This transcript is dedicated to all of the drivers out there who were not fortunate enough to have had a mentor bring them into the job of "truck driver" and teach them the little things that only time and experience allows us to learn.
Whether you went to a driving school, picked it up on your own or was taught by someone who hadn't experienced them yet, you just haven't received all the knowledge you need to be as safe as you can be.
I have encountered many of you running up and down the same roads I've been traveling.
I started my trucking career in 1961 in what was considered an average truck of that day.
A Cabover GMC [better known as a "Cracker Box Jimmie"] with a 5 speed trans, two speed axle and a 238 Detroit engine.
Top speed was 72 mph as was most trucks at that time, although you had to have a good tail wind to get it there.
It was equipped with "72 air conditioning", that is run 70 mph and roll down 2 windows, plus "armstrong" power steering, no air ride anything, no "Jake" brake, no cruise control or power windows and an am radio.
[love the good old days] You really had to have a desire to be a "Truck Driver" then, and thanks to the expert driver that took me under his wing and taught me everything he had learned from his dad and uncle that would keep me safe my whole career, I can now pass that knowledge on to you in hopes that it will keep someone be as safe as they can be.
I have had the opportunity to drive the best and the worst that this industry has to offer.
From two stick Macks to Pete's with 425 Cats,15 over and 370 rears.
From coast to coast and border to border, from mostly 2 lane highways to expressways and I still haven't seen it all.
Over 5,000,000 miles and counting without a chargeable accident, but I don't kid myself, cause that could change in a heartbeat.
So now I'll pass some of this on to you.
1.
Attitude This is probably the biggest tell tail sign between a professional and just a steering wheel holder.
Here is where other people get their first impression of you, your company and your outlook on life.
If you are always confrontational, angry, using fowl language, using aggressive driving tactics and being inconsiderate of others, you need to take a long look at a career change or a serious attitude adjustment because your career is going to plagued with accidents, employment problems and less income than you deserve.
Driving is a full time job, and even though most of us have multi-tasking abilities, you should limit distractions.
that phone call can possibly wait until your stopped or the song on the radio doesn't have to be turned so loud you can't hear the fire truck coming up behind you.
Remember, you're responsible for that 80,000 lb killing machine and even though you may not think so, you're probably right on the edge of losing control.
1.
-A.
, Not everyone is out there to make your day miserable, even though it may seem that way.
Car drivers, in general, don't have a clue what it takes to handle your truck.
Try and think back when you only had your car driving experience, before you new anything about a truck.
That's how most of them see your job, just setting there in your nice air ride seat cruising down the road.
They don't understand that you can't maintain your speed going up hill or that it takes a long time to get your speed back when your slowed abruptly for no good reason or that you can't "stop on a dime" just because you have more axles.
It's hard to believe that these things are not at the front of their mind when they find themselves in traffic with us but they have things going on in their lives that take president so we,as "professionals" need to except the fact that we have to drive defensively so that all make it back home safely.
1.
-B.
, COURTESY, This goes along with attitude.
It's the biggest tell of a professional.
If you are not courteous to other drivers, car and truck, you are not a professional.
I shouldn't have to list all of the don'ts here but one has become a real problem.
Dim your lights and turn off your fog/driving lights when in traffic.
Most states have laws about this but it seems that they are not enforced anymore.
A few hours of the added glare from this practice adds a lot of unnecessary eye strain to the rest of us.
Remember--"Courtesy is Contagious" 2.
Safe Driving Practices I'm not going to critique anyone's driving, what I will do is give you a few gems your driving instructor probably didn't pass on to you whoever he may have been.
I have used these for so long that they are automatic responses and should be that to you also.
Practice makes perfect.
A.
Drive with your attention on the 5th vehicle in front of you.
React to what he does and you will never get caught off guard.
If his brake lights com on, get off the gas and be poised to apply brake if necessary.
By reacting to his driving you are ahead of the reaction time of the first 2 cars in front of you and will be able to avoid a crash 99% of the time [there is always the one you can't be prepared for no matter what] but this gives you the best edge in traffic.
plus you will be seeing all the traffic between you and that 5th vehicle and will be aware of any change in traffic flow.
This is the #1 rule that has kept me out of other people's accidents yet seems to be the least passed on.
After a while the distance becomes automatic and you don't have to count the vehicles plus you should already be leaving a good distance between you and the traffic your following.
