My Journey as a Truck Driver: The First Year

By Vicki Fish

This is the journey of my first year driving a semi. The ups and downs, I hope you find some humor in the midst of these pages along with the realism of the trucking industry. I share on a daily basis, called daily logs, of what I went through each day to deliver product.

I hope you can see how God worked in my life as He opened up parking spots for me and the people that helped me back into the different docks. 

I also hope this lets you see some of the struggles of what truckers go through each day as they deliver product across the nation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9781977273314

Vicki Fish

Vicki has written two books already. The first one is “Jackie a Friend to All” and the other one is “Through the lens 365 Christian Inspirational devotional” in Spanish and English. She has two amazing and wonderful children and a very supportive husband. For the past thirty-five years she has driven twenty- three years and six months for different jobs. Whether it was her car or a bus and now a semi. She enjoys doing wood working, photography, crocheting, painting, and drawing. She’s not a professional at it but loves doing it and giving it away. 

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My Journey as a Truck Driver

The First Year

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2024 Vicki Fish

v2.0

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Outskirts Press, Inc.

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Cover Photo © 2024 Vicki Fish. All rights reserved - used with permission.

Author photo by Paul Pack from CROSSfire Photography. All rights reserved - used with permission.

Outskirts Press and the OP logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Special Thanks

I want to thank the following people for being there for me.

God for giving me the go ahead and taking care of me while I was learning and having to be away from my family. Also for taking care of my family when I’m away.

Trevor, Matthew, and Ryan for their patience in teaching me how to drive a truck. The Central Community College (CCC) in is an awesome place to get your license for driving the big rigs like buses, heavy equipment, and semi’s.

Tim, Ken, Jack, Benny, Mary, and my trainers at Fish’s Aquarium Trucking or [FAT], for tips on how to drive, encouraging words and supporting me in this endeavor. Along the way there have been truckers who have given me advice as well. Thanks to all that have shared their wisdom with me.

I also want to thank my husband for supporting me and encouraging me to follow this dream. Even though it means we’re be separated by many miles and for days at a time.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to those in their later years who follow a dream that they had when they were younger, but couldn’t pursue it for whatever reason. Even if you fulfil it for only a year or two, there’s no time like the present to step out and try something new.

Table of Contents

Introduction

I. Schooling and Driving

II. Orientation and Training

1. My Solo Truck

2. At Home or Not at Home That is the Question

3. Recap or 34

4. Trial Period is Over

5. Winter is Not For the Weak

6. Setup is the Key to Backing

7. Friend or Foe

8. Is This Worth It?

9. The Year is Almost Over

10. What’s on the Menu?

11. Driver Delay or Not

12. End of My First year/ Begin Training Others

A Note From the Editor

Glossary

About the Author

Introduction

I have always found truck driving fascinating. There is just something about the big steering wheel and being so far off the ground that was an interest in my life. As a child I was one of those kids that would pump my arm for them to honk at me. I got into trouble one time when I wrote on a piece of paper Have a nice trip to the trucker behind us. The trucker then commented about it on the Citizen Band Radio, (aka a CB).

A little girl in the back window of a van told me to have a nice trip. Well, I just reached my destination.

My father told me not to do that.

I took a test my senior year in academy to find out what type of job I would be good at. Including truck driver there were also photography, fire fighter, police officer, bus driver and paramedic.

I became a bus driver in 2004 it lasted till 2021 I enjoyed every bit of it.

In 2020 all hell broke loose. A major pandemic went global, the Corona Virus or COVID-19. In March places of businesses and schools shut down. Hospitals were only open for the pandemic. Everyone had to wear a face mask if they left home. Some people wore them in their own homes. The US presidential election was in process. Moreover, hate crimes spiked. People were being murdered because of their skin color or being blamed for things happening. Churches, businesses, and schools used Zoom so they could do services, meetings, and classes. Social distancing (everyone staying six feet apart from one another) was the norm. As of the writing of this book over 4 million deaths have been attributed to this pandemic.

