Update

Hey! Time to update your status on your profile. You're no longer a rookie driver!

Great post!thanks for sharing your experiences.

Thank you for the positive feedback!

I thought about changing my status. Truth be told, I still consider myself a rookie. Although I have pulled off some amazing feats, in my own eyes, I still feel I lack some confidence at times to call myself experienced. Well, maybe you're right. Experienced is probably accurate, EXPERT would be more of what I am working for. I like to master things I am passionate about. I am passionate about trucking, but am no master. I've heard it said after a year you can call yourself a real trucker. Well, I guess we're all real truckers once we get out there and start doing the job. But, after ten years, one could call theirself an expert, perhaps. I mean, I drop and hook at least twice, sometimes more, per day. There is some skill involved in not getting stuck in the ice or mud and getting hooked and getting that trailer out of the hole. Experienced, yes. Expert... not quite there yet, but I am working on it.

I have only recently gotten to the point I can get in a strange truck and feel confident. Day cabs, mid-sized, "western" configurations where the 5th wheel is slid farther back, and the turning radius of the tractor, where the tandems are positioned, all those things make a difference. Driving is not always the same as the cascadia with an empty trailer and the tandems all the way forward. But I am lucky to have to take the same turn, for instance, on the road to the fuel stop in the morning, with different trucks and configurations at times, so I have learned the differences and what to expect. A shorter truck actually is more difficult to get around a corner because the trailer starts coming around sooner, where a longer truck the trailer follows it more and takes a tighter turn easier.

My truck is in the shop today, so I've had some extra time to peruse the site while having my morning coffee. That's one reason I guess I don't visit as much as I should, I tend to spend many hours on here when I do visit. But, it's not so bad. I get a little under half a regular days pay when I have to stay home, and I just got a good bonus so it's not going to hurt as much. They recently doubled the layover pay at the company. I get to let my son sleep in a couple more hours before I take him to school. And, honestly, I need to mow the yard, change the oil in the personal vehicles, and let's not even get into housework! I may be home every day, but it's like GuyJax said in another thread, that time home is basically your rest period, and since I drive an hour to the terminal and an hour back, in rush hour traffic both ways, I don't get a lot done when I am home, I am usually too tired, and work 6 days most weeks.

Wow, I am rambling!

Well, in short, if Brett says I am an experienced driver now, I will change it. He's got enough experience that I trust his opinion.

Thanks for updating us, and it's great to hear from you! I agree with you concerning the contrast of experience and expert. So many drivers out here tend to think they are experts, but most of us are still developing whether we acknowledge that or not.

Thanks, Old School! I have always respected your input and enjoyed reading about your experiences. Honestly, I think about you a lot when I see a flatbed. I don't have any experience with flatbedding, except the online company training courses I have done about it. So, where I am familiar with some of the regulations and how it's done, and am a big fan of Ice Road Truckers, I have no actual experience. You, sir, in my opinion, are a REAL trucker, dealing with flatbed trailers. That picture of you rolling up a tarp in bad weather, is a good summation of the mental picture I get when I think of you and flatbed trucking. I'd like to think I could do it, but deep down do I WANT to? I have it easy, I admit, but I kinda like not having to deal with reefers anymore, or flatbed trailers, and the extra time and attention necessary to spend on load securement. But, I feel I am still new to the industry, with only 2 years experience, and who knows what the future will hold. I know it's foolish, but someday I would like to own my own rig and do it the old school way. Someday when I am out of debt, my son has grown, and who knows, maybe he and I can live the American dream, together, but even if not, it's a possibility, a dream of my own.

Hi ButtonUp, it was great to read about your experiences over the last 2 years of driving! I am just getting started and as I said before, I am excited and freaked out at the same time. The folks around me have mixed reactions when I tell them what I am about to do but are by and large supportive. Doesn't matter whether they are or aren't because I have always marched to the beat of a drummer no one else could hear! Anyway, I do hope you stop by more often as time allows because you do have good insight to share.

Hey it's always great hearing from ya ButtonUp! We definitely appreciate you taking the time to come by and help out the new drivers with much-needed advice and stories of your experiences. That's always a huge help!

I'm also glad to hear things are still rolling along nicely for ya. Like everyone you've had some bumps in the road and also some great times. You've even gone above and beyond by getting in the path of a tornado. Now that's a hardcore trucker!

Seriously though I'm obviously thrilled to hear you came out of that ok. I've been in one but I was in a fully loaded tanker so I was able to hold the road ok. Lucky for sure.

Hello!

I'm excited and freaked out for you, in a good way! ;-)

There's a lot of days I think back to being a student. It's like high school, I guess. It seems like it will never end, but then the next thing you know you've graduated and it's time for the 20 yr reunion!

I do appreciate the feedback. I tend to ramble a lot, though. I know there's a few people on here that I get on their nerves, whether they admit it or not. But, deep down, I hope to convey some unique stuff, as my ultimate goal.

When I was getting ready to leave for CDL school, I didn't post anything on here, but I read the blogs and some posts A LOT, before and after I got there. I have never talked to Old School before this post, that I can recollect, but he's been a kind of mentor to me through my whole experience, by reading what he had to share. It's like that with many of the users here. If I can help, or inspire others in the same way... well, that's what I am trying to do.

And, as strange as it may seem to myself, I am a product of how this site and its community can help others. I had a low point in school where I didn't know if I could pull it off. I had so much riding on it, as so many others do. But, I re-read the blogs on this site (there are more now!), put my foot down, and got to work. Passing that test on my second try was a great personal triumph, and this site helped motivate me... helped me motivate myself.

If there's anything I could help with, or any question to be asked, please feel free to send a personal message through the site if I don't respond quickly. The weeks and months go by quickly, and it's possible I may not visit the site again for a while once things get back to normal.

It sounds like you've got a plan, and are proceeding with confidence. Like Brett says, or, at least what I think he's said, lol, trucking is what you make it. There's going to be bad days, but... how you deal with it is the key. It's just like anything else. In sales, there's slow days, difficult customers. Cooking... bad ingredients. Bad lumber if you're building something? Got to deal and move on. It makes us stronger, and more capable, adaptable, skilled individuals...

Too much coffee! (Never!)

Hey it's always great hearing from ya ButtonUp! We definitely appreciate you taking the time to come by and help out the new drivers with much-needed advice and stories of your experiences. That's always a huge help!

Thanks, Brett! That means a lot to me.

I'm also glad to hear things are still rolling along nicely for ya. Like everyone you've had some bumps in the road and also some great times. You've even gone above and beyond by getting in the path of a tornado. Now that's a hardcore trucker!

Well, it wasn't very smart. I should have pulled over. There was a rest area about 2 miles up the road, but... I didn't make it. Honestly, my biggest problem is dealing with winter driving. I haven't had any accidents or anything, but... well, for instance, one day I was heading back to the terminal , but the weather was so bad I was driving 25-35 the whole way. The left side of the road was totally buried, and I was as right as I could get without driving off the shoulder into the snow covered ditch. A truck passed me and took my mirror with it. I started to chase him down, but then a split second later I reminded myself why I wasn't driving faster. Other drivers have told me I probably shouldn't have been on the road if it was that bad. I don't know, under the conditions I think I was doing exactly what was right. This new truck I am in has even less visibility, and to be honest, I am sweating this winter.

Seriously though I'm obviously thrilled to hear you came out of that ok. I've been in one but I was in a fully loaded tanker so I was able to hold the road ok. Lucky for sure.

Don't think I've heard about that, obviously glad you're ok! Sometimes it can't be avoided.