along with anyone else wanting too learn, learning, or any other driver. Just do not come to me thinking you know everything, b/c the day a truck driver knows everything out here is the day he/she is going to die or kill someone else. I have 2.5 million safe mi. I no longer drive but I will never know anything. If anyone contacts me just make sure to put something about trucking in the subject of it so i don't throw the letter away or deny you. Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down. Tami megaverse1968@gmail.com truckers_r_angels --Yahoo messenger name lol…Training isn’t bad….Trainers are. However, there are the few exceptionally good ones. Most trainers anymore are just out for the money. I always had the philosophy of teaching them to drive like I do. I am a perfectionist so I don’t know if that is always good though because I did always push them harder than most trainers do. But the upside of that is everytime I talk to one of my old trainees and they tell me that I taught them to run hard or I taught them this or that. That gives you a feeling that no one can take away. I extend to you again the offer for you to contact me along with anyone else wanting too learn, learning, or any other driver. Just do not come to me thinking you know everything, b/c the day a truck driver knows everything out here is the day he/she is going to die or kill someone else. I have 2.5 million safe mi. I no longer drive but I will never know anything. If anyone contacts me just make sure to put something about trucking in the subject of it so i don’t throw the letter away or deny you. Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down.

Tami
megaverse1968@gmail.com

truckers_r_angels –Yahoo messenger name

]]> By: TruckerMike http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-1043 TruckerMike Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:07:38 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-1043 Hi Tami, thanks for reading! And thank you for being a trainer for 9 years. Wow! I don't know if I could ever be a trainer. I have good blood pressure, and I intend to keep it that way. HAHA! I think a lot of trainers fail to do what you teach. I've heard so many stories of trainers breaking things on their truck because they are upset about something. Not the best way to teach a student how to deal with situations out on the road! And thank you for the offer to contact you. Be careful what you wish for, I might just take you up on it! Mike Hi Tami, thanks for reading! And thank you for being a trainer for 9 years. Wow! I don’t know if I could ever be a trainer. I have good blood pressure, and I intend to keep it that way. HAHA! I think a lot of trainers fail to do what you teach. I’ve heard so many stories of trainers breaking things on their truck because they are upset about something. Not the best way to teach a student how to deal with situations out on the road!

And thank you for the offer to contact you. Be careful what you wish for, I might just take you up on it!

Mike

]]> By: CatKiller AKA Tami http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-1042 CatKiller AKA Tami Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:13:50 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-1042 Mike, Very well written website. I drove for 18 years and trained for 9 of those years. That is one of the most important things I always tried to teach my trainees, was to take things as they come and let them roll off your shoulder. Wal-Mart is one of the worst places to order more product than they need and then accept them first come first serve and refuse the rest of what they didn't need. But, if you let stress take over and you get mad and upset at the littlest things and problems, then what are you going to do when your trailer jackknifes on you? You will flip out and end up recking instead of getting it corrected and back on track. This is another reason that it is very important to learn to remain calm in all situations. If you ever need someone to talk to send me an e-mail. Tami Mike,
Very well written website. I drove for 18 years and trained for 9 of those years. That is one of the most important things I always tried to teach my trainees, was to take things as they come and let them roll off your shoulder. Wal-Mart is one of the worst places to order more product than they need and then accept them first come first serve and refuse the rest of what they didn’t need. But, if you let stress take over and you get mad and upset at the littlest things and problems, then what are you going to do when your trailer jackknifes on you? You will flip out and end up recking instead of getting it corrected and back on track. This is another reason that it is very important to learn to remain calm in all situations. If you ever need someone to talk to send me an e-mail.

