Hey all. Hope everyone is doing well.
I would like to ask of all the drivers out there if there are any that upon starting driving school that thought they would NEVER get driving a semi truck down? I'm talking about day cabs, not OTR rigs.

Guess I'm looking for a little inspiration here because I recently simply _sat_ in a day cab with the trailor attached and I got completely discouraged. My first reaction was "NO WAY I can get used to driving this thing!"

Anyone else relate???

 

There really is no difference between a day cab and a sleeper truck beyond the sleeper truck having a longer wheel base (sometimes).

Before I started driving I used to think it was some sort of magic when I would see a driver back this really long trailer into a spot that did not look much wider than the truck itself.

Once you start doing it though you realize it is not magic, just a learned skill.

 

Son, just put your foot on the clutch, engage the transmission, and apply throttle. You will get the hang of it in no time at all!!!

 

daycabs generally aren't as big of vehicles as sleeper trucks so they seem easier to drive for a lot of people.

 

Just think of it as a very long car. You will get more comfortable with it with time.

 

Hey I feel your pain. I'm a newbie who just started range driving in school. I am getting frustrated just trying to learn how to back up the truck into a spot from an angle. I can't get that down and I havent even gotten onto the road driving portion yet. We just gotta hang in there. from what I hear is b4 you know it, it'll alll of a sudden click in and you will gain confidence and skill. I hear you though, it is frustrating and can be intimidating. Good luck.

 

There is not a big difference between sleepers and day cabs. When I first started truck school I felt the same way, but I kept on applying myself to learn the skills and it all came to me surely but slowly.

It is only natural for you to feel the way you do about trucks. EVERYTHING takes time. If you can find a passion for big rigs then you will definitely be OK.

Good Luck, and when you do get out on the road...stay in your lane and watch your following distance and speed.

 

I felt that way a few times in CDL training school. It doesnt help that most of those schools "mine included" suck azz. After you get out on the road and get a few hours behind the wheel grinding gears you will know that it is not as hard as you once thought.