Take this one to heart, Please.
B.
Staying Alert.
This is pretty obvious but there are some tricks that help.
1.
Keep your eyes moving.
Don't focus on the road ahead or the trailer that your following for long periods.
This causes what they used to call "Highway Hypnosis" and will cause you to fall asleep before you realize it's happening.
Keep looking in your mirrors or the scenery, if It's dark you may need to stop and walk around your truck while getting a few breaths of fresh air.
If you just can't seem to stay awake even though you have lots of time left to drive, climb into the bunk and take a short nap [20 minutes or so] and your eyes will feel much better.
2.
Watch what you eat and when.
A lot of people are not aware that the body deals with carbohydrates differently and can cause you to get intensely sleepy about 30 minutes after eating.
This can hit you even though you may only be a few hours into your driving period.
Use the nap break above to overcome this problem.
Don't go longer than30 minutes though or you could feel worse than before the nap.
These two are very important and will help you stay awake and alert when your on a tight schedule.
C.
Drive in the right lane, pass on the left.
This old rule is still good today but is hardly ever followed on a 3 lane highway.
Most of us want to avoid the ramp traffic so we drive in the second lane.
This makes others try to pass on the right and fight the ramp traffic while passing Causing a little "Road Rage" sometimes.
Remember, "COURTESY" D.
Go down big long hills in the same gear you came up it in.
This still works today even with more powerful engines and Jake brakes.
E.
Slow down on winter roads.
This is so fundamental but some people still don't do it.
Let me give you something to think about.
You may have enough traction at your drive tires to run say 60 but when you try to turn through a curve the truck continues straight or the drives break loose when your part way through the turn.
This happens because the truck naturally wants to go straight and the only thing that is causing it to turn is the two small patches of front tire.
if they don't have enough purchase on the snow or ice to make that happen you continue straight.
If they do have the grip your drives may not have enough traction to muscle the trailer to turn and that will cause a jackknife.
This can happen in a blink of an eye.
If you break traction while climbing, drop gears until the wheels stop spinning and you can feather the gas to keep moving even at part throttle.
What I have given you is not all by any means but it will give you a good start on a safe and rewarding career.
"Keep the dirty side down and the shiny side up"-- from your friend at http://www.
TakeBackControl.
us
Whether you went to a driving school, picked it up on your own or was taught by someone who hadn't experienced them yet, you just haven't received all the knowledge you need to be as safe as you can be.
I have encountered many of you running up and down the same roads I've been traveling.
I started my trucking career in 1961 in what was considered an average truck of that day.
A Cabover GMC [better known as a "Cracker Box Jimmie"] with a 5 speed trans, two speed axle and a 238 Detroit engine.
Top speed was 72 mph as was most trucks at that time, although you had to have a good tail wind to get it there.
It was equipped with "72 air conditioning", that is run 70 mph and roll down 2 windows, plus "armstrong" power steering, no air ride anything, no "Jake" brake, no cruise control or power windows and an am radio.
[love the good old days] You really had to have a desire to be a "Truck Driver" then, and thanks to the expert driver that took me under his wing and taught me everything he had learned from his dad and uncle that would keep me safe my whole career, I can now pass that knowledge on to you in hopes that it will keep someone be as safe as they can be.
I have had the opportunity to drive the best and the worst that this industry has to offer.
From two stick Macks to Pete's with 425 Cats,15 over and 370 rears.
From coast to coast and border to border, from mostly 2 lane highways to expressways and I still haven't seen it all.
Over 5,000,000 miles and counting without a chargeable accident, but I don't kid myself, cause that could change in a heartbeat.
So now I'll pass some of this on to you.
1.
Attitude This is probably the biggest tell tail sign between a professional and just a steering wheel holder.
Here is where other people get their first impression of you, your company and your outlook on life.
If you are always confrontational, angry, using fowl language, using aggressive driving tactics and being inconsiderate of others, you need to take a long look at a career change or a serious attitude adjustment because your career is going to plagued with accidents, employment problems and less income than you deserve.
Driving is a full time job, and even though most of us have multi-tasking abilities, you should limit distractions.
that phone call can possibly wait until your stopped or the song on the radio doesn't have to be turned so loud you can't hear the fire truck coming up behind you.
Remember, you're responsible for that 80,000 lb killing machine and even though you may not think so, you're probably right on the edge of losing control.