Tami

]]> By: TruckerMike http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-987 TruckerMike Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:48:48 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-987 Well put Fred. This is an unhealthy profession as it is, but the stress just adds to it. I look around at some of the people at truck stops and can't believe the condition they are in. I've promised myself that I won't end up like them. I'll be going solo here in about a week, and I've decided to stay far away from the buffets once that happens. Do you ever look at the people at the buffets? I know it sounds mean, but sometimes just seeing the people there makes me lose my appetite. I hope I'm not offending anyone here, but weight is just such a huge problem in the trucking industry. It's about time we take it more seriously. Hell, I'm paying $40 / week for my health insurance and I don't even have the best coverage. Buying into group health insurance doesn't mean much when the group you're sharing it with is full of people who are vastly overweight, heavy smokers, stressed out, and those who have very little physical activity in their life. It's time truck drivers wake up and start taking care of the most importaint piece of equipment on the truck...themselves. Well put Fred. This is an unhealthy profession as it is, but the stress just adds to it. I look around at some of the people at truck stops and can’t believe the condition they are in. I’ve promised myself that I won’t end up like them. I’ll be going solo here in about a week, and I’ve decided to stay far away from the buffets once that happens. Do you ever look at the people at the buffets? I know it sounds mean, but sometimes just seeing the people there makes me lose my appetite. I hope I’m not offending anyone here, but weight is just such a huge problem in the trucking industry. It’s about time we take it more seriously. Hell, I’m paying $40 / week for my health insurance and I don’t even have the best coverage. Buying into group health insurance doesn’t mean much when the group you’re sharing it with is full of people who are vastly overweight, heavy smokers, stressed out, and those who have very little physical activity in their life. It’s time truck drivers wake up and start taking care of the most importaint piece of equipment on the truck…themselves.

]]> By: Funky Fred from Fargo http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-957 Funky Fred from Fargo Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:25:42 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-957 It's good that you have it figured out, Trucker Mike, because so many don't. Stress IS a killer. Average life expectency for truckers is 62. Have you noticed or talked to drivers that are weatherbeaten because of lack of sleep, healthy food, too much coffee/cigs etc? They look like they're 60, but are actually maybe 45-50. The disrespect/rudeness come with the job, so you need thick skin. The best thing is you only have to deal with these fools for a couple hours, then you never see them again. FFfF It’s good that you have it figured out, Trucker Mike, because so many don’t. Stress IS a killer. Average life expectency for truckers is 62. Have you noticed or talked to drivers that are weatherbeaten because of lack of sleep, healthy food, too much coffee/cigs etc? They look like they’re 60, but are actually maybe 45-50. The disrespect/rudeness come with the job, so you need thick skin. The best thing is you only have to deal with these fools for a couple hours, then you never see them again. FFfF

]]> By: TruckerMike http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-950 TruckerMike Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:18:01 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-950 Hi Paul, Thanks for such an awesome reply! I'm glad my blog is helping you and I wish you the absolute best of luck. Please, feel free to email me anytime personally if there are any questions I can answer for you. If I don't know the answer, I'll either try to find it or will simply tell you I don't know. But either way, it never hurts to ask questions. It's good that you're doing research on this before jumping in. I'm sure glad I did. Some of these people jump right in not really knowing what they were getting into. Those are the ones who have the hardest time adjusting to this life. Anyway, only 6k more miles and I'm on my own! It's been a long 3 months / 54,000 miles but I'm almost there. Mike TruckerMike@TruckingTruth.com Hi Paul,

Thanks for such an awesome reply! I’m glad my blog is helping you and I wish you the absolute best of luck. Please, feel free to email me anytime personally if there are any questions I can answer for you. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll either try to find it or will simply tell you I don’t know. But either way, it never hurts to ask questions. It’s good that you’re doing research on this before jumping in. I’m sure glad I did. Some of these people jump right in not really knowing what they were getting into. Those are the ones who have the hardest time adjusting to this life.

Anyway, only 6k more miles and I’m on my own! It’s been a long 3 months / 54,000 miles but I’m almost there.

