Question:
Ok all you newbies......now dont tell anyone that I told you this, but I am going to let you in on a little secret about how to keep yourselves out of trouble.
It is a simple little thing really and is not hard to do, but if you fail to do it then you can find yourself banging your head in frustration, or wanting to run and hide from pure embarrassment, or possibly hurt yourself.
Ok are you ready. Get you notebooks out and have your pen ready to write this down.
The big secret is........
Do it the same way every time.
Yep thats right. Get yourself into a good safe routine and do it the same way every time.
This can be applied to your pre and post trip inspections, fueling, lane changes, making turns, lane changes, backing, shifting gears, picking up or dropping trailers and on and on.
If you do it the right way and the same way everytime then you are less likely to suffer from brain fart and wind up in trouble. Take your time and do it right.
Answer:
I Totally Agree.
The minute you switch your routine, is the minute something goes Wrong.(I'm speaking from experience on that one.)

Answer:
that goes right along with my signature uturn. It was told to me to "inspire" me to greatness, but it also works like you said, get a routine and stick to it.
btw, the reason i put it up there is due to the fact that i learned the hard way like ms. choclit.
taylor
Answer:
you two are not the only ones who have learned a lesson or two hundred the hard way.
Answer:
...NO!!!!!...I don't want to do it the same time ...everytime...I want to do it..Nekkid...I want to do it with my Hat on..I want to Just Do It..(Sorry Nike)
I want to "Do It All Night Long"
If I can't do it...it ain't worth doin'

Answer:

Good plan, and make sure you are doing everything you should be as well.

Answer:
have you vets of the highway thought of writing a book??,there is not a whole lot available i've gotten alot of help here and often print hints out to share with the rest of my class

Answer:
There used to be a book available over on newbiedriver.com.
Answer:
uturn2001, that's correct.
Form good habits, Work on it until it becomes a part of you.
I have a 20 year clean MVR.
Why?
I practice good driving habits.

Answer:
great point there dak, and uturn as usual. I've got less than six months in, but i already know of three in my training class with the pumpkin(I know, company sponsored traing and now i'm a "slave" for a year) that have had at fault accidents already. I come from the taxi driving profession, and when we did a company required pretrip, it bolied down to having that routine down pat and doing the same way every time, otherwise you'd miss something critical and the company could end up charging you for that blown motor because you forgot to check the oil. ever tried to get a taxi driver to pay $1500 + out of his pocket in the slow months? not gonna happen.
taylor