Comments By Aram KURD

Thank you, Pj! I appreciate it!

Thanks PackRat!! ☺🤙

Thank you, Big Scott!

Thank you, Rainy!! I appreciate all the words of wisdom you've provided. Hopefully I'll see ya on the road someday.

Well guys, I passed my CDL test today!! I'm officially a CDL holder ☺🤙 I will be using this thread to document my travels, and experience over the road. Btw I have decided to go with Stevens Transport!! Wish me luck y'all!!

Awesome read!! Thank you for all your help Rainy!! I really truly appreciate it.

When you go to tight places, watch the other drivers. Where did they start their U Turn to get on the drivers side? how far up did they go? At what location were the tandems when they began to pivot into the spot? Did they have enough room to make it a straight line back?

You can learn a lot from watching if you know what to watch for. If you are that nervous about it, go to a truck stop and watch now. check out youtube videos about backing. Get a toy truck and watch how the trailer turns in relation to.the cab. One of the biggest challenges of teaching it is that we all find a style that is right for us. I bet none of us here does it the same way. It takes about 6 mos to click. Using Google earth is great to visualize your entrance and set up. set up several times if you must.

Search for Errol Vs backing lessons.

No one company is going to make a difference with backing. Here's my backing fear story.

Hope for a Lousy Backer

Good advice, Rob. You're right, I would honestly like to get used to that early on, and get it out of my system. I guess it'll just take some getting used to.

If you're driving a truck you will always be in someone's way. Thats their problem not yours. It took me a while to get over the guilty feeling of holding up traffic. Seriously don't stress it. Eventually you'll be able to get in fairly quick and look back at this and laugh at yourself. Would you rather drive for a company that only delivers to large DC's and never face a difficult back, or would you rather possibly face them early in your career instead of being a 10 year vet that can't do much besides a straight line. For my job, just like PJ many times im sitting on road with 4 ways on waiting for a break in the traffic to start backing. My situation is a little different but there's quite a few stops I sit on a busy street and unload from there. I don't like tying up traffic by any means but many times there's no choice. Easier said than done, but get over that fear. If you're allowing traffic building up, and horns blaring to get you nervous you're almost guaranteed to hit something

That does sound unnerving. Like you, my instructors always tell me in that instance take your time and let the 4 wheelers wait it out. It's better to make them wait for a bit and not hit anyone, rather then hit someone and make people wait even longer . The first time it happens I'll be nervous, I'm not gonna lie. But it's something that WILL happen so oh well.

It gets a bit unnerving at times. I have a customer I go too often. This one you have too call them and have them open the gate. No problem, I call and the gate is almost never open. 4 lane city street without a turn lane. I pull up throw the 4 ways on and wait. When the gate gets open I wait for traffic to clear then pull into the oncoming lanes setup to back and get started. My front will swing into the lanes to the right. Once I get command of the clear roadway I just take my time. They can wait.

Lol precisely! One of my fears is backing into a tight place while blocking both lanes of traffic 😂. But I know I can't escape that reality, and it will happen eventually one of these days, I'm prepared...I hope lol.

I understand, you all make very good points. I've put all my chips in this so failure is not an option for me. This is what I've wanted to do since I left college, and I'm gonna make sure no matter what that I tough it out. Rainy, what you said definitely makes me look at things a bit different. As always I really appreciate y'alls input.

if it makes you feel better...delivering to stores like walmarts and dollar general are usually dedicated accounts. In 2 years, i have delivered to one grocery store and 4 walmarts. so it doesnt happen often unless i requested a dedicated account.

Also, Im guessing your fear is backing in smaller places...you are definitely not alone!!!! Worst case scenario, you drop the trailer and ask a yard dog to put it in. No yard dog? Great drivers will help guide you in, often because they dont want you to hit their truck.

I understand, you all make very good points. I've put all my chips in this so failure is not an option for me. This is what I've wanted to do since I left college, and I'm gonna make sure no matter what that I tough it out. Rainy, what you said definitely makes me look at things a bit different. As always I really appreciate y'alls input.