Mike

TruckerMike@TruckingTruth.com

]]> By: Highay Nomad, aka, Paul http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/truckermike/2009/06/dont-let-the-little-things-bother-youjust-roll-on#comment-949 Highay Nomad, aka, Paul Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:27:51 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1535#comment-949 Great advice, Mike! It's great for someone like me who just decided in the last four or so weeks to become a truck driver and hasn't even started my training yet to know what I can expect in the coming months and years. I'm one of those that likes to know what to expect, which is why I've spent a lot of time here reading as much as my time and slow reading ability allow me to over these weeks. It's kind of strange, but very interesting, that just knowing that what I can expect is to not know what to expect is all I need. I guess having a mind that's wired in a kind of twisted way means I've got one of the main requirements to be a truck driver, right???? LOL Anyway, moving right along. The advice about handling some of the unpleasant situations and people in life is great for anyone, not just truckers. As a teenager, I'd lose it often and in ways that got me in a lot of trouble, and sometimes I did things that to this day I wish to God I hadn't and I'd give a lot to be able and go back and undo. At one point, I found myself in a place where going off on someone physically was going to get me a quick ride into a few years in the kid equivalent of prison. One of the things I learned real fast, and which is why I'm where I'm at in life now, is that 99.99999% of the time the thing that had me furious at the moment I wouldn't even be able to remember in a year. Those few that I'd even remember weren't going to have any impact at all on how my life was a year later though. So I started asking myself, why do something now that will result in me both remembering this in a year and having how I reacted make my life a year later worse? In the 31 years since I first started looking at it this way, there are perhaps two or three that I've even remembered a year later and, at best, one that may have made any difference in my life in the years since. Even that one, if I had reacted, didn't have as much negative impact on my life as my reaction would have. I am big on having control and I learned that allowing the things other people do and say to effect me puts them in control of me and how I feel and there is no way on earth I'm going to give someone else that kind of power over me. Why let someone else have the power to cause you to develop high blood pressure, get ulcers, die younger and suffer more while you're here? Okay, I just used a lot of words to say what you said in a few. Good job and thanks, Mike! P.S. Just remembered one of my favorite quotes....."God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the ones I can and the wisdom to know the difference." That was St. Francis of Assisi and some of the best words any man has ever uttered. Great advice, Mike! It’s great for someone like me who just decided in the last four or so weeks to become a truck driver and hasn’t even started my training yet to know what I can expect in the coming months and years.

I’m one of those that likes to know what to expect, which is why I’ve spent a lot of time here reading as much as my time and slow reading ability allow me to over these weeks. It’s kind of strange, but very interesting, that just knowing that what I can expect is to not know what to expect is all I need. I guess having a mind that’s wired in a kind of twisted way means I’ve got one of the main requirements to be a truck driver, right???? LOL

Anyway, moving right along. The advice about handling some of the unpleasant situations and people in life is great for anyone, not just truckers. As a teenager, I’d lose it often and in ways that got me in a lot of trouble, and sometimes I did things that to this day I wish to God I hadn’t and I’d give a lot to be able and go back and undo. At one point, I found myself in a place where going off on someone physically was going to get me a quick ride into a few years in the kid equivalent of prison. One of the things I learned real fast, and which is why I’m where I’m at in life now, is that 99.99999% of the time the thing that had me furious at the moment I wouldn’t even be able to remember in a year. Those few that I’d even remember weren’t going to have any impact at all on how my life was a year later though. So I started asking myself, why do something now that will result in me both remembering this in a year and having how I reacted make my life a year later worse? In the 31 years since I first started looking at it this way, there are perhaps two or three that I’ve even remembered a year later and, at best, one that may have made any difference in my life in the years since. Even that one, if I had reacted, didn’t have as much negative impact on my life as my reaction would have. I am big on having control and I learned that allowing the things other people do and say to effect me puts them in control of me and how I feel and there is no way on earth I’m going to give someone else that kind of power over me. Why let someone else have the power to cause you to develop high blood pressure, get ulcers, die younger and suffer more while you’re here?

Okay, I just used a lot of words to say what you said in a few. Good job and thanks, Mike!

P.S. Just remembered one of my favorite quotes…..”God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the ones I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” That was St. Francis of Assisi and some of the best words any man has ever uttered.

]]>