So You Want To Drive A Big Rig

WHY DID I WRITE THIS BOOK?

Over the years as a truck driver and a trainer I have learned some not so common, common sense approaches to truck driving.  Once you know these things you think that’s so simple why didn’t I think of that. 

As an instructor the most common statement I heard from potential drivers was, “It’s not driving forward I am worried about.  It’s the backing up”.  Then break that statement down to, “you know how to make the truck go backward so what really bothers you?” 

The answer becomes basically two concerns.  “I am afraid I am going to hit something and I’m not sure what kind of a back to do.”

I will try to help the new drivers sort out the answers to these

basic concerns and maybe you experienced drivers can pick up

something from my experiences or relate to them.

I hope you enjoy reading about what you intend to do, or do professionally.

If there is one thing I have learned in my years of driving it is this.  “You can learn something about driving every day and you will never know it all.”

A good comment I heard on the CB when I was starting and that has stuck with me and seems like good advice is,”If you think you know it all it’s time for you to quit!”

Let’s start by talking about backing up because that seems to be the main skill separator between experienced and inexperienced drivers.

I have heard on the CB people asking if there are any parking spots in a truck stop.  The answer comes back where it is with the comment,” but you have to be a good backer to get in”

When I first started driving I would not stay in a truck stop.  Do you think I was going to embarrass myself by backing in front of all those experienced truck drivers who knew how to back?  No way!  Now after my skills have improved it’s kind of fun to pop a 90 in some tight spot that some truckers in front of you have passed by. 

I like to say there are 8 types of backs and they can be classified as follows: