Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by celticwolf, Jan 18, 2012.

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  1. Rookie Trainer 2

    Rookie Trainer 2 Bobtail Member

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    You guys were a great group,Ben.Real pleasure to train. Brad told me he already has a trainer and should be rolling out tommorow..

    Best of luck to all you guys and be sure to say hi when you roll into Salt Lake...
     
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  3. Rookie Trainer 2

    Rookie Trainer 2 Bobtail Member

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    Sorry for your trouble Celtic,but that was as preventable an accident as there is.If you ran over a boulder,that means your tandems didn't clear the turn.You didn't see it because you weren't watching your mirrors/tandems as you completed the turn.If you were,you would have seen the boulder and you wouldn't have hit it..

    Good luck just the same..
     
  4. Rookie Trainer 2

    Rookie Trainer 2 Bobtail Member

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    Ready for some city driving today?
     
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  5. Panhandle flash

    Panhandle flash Road Train Member

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    I caught one of those once. One of the caves in MO. Pitch black, no lights, didn't even see it in my headlites. Sometimes, ..it happens.
     
  6. Lady K

    Lady K Road Train Member

    I believe his also happened at night... No lights on the back side of the trailer... Totally sucks!!
     
  7. 1badz28

    1badz28 Road Train Member

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    well i gotta call bull crap on this one. Now before i start i am gonna say that i do know you trainers have a certain guideline that you do have to follow and there are certain things that you have to say to students. I understand that . Now with that being said you are making comments to a driver not a student with green #### behind the ears. As a experianced and seeing that you have 11 years experiance you of all people should know that sh1t happens. First was it dark outside was it a really tight turn was celtic cut off by a 4 wheeler who tried to bet him to the turn and made him cut the wheel hard to avoid an accident with the car thus causing the tandems to jump the curb and hit a boulder? Im not gonna pass a quick judgement here cause i was not there and did not see what happened. Life out on the road is a whole lot different than the big purtty picture that the instructors paint where if you do this or that accidents will never happen. That is far from the truth actually life on the road brings many different situations everyday some can be avoided yes. But there are times when something beyond your controll will happen and you got a split second to react. Sometimes the out come is good other times not so good. Have i bent up somethings he11 yea i have i tore the side off a guys mini van when i had to make a hard right that was tight i lost the tandems in the mirror in the turn the guy snuck up beside me on the shoulder in my blindspot because he did not want to get stuck behind me. Actually this guy was a retired driver with 40 yrs exp hauling gas tankers and admitted he was in the wrong. Every situation you encounter can not always be handled the way it is tought in a classroom. What makes a driver a driver is experiance handling situations by trial and error and at times just plain stupid luck somethings can not be learned in a classroom it has to be learned from experiance. There are roads with turns really tight turns espically in downtown areas where you dont have room to swing much less avoid a curve. I know of plenty curbs that are crushed into the ground because some college educated designed it without trucks in mind. Any experianced truck driver will know this. But you guys teach never ever hit a curb if you do your a failure. Well like my granddad used to say those who can drive drive those who cant teach. I really dont give a rats a55 who this pisses off and i really dont care if anyone takes this to the higher ups within central they can kiss my rear too. Matter a fact ill take one of those suits for a ride anyday and show them some real life truck driving and i gurrantee they will come back with a different outlook on how things are done on the road. And some of lessons tought in the school might change instead of this you have to do it this way bull crap.
     
  8. jjranch

    jjranch Road Train Member

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    I'm now an instructor at TDA.The program works if you apply the methods both TDA and Central teach new students.

    I have to disagree with you on that one

    I'm pretty impressed with the training offered by the school.Yes,it is a fast paced program.It's designed to get people on the road as quickly and safely as possible and I think we do a pretty good job.By no means are students expected to be seasoned drivers at the end of the program.Neither were you at the end of your program.That's why students go with a trainer (not another rookie) for at least another 200 hours of driving before they are eligible for an upgrade to solo driver status.That usually takes at least a month and a half.Now when you add in the classroom time,and the range time,it's pretty darn close to the amount of training you received many years ago.But,it's more current and it's a fraction of the cost..

    And again I have to disagree with this one too. I was a trainer with central it is true thqt there are some good trainers who want to see the student suceed and take pride in teaching them but the majority only want them for the miles and not teaching them all they need to know just enough to try and cover themselves with the training dept. And then you have some that might have barely a year otr training someone new To the industry and you are calling them not a rookie, you have a warped sense of professionaliam also the programs they mandate look good on paper but are seldom enforced you have no clue on what goes on with them once they leave your little fiefdom oh you think you do but you don't. Also most independant training schools do have a job placement like sage. Also no self respected instructor would come on a thread and out a driver over an accident that's just outright unprofessional and any advice you would now give wont hold water. I am by no means a fan of celtic wolf but he did deserve better than that a little professional courtesy but I guess by your actions there is nothing professional at tda just an ex driver with over inflated egos. All drivers in their career are bound to have a bad day but they learn from their mistakes and try not to make them again. I hope you you have an accident so we can point it out to you and see how you would feel. Stick to teaching students what they need to pass to get their cdl and leave the real teaching to us.
     
