[dwatson4]

maybe it should be top 25 but lets start with 10 : )

[Mackman]

#1 doing the L/O deal with C.R. England :lol:

[Blind Driver]

#2 working too cheap and staying out too long (Werner)

[terrylamar]

In no particular order:

1. Taking turns too fast for your load.
2. Not setting the parking brake.
3. Getting in and out of the truck improperly.
4. Not turning wide enough for your trailer.
5. Not keeping centered in your lane.
6. Not keeping your log books up to date.
7. Missing weigh stations.
8. Forgetting to go back to low range when stopping then taking off again.
9. Replacing the off side diesel nozzle after fueling.
10. Driving on restricted roads.

I might have done one or two of these, certainly not all!

[solo379]

Pretending to be something, you are not....yet!

[stevedb28]

blind backing when you dont have to, just turn around to sight side

[Uturn2001]

IMHO the NUMBER ! rookie mistake is:

Not learning how to say NO!.

Dispatchers will try to trick you, con you, lie to you, lay on a guilt trip, etc to try to get you to do something illegal.

[inmate1577]

Letting yourself being intimidated by some "Billy BigRigger"
such as trying to get into a parking space and some "BBR" is giving you crap over the radio. What "BRB" isnt telling you is that it took him 6 pull ups to get into his space but no one saw him do it.

Another mistake is not asking a dock foreman what is the best way to get into his dock, what might look right to you might not work in all situations.

Driving too fast for conditions to get a load in on time. Nothing you haul and I mean absolutely NOTHING is worth your life or someone elses. The world wont stop if WalMart doesnt get its paper plates.

Driving while tired. Caffeine, energy drinks, sugar snacks, etc etc do not stop exhaustion, if you are tired pull off to a safe area and take a nap. Many people dont realize how much energy you can gain back just by taking a 20 min cat nap.

Asking for help. If you are lost, dont continue to drive and drive hoping that maybe around the next corner will be your destination. Ask a cab driver, a gas station attendant, a garbageman or a cop and if worse comes to worse pull over, look at your directions get your mapbook and THINK and if you still cant get your bearings, call the local police business line for directions. Cops are pretty helpful in that regard than having to respond to a truck stuck on a dead end street or underneath a bridge.

Inspect your equipment, every single day. Just because it all worked yesterday doesnt mean squat for today. Compare the time it takes to make sure your hooked up, checking your lights and doing a tug test opposed to the time it takes to explain why the trailer fell off the tractor.

Dont talk on the cellphone when driving. There is absolutely no reason for anyone who is supposed to be a professional driver, hauling 40klbs running down the interstate and yakking on the cell phone. If you have to make a call, pull over and make the call.

Read your signs when driving down the interstate, that includes billboards, caution signs, restriction signs, mile markers, ramp speeds etc.
Just because the ramp speed is 50mph, doesnt mean you can go 50mph on that ramp. Slow it down on the ramp as much as 10mph below the posted speed and if some jackass gets on your ass for going slow , just ignore it, that driver isnt hauling what your hauling and the ones who tailgate and speed are the ones in a ditch a few miles down the road.

Anyone who gives you grief for grinding gears and brags that they dont grind gears is a liar. The day you stop grinding gears is the day after you retire from driving, its a part of life and even an experienced driver will admit that they still do it. Grinding gears is ok, not being in ANY gear is not ok.

Dont be pressured to do anything you are not comfortable with either by other drivers or dispatchers. Drive within your limits and your experience.

When backing into a space and your not sure what is behind you , GET OUT AND LOOK. If it takes a few pull ups to get into that space then so what? I'd rather do 15 pull ups and get out and look a few times if it avoids hitting something. Its not a sign of weakness, its a sign of professionalism.

[wrangler69]

Originally Posted by inmate1577

Letting yourself being intimidated by some "Billy BigRigger"
such as trying to get into a parking space and some "BBR" is giving you crap over the radio. What "BRB" isnt telling you is that it took him 6 pull ups to get into his space but no one saw him do it.

Another mistake is not asking a dock foreman what is the best way to get into his dock, what might look right to you might not work in all situations.

Driving too fast for conditions to get a load in on time. Nothing you haul and I mean absolutely NOTHING is worth your life or someone elses. The world wont stop if WalMart doesnt get its paper plates.

Driving while tired. Caffeine, energy drinks, sugar snacks, etc etc do not stop exhaustion, if you are tired pull off to a safe area and take a nap. Many people dont realize how much energy you can gain back just by taking a 20 min cat nap.

Asking for help. If you are lost, dont continue to drive and drive hoping that maybe around the next corner will be your destination. Ask a cab driver, a gas station attendant, a garbageman or a cop and if worse comes to worse pull over, look at your directions get your mapbook and THINK and if you still cant get your bearings, call the local police business line for directions. Cops are pretty helpful in that regard than having to respond to a truck stuck on a dead end street or underneath a bridge.

Inspect your equipment, every single day. Just because it all worked yesterday doesnt mean squat for today. Compare the time it takes to make sure your hooked up, checking your lights and doing a tug test opposed to the time it takes to explain why the trailer fell off the tractor.

Dont talk on the cellphone when driving. There is absolutely no reason for anyone who is supposed to be a professional driver, hauling 40klbs running down the interstate and yakking on the cell phone. If you have to make a call, pull over and make the call.

Read your signs when driving down the interstate, that includes billboards, caution signs, restriction signs, mile markers, ramp speeds etc.
Just because the ramp speed is 50mph, doesnt mean you can go 50mph on that ramp. Slow it down on the ramp as much as 10mph below the posted speed and if some jackass gets on your ass for going slow , just ignore it, that driver isnt hauling what your hauling and the ones who tailgate and speed are the ones in a ditch a few miles down the road.

Anyone who gives you grief for grinding gears and brags that they dont grind gears is a liar. The day you stop grinding gears is the day after you retire from driving, its a part of life and even an experienced driver will admit that they still do it. Grinding gears is ok, not being in ANY gear is not ok.

Dont be pressured to do anything you are not comfortable with either by other drivers or dispatchers. Drive within your limits and your experience.

When backing into a space and your not sure what is behind you , GET OUT AND LOOK. If it takes a few pull ups to get into that space then so what? I'd rather do 15 pull ups and get out and look a few times if it avoids hitting something. Its not a sign of weakness, its a sign of professionalism.

GREAT ADVICE. :wink: :wink: :wink:

[hitman]

I agree :!: