I appreciate the words of wisdom from a retire Feeder driver. I will heed this words as sound advice from someone you knows and carry the torch the best I can. I congratulate you on your retirement, hope your enjoying every second. I will do the job the best I can. No, I am not from Pkg. I was fortunate enough to be hired off-the-street.
I agree with Shiftless. Also retired and I mentored new drivers. Always told them to take their time and do it right and don't worry about every other feeder driver going faster than you.
Experienced feeder drivers can be safe and do things a lot quicker than you only because of years of repetition. You'll do things quicker with experience.
If you are not sure about something, stop and get out and check or start over.
Don't worry about pressure from dispatchers and feeder management that try to make you go faster. Just tell them that you are doing the best you can and trying to be safe. that should work.
Stay focused on the task on hand and try not to think too far ahead. If you do this, everyday will take care of itself and you will get through your probation safely.
At our hub the probation was 30 days but a driver could still have 2 minor accidents in the first 90 days.
When A new driver got into an accident within the first 90 days they would send them with me.
Almost 100% of the time I found that the driver was trying to keep up with everyone else or just not taking their time to do it right. I taught them to settle down and invariably they did very well from then on.
When you eventually make and it sounds like you will you'll be part of an elite group of people. Trucking pros consider the UPS feeder driver as being some of the best and safest drivers in the world.
It is something to be proud of and rightly so.
