Hi all. I'm a new driver and I've been out with my trainer for 2 weeks. We get along well and he's teaching me well but I feel absolutely exhausted every day. I am doing flatbed and I know there is a physical aspect to it, which I understand, anticipated and expected. But my trainer has us overlapping our clocks so I've been working basically 15-18 hour days, even though I'm only driving for 11. He does trip plan but doesn't plan rest eating or showering. Only drive time, shipping and receiving hours and HOS.
I know I'm new and its gonna take some time for myself to adjust but it's kicking my *ss right now. Personally I like to shower daily even if that means I have to stop running a little earlier. Especially if I'm in the heat chaining, tarping and pouring sweat and getting covered in dirt. And after that day, I need to use my full 10 hours to eat and rest.
I'm not saying I want to stop at every truck stop we drive by to pee and eat but the pace just seems insane right now. Is my trainer running very fast or am I just getting worn out from being new or a combination of the two? Regardless, I'm getting through it and keeping up and I'll work through it.
New Driver, Getting Exhausted With Trainer
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by jmarc77, Jun 21, 2022.
Page 1 of 5
-
Vic Firth, austinmike, Another Canadian driver and 4 others Thank this.
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Welcome to boot camp.
And, it a combination of the two.
Kind of wondering how overlapping your clocks has you working 15-18 hours a day?
And how exactly do you overlap your clocks to do that? Because you are on a 14 hour clock.Another Canadian driver, Boondock and LtlAnonymous Thank this. -
Different strokes. I run hard every day, usually 750ish when I'm out. Doing that x2 in a truck is tough, as is rest while another drives. I don't sleep much anyways, but i get really worn down just by myself after a few weeks being a light sleeper.
I've seen @Chinatown mention melatonin before and started it myself this week. I may not be sleeping longer, but more good sleep for certain.
May help you some.austinmike, Boondock, LtlAnonymous and 1 other person Thank this. -
Trucking, in general, is a system shock to the body. In the beginning, I found it similar to basic training and field exercises in the military.
Eventually you'll likely get "conditioned" to the irregularity of it.
Imposed sleep deprivation is a known tactic in torture and interrogation. At least truckers get paid to endure it.Another Canadian driver, nredfor88, Boondock and 2 others Thank this. -
are you driving during day time or night time?
Another Canadian driver, Boondock and LtlAnonymous Thank this. -
Another Canadian driver, jmarc77, Boondock and 1 other person Thank this.
-
Well 15-18 hour days shouldn't be happening. You have a 14-hour clock. After that, you aren't required to do anything. As a matter of fact, you're prohibited from doing ANYTHING.
So I mean...you can either get through this, or you can rock the boat in an attempt to get shorter days or a new trainer. Those are kind of your options.austinmike, Another Canadian driver, nredfor88 and 2 others Thank this. -
How many more weeks of team training is still required before you can drive solo truck ?
Vic Firth and Another Canadian driver Thank this. -
Sounds like your trainer was maybe in the Marines or Army's Special Forces.
I didn't start out in flatbed--but I don't remember my OTR training period being anywhere near that grueling.
If my math is near correct--another week, maybe two--and you're through with your trainer--& then out on your own.
Do you think maybe you can last that much longer?
Are you learning a lot from your trainer, anyway?
In trucking (& also, in life)--persistence pays off......BIG-TIME.
"The race goes not to the swift, or to the strong....but to those who keep running....."
--LualSirscrapntruckalot, Another Canadian driver and Boondock Thank this. -
Why call them trainers when they are co-drivers?
ZVar, Vic Firth, Another Canadian driver and 6 others Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 5