I

Schooling and Driving

Daily Log 1: June 20, 2021. I took my combination test at my hometown DMV and passed on the first try. It was an awesome feeling considering, I guessed using common sense to answer the ones I wasn’t sure on. I passed one question, to answer it at the end of the test. When I got to 19/20 it said I passed so I didn’t have to answer that question. I was excited to only do 19.

Daily Log 2: June 26, 2021. I signed my first contract with Fish’s Aquarium Trucking or otherwise known as FAT. I re-added the numbers and saved myself $1420. I let them know and then I resigned my contract again a couple of days later. They were thankful I caught the mistake.

Daily Log 3: July 6, 2021. We started classes today. I left home about 6:00am to get to class by 8:00am. Arriving at 7:15am, I ran to the gas station to get something to eat, then returned to the meeting place. I waited in the pickup truck for others to show up. Around 8:00am those who’d arrived slowly got out of our vehicles and walked into the building. We sat around and waited for anyone else to show up and for other buildings to open. We also filled out paperwork and logged into the computers.

There were six total and I was the only female. After the other buildings opened, we needed to finish registering, receive our rooms, and take a Department of Transportation [aka a DOT] test. For the ride, three of us got in one vehicle and the other three got in another. Inside the vehicle, we were surprised to see there were no seats. When our driver joined us, he was like Whoa!! We laughed about it. As it turned out, the seats were stored in the floor of the minivan. Who knew?!

We headed to the administration building to sign in. Then to town to do drug testing and DOT Physicals. Once done, we headed back to campus and took a short ride around the cornfield where we’d be practicing shifting and double clutching.

At this point it seemed surreal that I was going to be driving a semi. At times it was scary, and I was unsure of myself. I was like Let me just drive the tractor to get an idea on how it works. I was told, No you will drive the whole thing.

At noon I drove, and the other two students with meal plans walked to the cafeteria and we were informed when meals were. We also had to let them know if we weren’t going to be at a meal.

There were three of us staying in the dorm and eating in the cafeteria.

My day looks like this:

6:00 am: Wake up and dress,

7:30 - 8:00am: Breakfast

8:00 am: Class started

12:00 -12:30: Lunch

12:30 – 5:00pm More class

5:00-5:30pm: Supper

The rest of the day is free time.

The first day I realized I’d forgotten to bring a blanket, so I had to go buy one. My room was a consistent 65 -70 degrees.

The campus is beautiful. It used to be a military base. There are ammo dumps all around. As you leave Hastings on US Highway 6, you pass a motor sport track, a golf course (which leases the land it’s on from the community college). The college entrance is next on the right.

There’s a round-about and turn to the right. If you don’t want to go to the campus, continue through the next round-about and you’ll be on your way. When you get to the Y going left takes you to Housing and Administration. Going right, takes you to the dorms. Just past the dorms are a soccer field and part of the golf course. Circling around the back, you pass a folf course, (Frisbee Golf). If you make left turns you pass an office building on the right and the gym on the left. There are other buildings, I assume these are classrooms. Passing a large parking lot on the right, the cafeteria is on the left. Coming up on the left just past the cafeteria will be another building which was the fire house for the military. The campus uses it for their bookstore. More buildings on the right are likely the Maintenance and classrooms. At the second round-about, turn to the right. Cross the first road and turn in at Harlan Hall, which is for diesel mechanics and truck driving school. The college buildings are all red brick and white trim.

Daily Log 4: July 7, 2021. When we got to class, we discovered one of the classmates dropped out due to a family emergency and another had joined. In our class there’s a guy that comes from Cozad and one from Sudan. One had taught English as a Second Language and had been to Ireland for a while and a few other countries. Another speaks only Spanish While the last person is bilingual in Spanish and English.

We were asked how we’d slept. Cold, because I forgot a blanket and had to go get one. I answered.

Another said, It was hot, and I didn’t get good sleep till late in the night.

Well, Vicki was too cold, and you were too hot, The instructor paused, Did you contact Housing?

Three of us have finished tests up through Chapter 20 while those that have English as their second language are on lesson 10, I think. It’s an open book test and the instructors emphasize everything they tell us will be included.

After class I had to go back to the store and buy another blanket.

