Feeling My Company Is Not Helping Me With The Skills I Need.

I am 6 months in and feel my company does not hear me when I ask for help. I am lacking in my speed, down hill I go at 40 mph with flashers, construction I get nervous with Jersy barriers, and now we come to snow.

I know I am new yet should I be driving faster than 58 no when speed limit is 65 mph. My loads are on time yet it takes me longer to get there.

Also I have asked for more training or videos. I love driving and want to get better.

Drive as fast as you feel is safe. That’s all you can do. I been driving 3 years now and jersey barriers still scare the heck out of me. If You been doing this for 6 months and your only concern is your speed then stop worrying. Your doing great. Speed Will come in time. Right now all you want to do is make it all week without screwing up. Turn that cb off and stop listening to all them cry baby's behind you who forgot what it's like to be new. In the snow drive as fast as you think is safe and always slower than the speed limit. You might make less money in the winter but you won't make no money if you slide off the road. I went through that nightmare a few weeks ago where they had 80 car pile ups. I got off the road and took alternative longer routes. I made no money that week but I still have my job for now.

I am 6 months in and feel my company does not hear me when I ask for help. I am lacking in my speed, down hill I go at 40 mph with flashers, construction I get nervous with Jersy barriers, and now we come to snow.

I know I am new yet should I be driving faster than 58 no when speed limit is 65 mph. My loads are on time yet it takes me longer to get there.

Also I have asked for more training or videos. I love driving and want to get better.

Juanita...I think your skills are just fine.

Honestly. I don't see anything your company can help you with, what did you have in mind? Has anyone at your company instructed you to "go faster"? "Sounds-like" that is not the case. You seem to be more concerned with "it", than they are.

I can assure you, they are far more interested in your safe arrival. Although a bit of fear is healthy...just don't let it become a distraction. Over time, experience is the only thing that will give you the confidence necessary to descend more efficiently and navigate through construction zones with less anxiety.

Try not to stress over this.

Sounds like you are doing just great. Remember the speed limit is the maximum speed one can legally go. On most highways the minimum is 45. Below that you must use flashers. Keep the CB off. Go at whatever speed you feel safe at. If that means you are the slowest truck going down the mountain so be it. Most highway lanes are 14 feet wide and the white lines in the road are 10 feet long. Hopefully this will help you some. Just remember to relax and breathe.

When I started out with Swift, in my first few months my speed was slow, too. I'd drive on a "local" road (45 mph, say) at a comfortable speed and when I looked at the speedometer I was actually going 35! As you get more experience driving, you will naturally get more comfortable going faster.

As for down hill, don't call it "fear", call it respect. You do understand the danger of too much speed going down a hill, so be stingy with it! 40mph with flashers allows you to get to know downhill driving. I hope you have learned how the engine retarder ("Jake brakes") helps you control DH speed.

Take in the encouragement of Rubber Duck (Right now all you want to do is make it all week without screwing up. ), G-Town ( Your boss is far more interested in your safe arrival.) And Big Scott (Go at whatever speed you feel safe at.)

I'll remind you Don't be intimidated. After all, you are in front of them, and they can wait or go around if they want. I like to use the phrase "Drive your own Road" for this.

Snow? Yes it can be scary, I still get nervous and extra stingy with my speed. Check out here what I wrote about slick hills: Sleigh Ride (second post down).

Your doing great in my opinion. As the others have said, Drive what you are comfortable with. After 6 years I still get nervous going downhill and in construction.

One additional thing. Sometimes dispatchers can get pushy. Don’t let that happen. You can professionally hold conversations to get your point across when they get too pushy. The bottom line is it is your responsibility to get there safely, not the dispatchers.

Snow, I dislike it very much. Slow down even more and be extra careful. If it is more than you feel safe, park it and notify dispatch. That is your call not theirs. My rule of thumb is if I can not safely maintain 40-45 mph I park it. Below that speed your taking unnecessary risk and burning your clock. Also keep routing in mind. Secondary routes usually get cleaned at a slower pace than interstates.

Keep up the good work and always stay safe

I am 6 months in and feel my company does not hear me when I ask for help. I am lacking in my speed, down hill I go at 40 mph with flashers, construction I get nervous with Jersy barriers, and now we come to snow.

I know I am new yet should I be driving faster than 58 no when speed limit is 65 mph. My loads are on time yet it takes me longer to get there.

Also I have asked for more training or videos. I love driving and want to get better.

I was thinking about your post today and agree 100% what the others have said. If you are comfortable at those speeds keep on doing it. If others are irritated at you they will get over it!! I would much rather have to pass you going 58 than a truck going 63-64. Even Prime Inc can easily pass you so dont let it bother you. I would like to add though, please keep to the right lane. If there are 3-4 lanes usually trucks are limited to the 2 right lanes, stay to the right lane not the 2nd lane as slower drivers in the trucks passing lane makes it hard to get around. Also 40mph downhill with flashers? Better than 0mph in the runaway truck ramp!! 😉