10 Things I've Learned In 4 Years Of Trucking...

Yes M.M...

I'd like to add an 11th learned behavior to this list:

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

When I look back, it's obvious when a new driver is learning anything out of the ordinary, or exceptional tends to increase the stress and anxiety level. For many, everything does this.

Try to quickly assess if the new problem is worthy of stress, anxiety or on some cases anger. Like water off a frogs back, roll with the punches. Never allow anything to distract you from the business of safe operation and wasting valuable time and energy fretting over a seemingly minor problem. Think big picture...

And like the OP suggested, PLAN. Which means plan for the unexpected...always have a plan B and C. It will help reduce the "stress" reaction to things that over time you'll realize are just part of the job.

After a years time, look back on the stuff that "hung you up" and consider how you handle those situations now, as an experienced driver.

Be safe!

Yes M.M...

I'd like to add an 11th learned behavior to this list:

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

When I look back, it's obvious when a new driver is learning anything out of the ordinary, or exceptional tends to increase the stress and anxiety level. For many, everything does this.

Try to quickly assess if the new problem is worthy of stress, anxiety or on some cases anger. Like water off a frogs back, roll with the punches. Never allow anything to distract you from the business of safe operation and wasting valuable time and energy fretting over a seemingly minor problem. Think big picture...

And like the OP suggested, PLAN. Which means plan for the unexpected...always have a plan B and C. It will help reduce the "stress" reaction to things that over time you'll realize are just part of the job.

After a years time, look back on the stuff that "hung you up" and consider how you handle those situations now, as an experienced driver.

Be safe!

So true, the big reason why so many rookies get tired out it from overthinking. I remember when i first started to do walmart last year, i wqs constantly stressed and tired thinking i wasnt working hard enough, only to find out a year later that i was one of the top drivers and wasnt even on the account.

Now that i got a lot of the worries among other things out of my head i am less tired.

BUMP. Good topic to read.

BUMP. Good topic to read.

Thanks for bumping this thread, it's a great piece of work by the OP. I think this was posted about the time I joined the forum, but the advice given never goes stale.

About expecting drivers to do the unexpected.

I was driving on the Mass Pike (I90) through The Berkshires, at 65, while cars zoomed along at 70 and up, when I noticed I was gaining on the car ahead of me. I looked into my mirror to move left, looked back, only to realize he wasn’t going slower than me, HE WAS STOPPED (or moving very slowly) in the right lane, no brake lights, flashers, nothing.

It was uphill, so apparently he just let off the gas and was coasting yo a stop, right in the middle of the right lane.

I got on the brakes as hard as I dared, and swerved around him. No tine yo even Kay on the horn as I went around, it was that close. He probably has no idea he almost died and got his whole family killed.

Why was he stopped? To look at the two pretty deer on the side of the toad. People do stupid things, expect it.

About expecting drivers to do the unexpected.

I was driving on the Mass Pike (I90) through The Berkshires, at 65, while cars zoomed along at 70 and up, when I noticed I was gaining on the car ahead of me. I looked into my mirror to move left, looked back, only to realize he wasn’t going slower than me, HE WAS STOPPED (or moving very slowly) in the right lane, no brake lights, flashers, nothing.

It was uphill, so apparently he just let off the gas and was coasting yo a stop, right in the middle of the right lane.

I got on the brakes as hard as I dared, and swerved around him. No tine yo even Kay on the horn as I went around, it was that close. He probably has no idea he almost died and got his whole family killed.

Why was he stopped? To look at the two pretty deer on the side of the toad. People do stupid things, expect it.

I had some idiot SWIFT driver stop in the middle of the highway on I95 just north of Richmond. A plastic construction barrel had rolled across the highway and he thought it better to just stop in the middle of the road rather than chance hitting it.

No idea if someone else ended up plowing into his backside.

Does the name of the company really matter, Auggie? Something against Swift? Name a company and I’ll bet I’ve seen a driver do something that didn’t make sense to me at the time either.

I had some idiot SWIFT driver stop in the middle of the highway on I95 just north of Richmond. A plastic construction barrel had rolled across the highway and he thought it better to just stop in the middle of the road rather than chance hitting it.

Perhaps it wasnt his fault at all. Many people talk about the sensors causing a hard brake with the collision avoidance system picking up phantom objects or an overpass. A construction barrel could easily trip that if it was in his way.

I guess I may be ahead of the curve. I had those hard lessons learned here in my first 4 months. Especially w/ that Navi-DON'T GO!

I run marathons for fun, so I have NO problem setting that brake and taking a walk. That's how I maintain my 160lb figure I tell people.

Most of these are mostly common sense, except the GPS thing, but I over-analyze everything and plan ahead so frequently anyway, only because I absolutely HATE surprises and being stuck with a problem if it can be prevented by just taking a little extra time to plan ahead. But I am not stupid. I know most of these will happen to me anyway no matter how much I try to prepare and plan ahead of time.