Daily Log 5: July 8, 2021. About 10:00am today the instructors decided that we’re going to start driving. First, we learned how to couple and uncouple trailers. We each did this two times. Then the instructors asked us to do straight backups for the day. We must back up 140 feet in a straight line. Lucky for all of us there are twelve lanes marked with cones. We’re in every other lane so chances of hitting each other should be avoided.

Four of us are learning on manual transmissions and two are learning on automatics. The guys driving automatics at times seem to fly through the lanes. Those on the manuals are going a lot slower. We’re trying to get the hang of double clutching and shifting. I admit I have floated gears (that’s where you don’t double clutch and just put it in the gear).

From 11:00am – 5:00pm, I try to back up then pull forward and drive around the yard and try it again. By the end of the day, I’m doing pretty good. Boy was my knee sore from stepping on the clutch so many times.

When I got back to the room, I noticed that I had been kissed by the sun and needed a shower. I’m enjoying this new adventure in my life.

Every day we must drive a different truck.

Daily Log 6: July 9, 2021. Today we were able to drive around the cornfield and practice double clutching and shifting into higher gears and down shifting into lower gears. Let me explain something: In the lot we always make right turns. As I was driving around the route, I kept grinding gears. Sometimes I was getting frustrated with the truck. When the truck engine revolution (RPMs) get to 1500, you need to shift up. Don’t let the RPMs fall below 1000 though. That takes a lot of work when the clutch is hard to push in.

I was making my solo run on the route and when I got to the small hill where we must stop. This is so we can get use to stopping on a hill and learning not to roll backwards. The next three turns are left hand turns. The first turn was going well. The next two turns, my heart went into my throat. As I was making my first big turn, I saw the trailer sliding around the corner. I started to get scared that I would jack-knife. By the time I got to the next corner all I could see is the trailer still sliding around toward the front of the truck. I tried to straighten out the trailer, but I just couldn’t get it done. So, I drove back into an empty lane and tried backing up and that was worse. I pulled forward and just sat there for a few minutes asking God to help me. Once I got my senses again, I backed up and it was good. I finally realized that the trailer was not jack-knifing. I then started to drive the opposite way around the yard from time to time to get used to seeing the trailer in my driver’s side mirror.

When I feel uncomfortable backing up it’s because other drivers will try and back up where I’m at. I ‘m afraid I will hit them. I feel those drivers have no consideration for others and they scare me. When this happens I drive around the lot or field.

Daily Log 7: July 10, 2021. Today I went to church. At 3:00pm I did my Facebook live and shared about my week and how it relates to our Christian walk with God. Then this evening I drove over to a Celebrate Recovery meeting over at the Evangelical Free church. I needed the fellowship.

Daily Log 8: July 11, 2021. I just chilled today and played a game on the computer.

Daily Log 9: July 12, 2021. Today, before heading out to the yard we were taught how to keep a daily log on paper. The schedule we’re to do today is parallel parking and offset parking.

I go over to the parallel parking area and get in position and the truck goes in so nice. I do a happy dance. I tried again and I just can’t do it. So I give up on that for the time being. I go over to offset parking and after a few tries I can go to the right. The left not so good. I tried the whole afternoon. About 4:30pm or so I finally got the truck to go to the left. I was so excited. I get excited over those little things. I’ve also killed quite a few cones. If I feel like I’m going to hit one I stop and try again. I want to be able to do all my backups without getting out of the truck, with only two pull ups at most.

Daily Log 10: July 13, 2021. Today we practiced all backings up to this point. Whenever I get stumped on how to do a backup, I go to YouTube and look for some hints. I forget at times what the instructors have told me. I know backing up is supposed to be logical and simple. In my mind I should be able to do it without having to stop every five seconds and change directions. I appreciate how YouTube has videos done in a step-by-step process.

Sometimes I wonder if getting no restrictions on my license is worth all this knee problems. Then I think about it and it is.

By the end of the day I finally was able to get the left side, offset backing. I was so happy. I told the instructor and he said, You still have four more weeks to practice.

I replied, In my mind I only have a few days.

Daily Log 11: July 14, 2021. We were having a thunderstorm today, so we stayed inside till the storm was basically gone. We sat in the classroom and were given a chance to ask anything we wanted to about the test, driving, and backing.

