At Truck Drivers USA, we asked our Facebook community one important question: “What’s the best piece of advice you ever got from an old school trucker?” The responses came straight from the heart—practical, honest, sometimes funny, and always real. This is the kind of advice that only comes from years behind the wheel.
Here’s a selection of what our drivers had to say. Whether you’re just starting or have been on the road for years, these lessons are worth remembering.
Safety Always Comes First
David Powell says it best: “You can go down a mountain too slow hundreds of times. You may only go down it too fast once.”
Michael Kohut shared advice he learned long ago: “Always move over for ANY vehicle in the breakdown lane.”
Jeff T Humphries warns about winter roads: “In the winter in the rain when your tires stop spraying mist, you’d better slow down because the road is freezing.”
Driving Tips That Make a Difference
David Moore’s advice is straightforward: “Go down a hill 2 gears lower than you can climb it in!”
James Blair remembers, “Start down the hill a gear lower than the gear you pulled up it.”
Mike Edwards recalls a lesson: “You drive the trailer, not the truck.”
Paul Simpson’s father warned him: “Never walk past a parked loaded cattle van.”
Ann Wagner says: “When backing watch the tires on the trailer, not the tail.”
Mindset and Attitude Behind the Wheel
Ruth Mayo shares this: “Don’t let other drivers dictate the way YOU drive. Slow down. You can go too slow a million times, but go too fast only once!”
Rod Webster’s reminder: “You’ve got to make the hay when the sun’s shining.”
Michael Schifano was told, “Never be in a hurry driving a truck because it will lead to trouble.”
Practical Trucking Hacks
Donna Battle always carries duct tape and bungee cords — essentials for quick fixes on the road.
Brett K. Brown advises having spare radio gear ready because “things happen.”
Edward Rodman remembers advice about carrying basic tools and how a five-gallon bucket saved the day when snowed in.
Mechanical and Road Wisdom
Don Stanley advises: “Lean forward when you hit a hump or a pothole, your back will last longer.”
Rich Grooters values the CDL: “Treat your CDL like it’s worth $1 million.”
Mark Richard was told, “If you can’t drive it backwards, you can’t drive it forward.”
Words to Remember
David and Aurora Molina’s safety tip: “When going down Mountains first thing you do is turn off your CB radio!!!”
Phil Crosbie keeps it real: “Park your ego, drive your truck. Use your mirrors, use the right gear, use your clutch, and most of all, use common sense, because most people don’t have a lick of it.”
Edward Gil reminds all drivers:
“I would rather pay for the load than pay for a funeral.”
“Pull over and rest.”
Join Our Community
These are just some of the honest, valuable lessons shared by truck drivers in our Facebook group. The wisdom passed down from old school truckers keeps shaping how we handle the road every day.
If you’re a driver who values real advice from real people who get the trucking life, join our Truck Drivers USA Facebook group now. Connect with others who know the challenges and rewards of life behind the wheel.