1.
-A.
, Not everyone is out there to make your day miserable, even though it may seem that way.
Car drivers, in general, don't have a clue what it takes to handle your truck.
Try and think back when you only had your car driving experience, before you new anything about a truck.
That's how most of them see your job, just setting there in your nice air ride seat cruising down the road.
They don't understand that you can't maintain your speed going up hill or that it takes a long time to get your speed back when your slowed abruptly for no good reason or that you can't "stop on a dime" just because you have more axles.
It's hard to believe that these things are not at the front of their mind when they find themselves in traffic with us but they have things going on in their lives that take president so we,as "professionals" need to except the fact that we have to drive defensively so that all make it back home safely.
1.
-B.
, COURTESY, This goes along with attitude.
It's the biggest tell of a professional.
If you are not courteous to other drivers, car and truck, you are not a professional.
I shouldn't have to list all of the don'ts here but one has become a real problem.
Dim your lights and turn off your fog/driving lights when in traffic.
Most states have laws about this but it seems that they are not enforced anymore.
A few hours of the added glare from this practice adds a lot of unnecessary eye strain to the rest of us.
Remember--"Courtesy is Contagious" 2.
Safe Driving Practices I'm not going to critique anyone's driving, what I will do is give you a few gems your driving instructor probably didn't pass on to you whoever he may have been.
I have used these for so long that they are automatic responses and should be that to you also.
Practice makes perfect.
A.
Drive with your attention on the 5th vehicle in front of you.
React to what he does and you will never get caught off guard.
If his brake lights com on, get off the gas and be poised to apply brake if necessary.
By reacting to his driving you are ahead of the reaction time of the first 2 cars in front of you and will be able to avoid a crash 99% of the time [there is always the one you can't be prepared for no matter what] but this gives you the best edge in traffic.
plus you will be seeing all the traffic between you and that 5th vehicle and will be aware of any change in traffic flow.
This is the #1 rule that has kept me out of other people's accidents yet seems to be the least passed on.
After a while the distance becomes automatic and you don't have to count the vehicles plus you should already be leaving a good distance between you and the traffic your following.
Take this one to heart, Please.
B.
Staying Alert.
This is pretty obvious but there are some tricks that help.
1.
Keep your eyes moving.
Don't focus on the road ahead or the trailer that your following for long periods.
This causes what they used to call "Highway Hypnosis" and will cause you to fall asleep before you realize it's happening.
Keep looking in your mirrors or the scenery, if It's dark you may need to stop and walk around your truck while getting a few breaths of fresh air.
If you just can't seem to stay awake even though you have lots of time left to drive, climb into the bunk and take a short nap [20 minutes or so] and your eyes will feel much better.
2.
Watch what you eat and when.
A lot of people are not aware that the body deals with carbohydrates differently and can cause you to get intensely sleepy about 30 minutes after eating.
This can hit you even though you may only be a few hours into your driving period.
Use the nap break above to overcome this problem.
Don't go longer than30 minutes though or you could feel worse than before the nap.
These two are very important and will help you stay awake and alert when your on a tight schedule.
C.
Drive in the right lane, pass on the left.
This old rule is still good today but is hardly ever followed on a 3 lane highway.
Most of us want to avoid the ramp traffic so we drive in the second lane.
This makes others try to pass on the right and fight the ramp traffic while passing Causing a little "Road Rage" sometimes.
Remember, "COURTESY" D.
Go down big long hills in the same gear you came up it in.
This still works today even with more powerful engines and Jake brakes.
E.
Slow down on winter roads.
This is so fundamental but some people still don't do it.
Let me give you something to think about.
You may have enough traction at your drive tires to run say 60 but when you try to turn through a curve the truck continues straight or the drives break loose when your part way through the turn.
This happens because the truck naturally wants to go straight and the only thing that is causing it to turn is the two small patches of front tire.
if they don't have enough purchase on the snow or ice to make that happen you continue straight.
If they do have the grip your drives may not have enough traction to muscle the trailer to turn and that will cause a jackknife.
This can happen in a blink of an eye.
If you break traction while climbing, drop gears until the wheels stop spinning and you can feather the gas to keep moving even at part throttle.
What I have given you is not all by any means but it will give you a good start on a safe and rewarding career.
"Keep the dirty side down and the shiny side up"-- from your friend at http://www.
TakeBackControl.
us
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