How do I code for a more complex joystick?

[CardcaptorRLH85]

Our team is using two Logitech Gamepad F310's for our drivers station this year. We did use one last year and I think that I instantiated it correctly then however, on occasion I had strange errors concerning which axis did what. I'm simply asking if there's a better way than

m_driveStick = new Joystick(1, 5, 8)
/*
 * Where 1 is the USB port number, 5 is the number of axes, 
 * and 8 is the number of buttons.
*/

to create this Joystick object.

Also, as far as I can tell, the left and right triggers on this controller are simply + and - on the same axis.

For some reason this way just seems...overly complex but I can't seem to come up with a method to simplify it that doesn't appear to add other unnecessary complexity.