I Screwed Up

I love the zip tie idea. I have some in the truck I'm going to go out and do it in the dark LOL. I carry a spare in my billfold but I know one of these days I'll jump out and it'll be sitting on my Dash. My second week on the road by myself I was coming out of Omaha on my way to Indianapolis and I called my daughter to tell her we were on for dinner in Iowa City would see her in 4 hours. All of a sudden my Qualcomm pinged saying I had one hour left. I thought this can't be, I just took my 30 minute break. Never occurred to me about my 70 hours. Never came up during training even though we talked about it and we talked about it in CDL School. When I looked at my summary I just shook my head and said what a dumb ass....called my daughter and said sorry honey no dinner tonight. It never occurred to me why they gave me a run with an extra day? Because the load planners look at your clock.... even though this stupid rookie was totally clueless about it SMH.

Splitter- sorry to hear about your bump in the road. Isn't that the truth, one day I'm on top of it, and the next day, my setup on backings is a disaster and you feel like everyone is looking at you. I delivered at a Walmart Distribution Center yesterday. I must have done five or six Pull-Ups and was sure all the drivers were laughing at me? The guy in the truck next to me when I finally got it in looked at me and nodded. He actually made my day. I took his nod as saying I've been there pal.

Some drivers are nice some are jerks but all are happy when they see a struggling newbie who doesnt hit them.

lol

Today was one of my most challenging days. I got minor food poisoning I believe. Had to stop several times with great distress. It was windy as hell my trailer was blowing all over and when I got to my delivery it was the first time I had to deal with a small facility. Checked in with the shipping office and they told me to put it in the yard and wait till they called me. The only way for me to park it was to do a Blind Side. And I suck at that. After numerous get out and looks. Another trucker was pulling in. I walked over to him and told him I was new and he said do a u-turn in the yard. I said I don't think I can and he said I've done this many times and there is room just be careful. And I did it with three or four more goals. And I'll be darned I put it right in. Then I got the call to go to Dock one... of course one of the employees had their vehicles in the way. And it took me a good 15 minutes to get in there. what did I learn about this experience? Was I watched a lot of experienced drivers do the goal. Even though I am amazed how good some are at backing. There still is that thing called goal.

Sorry to hear of your bump but betting you learned from it. I had to wait on a guy today at the TA down off the 10 around Colton, Ca, bet he did 10 GOAL’s, and from where I sat, couldn’t understand why the extra 4 or 5, and yea I was in a hurry to leave, and I may have griped, but I thought no less of him for being cautious, until that is after 30 minutes of backing into the spot, nearly 3/4 of the way in, he pulls out, pulls up to me complaining about not getting any help n drives off.... now me being a rookie still training, it kind of threw me, so I pulled up to where he was trying and I still 4 hours later can’t figure out what the issue was or what help he needed. It was a normal sized space, both sides had parked correctly, and he was pretty much in the hole, but after 30 minutes felt he was rushed.... key here, take breath, relax a second, and use the mirrors and goals till you get the job done! Don’t let yourself feel or get rushed, that’s how those little accidents happen! And don’t feel bad about your little light bender, just remember it and learn from it. You got this! Stay safe.

No one got hurt, the headlight can be replaced, seems you did everything by the book, learn from it and move on