It seems from reading these forums that far too many people go into trucking as a profession or job and subsequently drop out after investment of their time, money, and a whole lot of heartache. I think I read that only around ten percent of folks who start in the job/profession/way of life are still there after five years.
It’s surprising that someone hasn’t come up with a test/tests or a way to relatively measure a mature individual’s aptitude for entering the different phases of trucking. There are so many truckers out there willing to provide good advice that I think two, maybe three questionnaires could be developed to assist one who aspires to handle a rig.
Talking to a recruiter for a company or school is probably not the best place to start as, more often than not, the newbie is required to assume a financial burden before they have really found out what is involved.
I think there is a college in the New York system that has an orientation course that lasts a couple of days, of which only about half go on to get their CDL. Probably they realize that trucking is hard work rather than a continuous vacation. Of course even that requires an expenditure of money.
Dropping out or quitting for so many shouldn’t be the answer. There ought to be a better way.

Testing drivers might help BUT, how do you test the compaines that lie about miles you will be given, training pay and duration, dispatchers that are on the line pushing all the time for a driver to run run run???

Its not the drivers aptitude so much as the business in general that causes some to quit. Until the business bullies are made to treat drivers decently and work them according to the HOS and PAY them for their efforts, I really dont see much in the way of drivers leaving changing.

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LuvMyHubby

I've tied a knot in my rope and I am hangin on!

I said nothing about testing drivers. I was suggesting test/tests or procedures be available to prospective drivers to orient and examine themselves about trucking,
I think that there are so many drop outs because people enter trucking not having a realistic notion of what the job/profession is all about.
I looked in this morning's newspaper and saw an ad saying that a new driver would be trained and would make up to 52K the first year. I think everyone knows that is a bunch of #*$#. A newbie looking for a job would be misled by talking to a recruiter from either a school or a company.
I wish a newbie would have exposure to something better such as a test or orientation papers.
A person that assumed a $2K to $4K debt and goes to school for a few days and drops out probably wasn't well informed about what they were getting into. There must be a better way.
If not much more than ten percent makes five years, that is not good. Properly oriented newbies would probably result in lower turnover and better drivers. Just my opinion.
Improving companys, that's another subject.

Sorry for my misunderstanding, in your first post you did specifically say "It’s surprising that someone hasn’t come up with a test/tests or a way to relatively measure a mature individuals aptitude for entering the different phases of trucking."

I took that to mean you were suggesting some sort of aptitude test for potential drivers to take to see if they were even remotely suited for the lifestyle of OTR.

As for so many drivers getting out, that is basically due to the fact that they enter the profession without the insiders knowledge that recruiters lie, they think its like a factory/office job you work X amount of hours and your done. They are not told in most cases about waiting for a load etc., OR all the regulations that affect their work day. Some are drawn by the thought that they can be their own boss etc. THATS exactly why this forum is here, to help the newbie go into the business with their eyes wide open, knowing how things work so that they are not taken advantage of so easily.

__________________
LuvMyHubby

I've tied a knot in my rope and I am hangin on!