Driving anxiety for a new driver

You pulling refrigerated, dry van, or what?

 

Are you under contract to a company?
How long have you been driving?

 

Stick with dry van; you definitely shouldn't pull refrigerated trailers. Refrigerated trucking you would have too much interaction with idiots.

 

Everyone is different. It would be very unusual to not feel less anxious over time. Don't bail out because some people are more anxious than others. If you take your time, drive like your instructor is beside you, and don't take shortcuts you will have less and less reason to be afraid while driving. The people in cars around you is very many truck driver's worst part of driving the truck. I prefer the worst weather conditions you can imagine than driving in and around bi cities, but driving in and around big cities is part of the job. You can do this job. You have already proven you can drive, even if you are anxious. Worrying about things that might happen is not going to make driving now any easier. All you can do is drive your truck safely. No matter what the cars around you do, you will be OK. If they want to wreck their car, that's their problem. Stay on the road, in your lane, and you will be OK. Eventually you will understand the anxiety isn't about the circumstance, it is about something else. Focus on the driving.

 

It was pretty stressful and full of anxiety at the beginning. As time went on I became more and more comfortable behind the wheel. There are still times when my anxiety peaks but I know from experience to just slow down and do everything like I was taught so many years ago

 

The longer you’re out here the more comfortable it gets. I was never anxious about driving on the open road just a little bit going in and out of places I wasn’t familiar with when I first started. Now, I’m basically confident to go in anywhere. This is my rule of thumb and something to remember and always keep in the back of your head. As long as you don’t smash into something or bang stuff up you will always live to fight another day. And keep driving. Don’t let people pressure you. If you need to get out and look, get out and look. If you’re turning a corner and you’re not sure, stop! If the tractor trailer isn’t moving you’re not tearing stuff up. Each time you get yourself in a little bit of a situation and you figure your way out of it you’ll gain more and more confidence.

I remember things like going into a tight shipper or receiver and not being able to tell if I could turn the truck around. Now I can pretty much eyeball any situation and I know immediately if I need to back out or if I can pull a Turn around. It’s just a feel overall your develop over time.

driving out in the open road, should be somewhat relaxing. Not so relaxing you lose attention but relaxing nonetheless. You’ll get there!

 

Have a breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Never drive on an empty stomach. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine beverages. Get some good rest, and sleep