Newbie Trucker

Started with a big multi national company, my first proper driving job, is only a part time position, effectively zero hours contract so need to check in daily or they contact me if there is work. Did my initial safety/orientation training and road check earlier in the year, but only started driving with them in the past week due to them being slow and my own ongoing work commitments.

On Wednesday did a short round trip of about 150 miles with the safety guy in the passenger seat. Loaded trailer on outbound, empty one on return. Thought I did OK with the driving, dock reversing, changing trailers etc, nothing too difficult, included turnpike and mountain driving in fog and rain but no issues.

They asked me to come in the next day for the monthly staff meeting. After the meeting I thought I'd be off home but the boss pointed to a tractor and said hook that up to trailer such and such located in a yard a mile away, come back to have the load checked and then haul it over to a place about 60 miles away! Couldn't believe it, was expecting at least another week or two training!

Here is the importance of a pre trip guys. I looked under the hood and there was evidence that engine oil spewing over the top and middle part of the engine, on the hoses and underside of hood. It was difficult to pinpoint where the leak was but there was no leak under the truck. I struggled to pull out the dipstick cos it was the wire type and was badly twisted and bent. When I got it out uess what, no oil at all showing on the dipstick apart from a clag of oily debris right at the end! Brought to attention of supervisor who thanked me and pointed to another 3 tractors, basically pick one of them!

Everything else went pretty well apart from taking a bit of time reversing in a tight alley dock which held up a few of the guys but got it in there at the end (Iput this down to fatigue), but I stayed a little while to watch how the pros did it, they make it look easy as reversing a car into a regular parking spot yet it took me about 6 attempts, I did better on my CDL test-must improve! Paperwork also a bit overwhelming as well as trying to get head around in cab computers etc, but all in all a really enjoyable, but exhausting day!

Really pleased with myself as its my first proper driving job since I got my CDL A last summer and it's certainly the first time I've ever been trusted to take a truck out on my own. Had some road driving experience in the military 30 years ago but it was very limited. This job really suits me as it's home every night and flexible enough to allow me to continue with other part time job. The pay is $20 an hour and includes other benefits, not bad for this part of the world!

Looking forward to my next adventure, hope they have something for me on Monday!

Great to hear you did a proper pre trip! That definitely would have been a costly repair. Thorough Pretrips are always important but when your driving a different truck i feel it's even more important. Unfortunately many drivers don't even do their inspections when slip seating because they think the next guy will and have any repairs taken care of. I've seen some guys for other companies that rent spaces at same yard as us not even get out of their truck while logging their pre/post trip! This isn't a problem with the guys I slipseat with but I've heard from drivers with other companies they deal with it frequently. As far as your backing goes don't worry about it. You didn't hit anything and you got it in, that's all that matters. If it takes you 2 minutes, or 2 hours as long as you don't hit anything you were successful. Sure it may be embarrassing or stressful, but not as embarrassing as hitting Something. Great work!

Thanks, its a really great job, so much to learn but I will never ever get complacent. Got a call at lunchtime today, got a 6pm start till finish run all week, about a 280 mile round trip, but almost all turnpike so hopefully not too bad. Really looking forward to it, right now I would work for free just to build up experience, best not tell my employer that though!

Great to hear you did a proper pre trip! That definitely would have been a costly repair. Thorough Pretrips are always important but when your driving a different truck i feel it's even more important. Unfortunately many drivers don't even do their inspections when slip seating because they think the next guy will and have any repairs taken care of. I've seen some guys for other companies that rent spaces at same yard as us not even get out of their truck while logging their pre/post trip! This isn't a problem with the guys I slipseat with but I've heard from drivers with other companies they deal with it frequently. As far as your backing goes don't worry about it. You didn't hit anything and you got it in, that's all that matters. If it takes you 2 minutes, or 2 hours as long as you don't hit anything you were successful. Sure it may be embarrassing or stressful, but not as embarrassing as hitting Something. Great work!