Comments By New Beginning

Ok guys. No laughing here. Thoughts on a female driver??

I love them I think they are sexy plus my exwife was probably one of the best drivers I have ever seen

I thought I was the only person that find women truckers sexy. I love to see a woman who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. Nothing like a woman in wedge heels stepping down from a tractor.

I drive an automatic now. While there is less stress the only difference is the truck shifts for you.

It's the weight of the load that causes you to be slow on a hill. Not the shifting. Automatics have the same issue. They are slow on a hill due to the weight.

Well do you like it? I talked to a guy who had been driving for 40 yrs the last 12 with an automatic and he said he would never go back to driving a stick. I understand the weight slows you down,and speeds you up on hills, but the shifting from ten, to nine, to eight,to seven, to the dreaded sixth burns me up. And then shifting back up. I have a great appreciation for all you longtime truckers. I couldn't imagine not having cruise control. If they could only install self cancelled turn signal, hahaha. Sometimes I am worse than my grandma with that darn signal. Persian, love the meme.

I haven't quite mastered driving trucks yet and am really beginning to get annoyed with myself whenever I grind a gear. Some days I drive like I have been doing this for ten years. Other days it's like I just started yesterday. I am curious as to how those of you that drive automatics like them. It seems like automatics would cut down on a lot of stress, especially when going through bumper to bumper traffic. Worrying about rpms, speed, how far to push on the clutch, and how heavy the load is really takes away from concentration on the road for me. The changing shifting points, and the dreaded climbing up hills is so frustrating.

Hey everyone. So I got my cdl, trained for a couple months, and now I'm with a really good company. I love my job, but I am terrible at shifting still. It's so rough, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm almost considering giving it up.

I too hate shifting!! Some days I seem to shift like a pro. Other days I feel like it's my first day. Although I have never thought of giving up driving, I have thought a lot (excessively) about what company I will go with after my year obligation is up. There are so many companies switching to automatics that quitting never entered my thought process. So Bryan don't quit unless you don't like the lifestyle. There are many other options and companies to choose from who are catering to those of us that just want to drive. Call me a steering wheel holder all you want. We will still get paid like those super truckers.

Just looked at the new wiki page and Prime is listed as a hair follicle tester. Has this been verified? I went through the program in the middle of July 2015 and it was still urine testing. Just want to get the right information out there so it doesn't exclude those who are making a positive change in their life. Their training program is great and for previous drug users it is long enough that it can be a very detoxifying experience. I haven't been home since I started and that amount of time away from home would greatly benefit former users.

Anybody have any experience with this company and their partner trucking companies? I know bringing up leasing is a inviting trouble, but do they sell trucks outright?

Experience should bring wisdom, but that's not an automatic. Wisdom comes from practicing what you've learned. That reminds me of what my grade school gym teacher used to say, "perfect practice makes perfect." Not just any practice will make perfect, and experience in itself doesn't make you a better driver. Experience can actually make a driver apathetic towards safety - letting one's guard down. If we as drivers don't continue to be vigilant with safety, stay alert, be aware of our surroundings, learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, we can become unsafe by becoming apathetic and complacent.

For me, a seasoned or wise driver is a safe driver. Yet, it's amazing how many 'experienced' drivers I see on the road that are anything but safe. The number one disregard I see for safety? Following too closely. It's sickening how many professional drivers tailgate each other, or worse yet, passenger vehicles. Proper following distance is so important. Anytime you tailgate, you're putting your career and life in the control of somebody else. All it takes is one time for that driver in front of you to jam the brakes.

For all the new drivers, or drivers that are about to get their CDL, don't become apathetic with safety. Keep that healthy fear and respect of your equipment, and the damage it could do. Driving too fast and not managing your space will eventually lead to an accident - possibly the death of somebody. It's like playing Russian roulette. Don't feel like you HAVE to do the speed limit. Conditions can and will dictate your speed, not just a speed limit sign. Drive within your field of vision. If you're coming up to a bend, slow it down, you don't know what's on the other side around that corner. If you're on a highway that's posted at 70 mph, and yet traffic only lets you go 60 in order to maintain that space cushion, do 60 mph. Let cars come in front of you, and back off. A pro makes up for the stupidity of other drivers. I've heard drivers complain that if they let drivers cut in front, then they'll never get to their destination - that's baloney. I let drivers weave in and around my space in thick NYC metro traffic, and I wind up getting on down the road in the same amount of time. As a professional driver, you have to become emotionally detached, not allowing yourself to get angry. Patience is a must.

Don't become an unsafe experienced driver.

Thank you for this post. As a new driver, I have been more frightened by the driving of other truckers than I have of erratic car drivers. I expect car drivers to cut me off, not know how to merge, and make sudden stops. But I find myself cursing more at truckers who cut you off and then slow down, tailgate, and try to race you when they see you trying to pass them. I know I am new, and I have had truckers help me too while I am in traffic(especially when I am changing lanes), but the aggressive driving of truckers is really scary.

You can go on hire rights web site and request a file on yourself. I did it a couple years ago and it was free. They mail it to you. I think it's a good idea for everyone attempting to be a truck driver to find out everything they can about themselves that others might find out. That way you will know how to answer any questions you might have to.

My truck doesn't have a clutch.

I want one of those trucks

If you have a pickup window 1000-1400 hours, is there a standard time you should show up? I know your day clock starts the moment you drive and you should time your miles, but I am not sure when you should start out. Shippers don't always load as soon as you show up, but is it good to be there at the beginning of the appt time or some where in the middle? Not looking for definitive answers, just curious as to how various people do it. Thanks.

Would your hours have allowed you to arrive at the earliest pickup time, 10:00?

First off I am in training, teaming with my instructor. We have not been late picking up a load or delivering a load. I am happy with the training I have received and believe he is teaching me the right way. I am asking these questions for curiosity and second opinions. I always think the more input I get can only make me better prepared. Our pickup was an hour away, and our delivery was ten hours away due @1000. I know as a team we could have picked up anytime and made it to our 90, and I assume that when solo dispatch wouldn't be so cruel and schedule times this tight.