Rookie Truck Driver Blues

Well my first month on the road solo consisted of 2 wrecks both not my fault and non-preventable.. had someone hit me while i was parked and i had a bed frame fly out of a dumpster on 95 south near jersey.. I feel like my DM is hustling me bc he asks me to jump and i say how high do you need me to jump... I still cant backup very well so i only stop at truck stops if there is wide open places to park which leaves me with showers once every 3 or 4 days and im used to 2 showers a day.. Started gaining that weight everyone does lol not bad though.. last week only came out to around a 1000 miles and I have yet to get a check over $500...

Well thats the end of my rant just need to vent!

Totally normal! You're being very smart by not risking a backing accident by trying to squeeze yourself in between trucks like a pro. Keep that up, park in the back of the truck stop.

Your still very early in your career, it takes a while to start getting the real miles and good money. Just keep your head up and always be a safe and reliable driver with a professional and positive attitude and you'll go far.

Karl, I agree with Daniel.

It is really hard for us to help people understand just how tough it is to get this thing started. I can't tell you how many three and four hundred dollar checks I got at first. When you first get started you are not even on anybody's radar yet. In truth you are just one more rookie driver that your dispatcher fully expects to quit at some point during your first three months. Hang in there and keep at it until they start to realize "hey, this guy means business, I think we can start running him a little harder now"

I'm a little concerned with one thing you stated about the showers. If you aren't pushing very many miles you should have time to get a shower. Is it because you are parking at rest areas? You will never have time for two showers a day, but you should be able to at least shower every other day when you really get rolling.

I like your approach of being extra cautious at the truck stop, but caution doesn't have as it's only option to find somewhere that can't provide a shower. Try looking at the very back row of the truck stops and see if you can find a spot where there are two spots open side by side so that you have more room to swing that trailer without clipping anybody. Don't forget to G.O.A.L. that one step will help keep you safe. You would probably figure me an expert at backing, but I backed into a spot yesterday that I swear I must have set my brakes and climbed out of the truck ten times before I had it in their like I wanted. Slow and easy wins the race. You will have to practice backing if it ever becomes any easier to you.

Hang in there! It will get better, I promise you in about six months you will be praying for a few slow weeks to come your way.

Karl A.; I don't know who you're driving for, but I wouldn't worry about the truck stop thing. We all seem to think every other trucker out there is an expert. NOT. Many of the drivers are just as nervous as you. I agree w/Old School on the parking spots. About the only spots I won't go into are blind side and pull throughs that are so tight you can't make the turn. If you can back in driver side, you need to go for it. You can do pull ups. Let them wait. Why would you need two showers a day? Maybe you're doing flatbed or deliveries?

Bottom line; sometimes rest areas are a good place to stop for the night, less drama and less drama is always good. Hang in there.

About the weight gain;. I saw a driver that parked at the Walmart in Grove City Ohio power walking laps around that huge parking lot. I was impressed. Get creative on excercises and think outside the box. I am hoping to be where you are soon. Your venting helps prepare me for what's to come. So thank you for sharing.

I'm just impressed that your reading so much of this forum that you dug up a 3.5 year old thread!

Arise Necro-thread! It lives! IT LIVES!

I'm just impressed that your reading so much of this forum that you dug up a 3.5 year old thread!

Arise Necro-thread! It lives! IT LIVES!

Thanks for pointing out the Necro-thread thingy! I too am impressed. But here I am complaining about $900 checks & I read this only to realize how lucky I am to be getting the miles I’m getting with 4 months under my belt. So thank you Stephanie K. for the attitude adjustment. Oh & btw, I’m also getting my showers everyday!

I'm just impressed that your reading so much of this forum that you dug up a 3.5 year old thread!

Arise Necro-thread! It lives! IT LIVES!

Hey, some of us read everything, LOL

Bottom line; sometimes rest areas are a good place to stop for the night, less drama and less drama is always good. Hang in there.

I like that idea! How 'bout sleeping in a rest area and showering in the morning at a truck stop when many of the rigs have pulled out? Even if you have to get up earlier to not fall behind on an appointment might do you a world of good. Walking distance to a Starbuck$ even better!

Hoping to have such problems soon!

Hang in their!

I'm just impressed that your reading so much of this forum that you dug up a 3.5 year old thread!

Arise Necro-thread! It lives! IT LIVES!

Thanks for pointing out the Necro-thread thingy! I too am impressed. But here I am complaining about $900 checks & I read this only to realize how lucky I am to be getting the miles I’m getting with 4 months under my belt. So thank you Stephanie K. for the attitude adjustment. Oh & btw, I’m also getting my showers everyday!

I'm my.4th day of TNT training. I'd be pretty happy with a $900 a week check right about now.