Finally, around 10:00am we were able to go out and start driving. Then at 11:00am, two of the instructors took us on the route the test would be given on. The manual drivers had one of the examiners. He told us what he would be doing and saying along the route. He showed us the two signs that he would ask what they were after we passed them to see if we are paying attention to our surroundings.

These instructors keep giving us all the answers and the way to answer the questions. No one should fail the tests. My concern is mastering the backing.

Today was a frustrating day for me. I just couldn’t get any backing whatsoever. About the first hour I just sat because I couldn’t get the truck into gear. Finally I realized I didn’t have the clutch all the way to the floor. Once I did I could go anywhere I wanted to.

There’s one classmate, who will try and back right beside me and I’m afraid I’ll hit him. Or as I’m backing up there are a couple of guys that come barreling down a lane. It scares me and throws off what I’m doing. I wish they would drive around on the outside of the lot instead of through the middle of it. I know I shouldn’t complain, When I leave a spot to reposition myself by going around the lot someone else takes my place, so I must find another back up move to do or another lane to try backing into. The thought just hit me, I should see it as a challenge to be flexible to all situations and get it right the first time. I’m trying to work on one maneuver at a time.

I tried to alley dock today, but I just can’t seem to get it right. I know that all this backing is just a matter of Physics. Too bad I didn’t take it in school and now I’m learning the pivot points to turn on.

Went to a local place after class to do some laundry. I’m looking at the change machine and there is no place for the money to come out. I asked, Where does the money come out?

The laundromat attendant responded, "It doesn’t, you put in your money, the machine keeps a dollar for the card. Then you use the card to put in the machines to pay for your laundry. That is the only way for you to pay to get your clothes clean.

Daily Log 12: July 15, 2021. Alley dock backing is supposed to be a 45-degree turn. I’m having a hard time positioning the truck to line up right. The plan is to drive past the alley then crank your wheel to the right. Once the trailer is lined up with the alley crank the wheel to the left. Voila. Yeah right. I’m sure it works but I haven’t found the sweet spot yet.

When I drive around to reposition, sometimes someone else has pulled in to try. Most of the guys have got the alley backing. I wish that once they got it, they’d go try something else. If they are confident of getting it each time then drive around the corn field and give me time to practice.

It’s like when you are learning a new skill. You take a break to collect your thoughts on how the instructors said to do it. During that time someone else comes in and does what you’re trying to do. You have to wait for them to leave, so you can get back to doing your job again. That’s how I feel about these guys. I know we all need to do the same things for the test. Give me a chance without always bullying your way through. The guys that are learning on the manual have more respect and consideration for me. It’s the guy who speaks only Spanish that irritates me the most.

Don’t get me wrong. I love what I’m learning and it’s a lot more fun when I have an easy clutch to work with.

Daily Log 13: July 16, 2021. Today we worked on all backing skills and were allowed to go around the corn field again. You wouldn’t think that was a big deal, when you use that to break up the monotony and trying to find a place to back up into. It is to me. In a way it calms me down.

Around 9:00am we were all told to come into the classroom. In the room, there is a man standing in the front. He’s from Werner Trucking and tells us all about what their business has to offer. It sounds like a great business. I’d like to get to a point of either being a recruiter or a trainer in the business.

He asked if anyone had any questions. There were a few. I asked about the Rider Policy. He explained that any family over the age of 10can ride with you. There were no limits to pets. If you wanted a Pitbull, Saint Bernard, or an ankle biter they were all allowed. The only thing you couldn’t have: a mountain lion.

He listed another animal too, but the mountain lion stuck in my head. When he said that I snapped my finger and replied, Aww man!

Then we went back out to drive. I was about to get in the truck when I was called over to go for an off-campus drive. I was about to take off, but I had to wait for another student to stop backing up and acknowledge that I was there.

Cut him off. My instructor commented.

They’re not paying attention. I remarked.

The instructor said the guys driving the automatics scared him as well. He may let one of the other instructors ride with them on the road.

Driving a semi is like being behind the wheel of a bus except a little longer. I found out I need to use the clutch less, especially when braking. I managed to get us back in one piece though. The