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.

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The post Best Advice Old School Truckers Shared with Our Community appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Excitement and Freedom on the Open Road

For many, the first day was a thrilling adventure filled with anticipation. Connie Baker remembered joining her husband on the road and qualifying as a second driver with TSMT despite never having driven a truck before: “I had never shifted real gears, but my husband spent the night teaching me gear patterns with a broomstick. We ended up trucking together for 25 years!”

JD Hiott still feels the rush of that first day: “It was exciting! Almost 10 years later, I still get that child-like enthusiasm every time I hop in the truck and get a dispatch.”

Similarly, Jenn Durrant shared how her first day solo felt like ultimate freedom: “The first day on my own was the most awesome feeling of freedom ever!”

The Nerves and Challenges of Day One

Not everyone’s first day was smooth sailing. Brian Light admitted he was terrified when his father-in-law turned him loose in a KW cabover back in 1983: “I was scared shitless, hauling a 40′ acid tanker!”

For Phil Mee, the nerves hit hard on a long haul from Maine to the Bronx: “I was so nervous, I smoked a pack every two hours! I should have brought something to drink because my tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth.”

And then there’s Brian Harrison, who faced icy roads and ill-fitting chains on his first day: “It was the first of November, and I had the wrong-sized chains for my tractor. Yeah… not fun.”

Learning from Mistakes and Moving Forward

First-day mistakes are inevitable, but they’re often valuable lessons. Rafael Pardo confessed he was so focused on shifting gears that he forgot to steer straight: “I was concentrating so hard on shifting that I forgot to go straight on the road!”

For Jake Swieringa, his first concern was whether the trailer was even following him around the corner: “My first worry was if that trailer was going to run over the car that pulled up too far!”

Even Abe Fernandez Jr. had his struggles with shifting on day one: “I was grinding the crap out of my trainer’s truck, but he didn’t mind as long as I learned.”

Overcoming Adversity: Perseverance Pays Off

For some, the first day presented serious challenges, but their determination carried them through. Marty Edwards described his first day as horrible: “It was an all-night run, and I’m not a night person. But I pushed through, and here I am today.”

Lonnie Hefner faced a twin-stick transmission on his first day and had no idea how to handle it: “My boss said, ‘Don’t worry, youngster, you’ll figure it out by the end of the trip.’ And I did!”

Unexpected Surprises and Memorable Moments

Some first days were full of surprises. Rick Pedalonright recalled a minor accident that occurred just 10 miles from the yard: “My trainer stopped for a yellow light, and the truck behind us ran into us. When I called the office, the safety director’s first question was, ‘Were you driving?’”

Zach Lively had his own unexpected experience after driving across snowy roads only to open the trailer and find it empty: “Upon arrival, the trailer was completely empty! It turns out someone messed up loading it back in Amana, Iowa.”

Despite these mishaps, both drivers persevered and continued on their trucking journeys.

Looking Back: The First Day Was Just the Beginning

For many truckers, their first day was just the start of a long and rewarding career. Billy Avara summed it up well: “It was a little rough at first, but I made it 43 years before retiring.”

Leonard Bradley echoed that sentiment, reflecting on a career that’s lasted over two decades: “It was a challenge, but 22 years later, I’m still rolling.”

No matter the challenges or triumphs, every trucker’s first day is a vital chapter in their journey. For some, it was a day of excitement and newfound freedom. For others, it was a trial by fire that tested their resilience. But in the end, it’s those unforgettable first experiences that set the stage for long, successful careers in trucking.

The post First Day as a Trucker: Real Stories from Truck Drivers Across America appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.