I Really Need Advice About My Future

All right here it is... I don't think I'm cut out for trucking... I've only been driving for a year and I don't know what happened...

So, I started with Melton truck lines and when I was driving for them, thing were great! I was already building myself to be a legend with the company... Except... I hated the home time... I stayed with them for only 5 months. Being out months on end and getting only 9 days home... No, couldn't do it. However, exemplary record! No problems! Almost as if I was meant for it...

After leaving Melton I went to my current employer of whom I will not mention... I blew up! Every mistake one can make I have made under this company. The only thing I haven't done is hit anyone... GOD PLEASE DON'T LET ME HIT ANYONE!!!

To give you an idea (I'm 31 by the way)... My entire life I never even so, much as been pulled over by the police... About a month ago, Got a speeding ticket in New York (17 miles over the speed limit)... Yikes!

Dropped trailers twice both times because I didn't back underneath the trailer hard enough... (So, the fifth wheel didn't fully engage) I fixed that problem... After the second one which happened in a yard and was told by an experienced driver what I did wrong, I'm confident that's not an issue anymore. I was over the road when the first one happened... In a peterbilt parking lot...

Even, worse... God forbid if I lose my job... I've driven nothing but, automatics since joining the fleet. My license says I can drive manual but, I can't...

I don't know anymore... I know nothing... My anxiety and stress is increasing and it seems like as my anxiety goes up so, is my likelihood of making mistakes...

The problem with the dropping trailers thing is totally avoidable. Just check those looking jaws every single time.

Just like you said, the more flustered you get, the more mistakes happen. I have the same problem myself. I get all worked up about something and it tumbles out of control. You just have to stop, take a step back, and reassess the situation. Is part of the problem maybe your ego letting you get too comfortable? You said it yourself, you were built for this. Maybe you are, but you can't get complacent. There is a lit of things that can go wrong out here. Focus your mind, button down, face your mistakes like a man, and get through the struggle.

That speeding ticket is definitely a big no-no. But it's just that an a dropped trailer? Your career can survive it I believe. Just move on. Pay attention.

Sometimes mistakes happen in bunches. You just have to push through and have no regrets.

Speeding ticket is bad. Real bad.

As far as the tug test, when i do mine I pull hard and i don't stop until I begin to drag the trailer tires.

Keep your head up and watch your speed.

Dropped trailers twice both times because I didn't back underneath the trailer hard enough... (So, the fifth wheel didn't fully engage) I fixed that problem.

You will fix that problem when you fully realize you didn’t drop the trailer from not backing under it hard enough. You dropped it because you didn’t do a tug test/ check the release handle was in all the way and look with a flash light that the jaws were wrapped completely around the shank of the king pin. This is the only way to prevent It from happening again.

Matt K said: I was already building myself to be a legend with the company...

Matt, what you said about becoming a "legend", might say more than anything about what became your problem. Sounds like overconfidence morphed into carelessness and sloppy habits.

You can fix this, but you need to somehow go back to the beginning and get re-trained or re-train yourself. Right now, you are a danger to yourself and everybody else on the road. Maybe you can start fresh with a major company that has very strict training standards, if you want to salvage your career. Somehow, your training didn't "take". Not too late to figure out a way to get effective training and a better attitude.

Matt, we practice "Tough Love" on this forum. Meaning if you don't "get" the Straight Dope® we lay out for you, you won't learn anything. Please stick around and learn something.

I'll start with

Being out months on end and getting only 9 days home... No, couldn't do it.

I hope you heard and understood the hometime your recruiter mentioned, if he did. Most OTR driving is exactly like you experienced - gone up to a month, and only four or so days home at a time. It something like that. (You earn one day at home for every week your out driving.)

Also it may not have been made clear how to ask for your hometime.

Now for the big flashing red light (on this forum):

Five months with Melton then you bailed. We recommend staying at least 12 months with your first company. Anything less will indicate you might be a job hopper, which most companies will frown upon. Also, you didn't mention it but if Melton helped you finance your truck school, they'll want their money back. Quickly.

I know that people don't retain everything they learn in truck school, and another driver reminded you about checking the kingpin coupling. The first several months that you are on the road by yourself are still a learning experience for you. Stick to it and keep studying.

Bruce replied to Matt...

Matt K said: I was already building myself to be a legend with the company...

Matt, what you said about becoming a "legend", might say more than anything about what became your problem. Sounds like overconfidence morphed into carelessness and sloppy habits.

You can fix this, but you need to somehow go back to the beginning and get re-trained or re-train yourself. Right now, you are a danger to yourself and everybody else on the road. Maybe you can start fresh with a major company that has very strict training standards, if you want to salvage your career. Somehow, your training didn't "take". Not too late to figure out a way to get effective training and a better attitude.

Spot-on Bruce.

Agree with all of it.

Don’t quit Matt...focus and exercise more care. A lot more care...

Get a grip man! Pay attention to the details. No excuse for dropping a trailer due to a bad hook up. Twice? Seriously? Then a 17 mph over the limit speeding ticket? Totally inexcusable under any circumstance. You need to get your head in the game, get the bad and unnecessary crap out of it. Things like “on my way to legendary status”. What a joke! You’re on your way to being labeled as unhireable PDQ if you don’t do a 180 IMMEDIATELY! Not next week. Not tomorrow. NOW. You don’t know nothing yet about being a professional driver. I won’t even get into jumping ship with Melton because Errol already covered that. If you want to actually be a success as a driver, change your ways, or change careers.

When I back under a trailer the first thing I do when I connect is put it in drive and pull. Before I get out of the truck, before I raise the landing gear that way if it's not fully connected I will just drive out and nothing drops. Checking the kingpin connection should be part of the inspection you do on every trailer you connect to. You should also check that connection EVERY time you have left your truck and EVERY time before you take off after your 10s/34s to make sure no joker pulled your pin release. Write a checklist to read and follow if needed or so you dont forget or overlook any steps toward safe operation of your truck.

I mention the checklist simply because of the anxiety causing mistakes. The best way to control the anxiety mistakes is to get into a solid routine and I think a written list for every action can help by eliminating the ability to forget steps. Best of luck to you as you figure out what to do.

Since we're on the topic of making secure tractor/trailer connections, I'd like to mention one little thing about the tug test. Before doing a tug test, raise the landing gear up a few inches. Your going to have to raise it all the way anyhow. That way if you tug and you drag the trailer forward a little bit, you won't damage the landing gear. But should you mess up and drop the trailer, it will only drop a few inches.