Experienced Drivers: How Do You Drive During Big City Rush Hour Traffic On A Major Freeway?

In heavy traffic what I don't do is tailgate and try to keep people from merging in front of me. I try to keep the truck in a gear that keeps me between 1000 & 1200 rpm. I stay at least two full truck/ trailer lengths from the vehicle in front of me so I don't have to keep hitting the breaks. I rely on the gears to slow me down in my cushion instead of breaking. And I'll use jakes.

As long as I can keep up with the flow of traffic I stay the hell out of the far right lane to avoid merging traffic.

Lastly I try to predict what others are doing around me by watching the person driving the vehicles around me. Front, side and behind. I look for hands near the turn signals or rapid looks in a side mirror that indicates a possible lane change. I look for people texting or reading and allow extra room for their not paying attention. (In heavy traffic this is very common)

Yeah just do whatever makes you feel safe. If he doesn't like it, so be it. Just do like my Grandpa used to do to my Grandma - she'd give him h*ll about doing something like climbing on the roof and he'd smile and say, "Yes dear" and then he'd go and do what he wanted to anyways.

There are going to be a million things out there on the road every single day that will aggravate you. You have to be able to keep a calm, clear mind and not let your emotions take over. So just look at your instructor as one more aggravation you have to learn to ignore. It's good practice. The more you do it the better you'll get at it.

And whatever you do, don't bother arguing with him. Just say "ok" and then do whatever you feel comfortable doing. He can jump up and down, cry like a baby, or call you names - who cares? Ignore it and just keep driving the same way you will when someone cuts you off, tailgates you, flips you the bird, or pulls out in front of you. That's life. It's going to happen all the time. Look at your instructor as just one more challenge life is throwing at you and learn to handle it well.

I think there is the possibility that some trainers like to train for the wrong reasons.

I would prefer a trainer who is interested in training for the extra money, rather than a trainer who is training to boost their ego or impress other people.

I actually had one trainer tell me that I couldn't exceed 4 minutes on any bathroom visit.

I looked him straight in the eye and responded, "I will start eating a can of pitted prunes everyday then."

He just gave me that same high strung look again.

If it helps my trainer did the same thing to me...

But he took me through Austin Tx on a Sat. 5pm (5 days after getting my CDL)..... learning to downshift in traffic is a must! Just remember... you will only be on his truck for a few weeks and then you are on your own...... some of these trainers has been doing it for years and they want to help build you confidence up in traffic for having to react quickly...

When I got on the truck with my trainer I was told....... (you're going love this)...... He said to me... " I am a driver trainer.... Im not your instructor, teacher or friend.. Im here to make sure you can drive the truck safely and not kill me or someone else... This is my truck, welcome aboard, if you **** me off you are off my truck!"

For a second I thought I was back in boot camp ..

Longest 3 weeks I had to go through.... He liked Elvis and Nascar.... every freaking day... same old BS... to top it off..... he would sit in the passenger seat... talking on his cell phone... he would sit there and "POP" his dentures, pulled them out and asked me if I think he should brush them...

Luckly.... he was clean... showered on a regular basis (everyday)..