It's a Team's Life

Afraid to drive the truck!

I did not drive our truck until we were on our way to orientation and we by that time had signed on the dotted line and were the proud owners.

A little background here is that we are from a very small area in southwest Kansas.   The nearest stop light was over thirty miles away and the nearest interstate was 150 miles away.   I did not know how to drive in traffic period!   When we went out of town, I very seldom drove.   I am still to this day most comfortable on two lane roads.  

My first trip with Bob in a “Big Truck” eighteen-wheeler was to Boston and I was petrified from Kansas City, KS to Boston, MA.   I had no perception or reality that there were cities went from one side if the state to the other side of the state.   I did not understand highway signs and I had no clue what a “business route” was.   Bob did the driving, I did the routing and I had us on some interesting side trips, as I would get us off on those “business routes”.   I also did not know exit sign numbers and did not realize that if the exit number was on the left hand side of the sign it would be a left exit.   On one load we were given directions to go north on the belt loop.   I had to call dispatch on that one, as I had no clue what a belt loop was.   The first time I saw, turn right at the jug handle to go left I was also left perplexed.    I learned though through a lot of trial and error and routing Bob to some crazy places, but we survived.   The one thing I did learn was I did not want to drive a “big truck”.

The pressure was constantly on that to make it in trucking I needed to drive and I spent hours pondering on how to stay out on the road and my not kill someone. I finally saw an Expediter in a “little truck” which is not to be confused with a short truck.   The answer I was looking for was right there in front of me and the research began.   When we went to pick up our truck and I realized the length of our truck and the width I was more than a little afraid.  

I found to my astonishment that our truck really was easy to drive.   I could see for miles when in the driver’s seat and I could look other drivers eye to eye.   I found that the placement of the mirrors on our truck were perfect for visibility.   I had no trouble driving our truck and quickly became proficient maneuvering in traffic.   I almost drove Bob nuts going to orientation.   Every time I saw a truck stop with a large lot, I pulled in and found a space in the back rows and I practiced backing.   I had learned to back a trailer and our truck was not easy to back straight.   I backed and I backed and than off down the road I would proceed until I found another truck stop.   The backing helped me with two things I learned to back and I learned quickly the length of our truck.

I am very confident driving our truck and have found I that our pickup at home is a now the scary vehicle...   The truck is comfortable and easy to handle and I feel safe and secure in my ability to drive safely down the interstates.  

Bob & Linda Caffee
Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters 5 years been out here on the road ten years
[email protected]

 

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