Getting Behind the Wheel of a Big Rig

Last week, I traded in my writing notepad to get behind the wheel of a 2010 Volvo truck for a test drive. It was my first time driving anything bigger than a pickup truck, and I have to admit, it was a lot of fun!

My test drive came on the last day of a three day tour of Volvo’s plants in both Hagerstown, Md., and Dublin, Va., at the Dublin plant. I was there to stay on top of the latest in the trucking industry for Parthenon’s Road King magazine. I had a few days to mentally prepare myself for the drive. On the second night with Volvo executives, they learned I had never driven a truck and became determined to get me in the driver’s seat of one of theirs before my trip was over. I laughed it off and said I was more of the bag holding, take the pictures and wave at others kind of gal. This is always my role at theme parks when friends want to ride the roller coasters and other adventures like this, so I had no problem being that person in this scenario, too.

These guys were not having any of it. No excuses. I would have to conquer any fears of operating this big thing and just do it! Mind you, I don’t drive go-carts without getting a little nervous I might wreck them. So, needless to say, I was concerned about returning the rig in once piece after my drive.

They put me in the seat of a truck that didn’t have a trailer behind it, and I was thankful for that. I don’t look too scared here, do I?

I’m not sure I could’ve driven something larger. My first impression was that you sure could see a lot being up so high, and it didn’t feel like I was driving something as big as it looked. My normal ride is pretty tiny and the view, when the top is up, is not the best. I have to yank my neck around on the highway to look before changing lanes and I can’t rely on my mirrors in my own car. In this giant ride, though, you could see a lot more of your surroundings. I wasn’t expecting that.

I was also surprised to learn driving this truck was just about as easy as driving my car. Thanks to the new I-shift technology, it really was like putting your car into drive, no need to shift gears. In fact, this truck more or less drove itself. It reminded me of when we take those horseback riding tours on vacations and the horses have done the tour a dozen times a day for the whole season and they know where to turn on the path, when to slow down, when to speed up and how to keep you safe. That’s exactly how driving this truck was. It took some getting used to every time I started to turn a corner. When I asked my passenger and guide what was happening, he said the truck was preparing for the turn. The same thing happened when it was time to come up a small hill. The truck shifted itself and prepared to make it up the hill without me doing a thing.

Now, I suppose I should tell you that I only drove around the parking lot, twice. But hey, it was just my speed. And this time, someone was holding my bags and taking my picture. I’m really glad I did it. And may just consider a new adventure as a female truck driver in the future!

A special thanks to Ron Huiber, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Volvo Trucks, who urged me to drive and made sure no one let me get out of it!