I'm faced with an unusual issue--I've got to do my own progress evaluation. After reading about the top 10 rookie mistakes, I figured I could get help here!
The problem is that, being a newbie, I don't have a frame of reference for when I've "got it" enough for it to be acceptable. I can keep it on the road safely, turn, dock, and manage my space pretty well IMHO---but that's the problem: what if my own opinion isn't seasoned???
Question: How do I go about figuring out when I'm "ready" to go solo? No, before anyone asks, my trainers have provided NO feedback...other than helping me leave a job!!
Now, before I even apply to my new job, I need to know what it is that I've got to offer my new company. I'm still basically a new graduate, but I've got a few weeks of actual road time under my belt. Heck, I've even maneuvered through a couple of traffic jams without hitting anyone! :shock:
Any help here will be deeply and desperately appreciated. ops:
Jewels

 

As long as you can move their freight safely,efficiently and deliver on time, you are already way ahead of the other drivers out there.

 

That's probably true! :lol:
but I don't want to be out there driving on "attitude" 8) . I want my skills to be solid.
I guess what I'm having trouble with is knowing that I'm still prone to making newbie mistakes. Is there some objective, outside-of-my-limited-experience standard by which I could judge for myself? It feels sort of ridiculous to be out there "pretending" while operating what's been called an "80,000 pound missile" with so little preparation. I like me. I also feel a certain obligation to the other motorists with whom I'll be sharing the road, an obligation to be the best driver I can possibly be.
Standards? Measurements I could check? I've actually already got my cdl, but no one still believes that that means I really know how to be a "truck driver". Well on my way, yes, but not where I'd need to be in order to be paid!

 

We are all prone to make mistakes, we are humans and mistakes are going to happen. The key is not to make the "big" mistakes (rolling, rear ending someone, backing up and hitting something). The big mistakes are the easiest to avoid, but the little mistakes are going to happen (missing a turn, going the wrong direction). The little mistakes can lead to big mistakes though, you have to be patient and take your time. "The risk taker is the accident maker". Just keep it slow, give yourself plenty of stopping room and get out and look when your backing.

The only way to develop driving skills is thru experience. Don't take chances, take your time and pay attention to what you are doing. Once you get a good feel or your truck and what it can do you will feel more comfortable, but always respect your "80,000 pound missile" cause when you don't it will bite you. Ask questions. Contrary to what people think of truckers, we will help other drivers. I have had several drivers ask me about how to slide their tandems and how to get it to scale out correctly, and I will help them when ever I can. When I was new, I was in their shoes asking other drivers the same exact question. it will all come to you in time. Their are no real secrets to being a good driver, you just have to use common sense and you will be fine.

 

If you were so confident that you felt you could do the job and never make a mistake then I would be worried......actually I would be scared to death of sharing the road with you and it would not matter if you had 6 weeks or 60 years experience.

Every day you are out there your skills will improve, and as long as you feel comfortable enough to avoid the biggies like running over somebody and can get it into the dock without it taking 2 hours then you should be OK.

 

Unless you have something to compare to you can't evaluate yourself. Even if you had 3 trainers evaluate your progress you'd probably get three different perspectives. Everyone learns at different rates and progresses at different time frames. It sounds like you're making this way more difficult than you need to.

Can you drive the truck from point A to point B?
Do you practice good defensive driving techniques?
Do you know how to make sure the truck is safe to drive?
Can you perform basic maneuvers?

Driving isn't rocket science. You will continue to learn as your career progresses. Take the basics you already know and go out there and have fun, and be safe. And, try to learn as much as you can from seasoned drivers along the way. Don't make this harder than it needs to be.

 

Do you feel safe in your own ability? Are you running cars off the road? If you can back in somewhere and not hit anything or have people giving you the finger on a daily basis then you must not be doing too bad. Just remember that when you think you know it all then it is time to hang the keys on the pegboard and go home.

 

Even after being gone a year from the board, I see Uturn still has much wisdom to share ( as did the others that responed to your post ). Like they said; " if you can avoid the big stuff. the smaller things will come with experence ". We were ALL in your shoes at one time ( tho some seem to think they were born with a steering wheel in their hands ). :lol:

 

As with all trade skills...you must be always honing your skills. If you don't do this job for any length of time...you will loose a certain amount of competence, although it is easier to regain. Point being...you simply must be "doing" the job.

As with all careers, it is an ongoing learning process. No matter how long you work in a profession, you always will have new things to learn and understand. The business is always evolving around you, as well. A healthy business and career will always grow.

Burn-out is around 20 years. I left Construction after 25 years.

 

I soooo love this place!! ops:
I've, once again, copied and pasted your answers to a document called "Real Training Help". Now, I can go back and read it as often as I please!

I needed to hear that you'd been in my place, once. I don't feel quite so bad, anymore. And I needed to hear that it was okay to take things slowly until I got stable in my skills.
I appreciate the four questions...I stood up next to them and felt good about where I stood with them.
My confidence was a bit shaken after the training session from Hades, but somehow, this reached me where I needed it.
Feedback---finally!!!! :P
Jewels