Trainer vs No Trainer

Considering the number of times I've almost been trailer-whipped recently, I'd say that anyone who gets a nice shiny, new CDL, and is put in a truck on his own after 10-days worth of orientation is a danger to himself and everyone else on the road. Hope you make it through the winter.

 

Originally Posted by Mike_NC
Where did you go to school, PCDoctor?

Surry Community College in Yadkinville. All of the instructors are SCC employess, but the Program Director is an employee of SAGE out of Billings, MT. All the instructors bent over backwards to help each and every student, and the office staff really knew the carriers well.

While I mentioned that we were shown certain tasks only once because they weren't on the State test, if you asked an instructor to see it again or try it yourself during Range time he would do it. My point, and one that even the instructors repeatedly make, is that their job is to get the student to pass the road test. Our class had only 6 students, and we all passed. All of us had job offers by the time we graduated, and I know 3 of us started out a week afterwards. Due to personal reasons, I've had to wait until the end of July to get rolling. However, I've picked a carrier which appears to have a good training program. I personally visited their terminal to see their equipment and meet some of the behind-the-scenes folks. You can read about my experience in the thread titled, "Newbie Journal with SAGE School".

If you're ever in the area, send me a PM and we'll do lunch.

 

So lets see... you've got what - about 6 months experience, and an arrogant attitude. No I won't waste my time arguing with you - its obvious that you aren't interested in anyone's opinion but your own. Your original post asked for everyone else's opinion on your course of action, and you have mine: You're a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road.

 

This is pointless, why ask a question when you've already taken a stance?

One more thing, are you between the ages of 23 and 28? I just ask because I think thats the range where you are most likely to roll a truck.

 

okey-dokey then........

Werner requires new grads to be with a trainer for 150 hours (I think Swift is the same).

Schnieder requires (currently) 7-10 days.

May Trucking's requirement is "up to four weeks" but, the trainer can release you when he "thinks' you're ready.

Watkins & Shepard requires a 10 day orientation that includes about 50 + hours of driving and backing practice.

At most companies you can be a trainer with as little as 6 months experience.


[sarcasm] yeah I can see the consistency and value in these programs [/sarcasm]


I'm not trying to defend anyone or any company but.... I can't help but notice that W&S has a better safety rating than those others.

What happened?


......... Jim

 

These are the guys you see driving done the road flashing their high beams to tell you to move over. Same guys that run with their fog lights on at night. Most them can't shift a truck properly. Let me guess NCsuperdriver you probably double clutch too! They teach you that in class, but not how you drive on the road. Probably running the jake with chains passing everyone done donners too! Ah the super experienced untrained drivers.

 

if you are new, never been on your own, your gettin a trainer, plain an simple

 

yep .... a trainer with 6 months experience that flashes his high beams, double clutches and runs the jakes on a slippery grade.


what was the point again?

Oh yeah ....... everybody needs a trainer 'cause you have have someone in the jump seat to tell you how to not enter the scales when the light beeps green and show you what to do when the light beeps red and we all know that this takes weeks to learn. Oh yeah .... what makes a good driver is practice but you have to have a 6 month wonder in the jump seat to practice "properly".


What part of this job is so complicated that a reasonably mature (attitude not age), somewhat mechanically inclined person with a little common sense needs 4-6 week of babysitting to do?


Really.


.............. Jim

 

Ah, supertruckers, haven't even driven a set of tires yet! You are probably right about some trainers out there that shouldn't be. Hopefully the smart ones out there are notifying the company about their trainers lack of ability. I don't have any hostility towards you new drivers, you are only hurting yourselves and the ability to do your job correctly and be successful at it. It is comical though. You can usually spot the drivers that haven't been with a trainer. You can tell to here on the forum when their experience level is more than a year and the questions they ask should have taught to them 12 months ago.