    Lady K and road runner 9630 Thank this.
  9. Rookie Trainer 2

    Rookie Trainer 2 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for the flowers,Driver..By all means,please feel free to call b.s. on whatever you like..I run into lying truck drivers all day..I know the feeling.But,just so you know,I'm not a lying truck driver and I don't have much patience for them.I'll walk away from them in mid story.

    Yep,we sure do..We repeat things over and over.Things like '' watch your following distance,check your mirrors,where are your tandems? Get out and look''

    It's the hope that the constant repetion will eventually sink in and new drivers will check their mirrors,will maintain a safe following distance,will know where their tandems are and will G.O.A.L.

    We say these these things because, if practiced,they do work and go a long way towards preventing PREVENTABLE accidents..

    I suppose sometimes it might.I also know and I think you should too,that many of the accidents drivers have are 100% preventable.What are some common accidents? Backing accidents that could have been prevented with a G.O.A.L..Rollovers that could have been prevented by decreasing speed.And right turn accidents that could have been prevented by taking a good look at the intersection and planning your turn a little better..

    I'm not a big fan of the ''stuff happens'' school of thought.I believe that the chances of ''stuff happening'' greatly decrease when you're paying attention to detail,you apply your training and take common sense precautions.

    I wasn't there either,and I'll agree the incident was unfortunate.Somewhere in the middle lies the truth..I just can't imagine a scenario that would include anyone running me off the road and I lose control of my equipment.Sounds to me,more like a case of right turn dealing with a customer where the mirrors werent being watched.How many boulders do you see on regular street corners? They seem to be a common feature near places where trucks come and go ,day and night.Just saying..

    I'm pretty sure you never spent a minute in a truck with me. If you had,you would know that I rarely paint ''purty'' pictures of rosy traffic situations.I do however, live and breathe The Smith System.It works and I swear by it.

    I never tell students accidents will ''never happen.'' Instead, I try, as best I can, to teach students to avoid them.A good way to avoid them is by practicing The Smith System and always knowing where your tandems are.I'm also a big fan of getting out and looking during challenging backing situations..

    I do this because it works and it's kept me out a preventable accident for over million miles.Some accidents are preventable,other aren't..I try to teach them how to avoid the preventable ones.A lot of accidents are preventable.Most of them are if you're paying attention.I encourage students to pay attention.


    Fair enough. I've had close calls before.I've been rear ended twice.Once in Dallas,once in Atlanta where the drunk driver who slammed into my DOT bar at 60 mph lost his left arm..Nothing I could have done about either scenario as I was stopped in traffic during the clean up phases of a previous accident..

    Perfect example of a preventable accident,Driver.I spent two years running local in New York City and Philladelphia.Prior to that,I had 8 years OTR.I know a bit about city driving and tight turns.I never hit anything.

    I have a pet peeve for right turns.Right turns can be dangerous if not done right and can often result in a preventable accident. Just today while running my students in Salt Lake for city driving,one of them had real trouble with two right turns..He didn't set up his turn right and he was not watching his tandems..Good thing I was and was able to stop him before he took out a telephone pole.After the second troublesome turn,I pulled him out of the seat,I jumped in and repeated the same two turns and showed him the right way to do it.I then had him do the same turns again,and he did them without any problem.

    What I don't understand about your situation is why you would proceed with a turn if you cant see your tandems? That's basic rookie stuff,and maybe that's why you had an accident.

    I don't allow 4 wheelers to drive my truck for me..I wouldn't have allowed a 4 wheeler to get between my trailer and the curb.I would have used a button hook and blocked off his route of approach with the rear of my trailer and prevented him from getting in. Defensive driving ,not aggressive driving.Tight turn you say? Then you take some of the opposing lane to ensure that your tandems will clear the corner or obstacle.

    Sounds like you both should have known better..

    I agree.There is no substitute for experience behind the wheel.But,you should apply what you've learned in the classroom,and during your training.Many times,when you do that,you don't have to rely on ''stupid luck.'' You'll know what to do.


    Again,Driver,I agree with you.Of course there are really tight turns.I've seen plenty of them and set my turn up to avoid hitting a curb,ESPECIALLY in downtown areas where you may run over a pedestrian.Like I've mentioned before,I spent years driving in NYC,Philly and every sinkhole up and down the northeastern,I-95 corridor..

    Of course we teach to avoid curbs, for obvious reasons.Are there times where you may have to hit one to make a turn? Sure are, but you aren't taken on a road test where it is.


    I think you might have screwed up your Grandpa's quote,otherwise,I'm not sure what the hell that is supposed to mean..

    But I'll put my credentials up against yours any day.I have 11 years to your 9.I have no preventable accidents.No right turn accidents,no backing accidents,no tickets,no log book violations,no failed inspections.You get my drift?

    I can hold my own in the worst traffic NYC can throw at me and teach a student how to negotiate it without a scratch on the truck or making pedestrians dive for cover. How about you? Are you putting your years of experience to work to help new drivers become safe drivers? Do you help them out,answer questions or,instead treat them to tales of what a bad ### you are and how you don't give a darn? I hope not.Because drivers like that are a dime a dozen.They bore the hell out me.It takes a lot of patience to deal with rookie drivers.I have the patience.How about you? What do you do to help new drivers?


    Whoa,you sound like a real tough guy..I can assure you,I have no interest in taking this or any other post on this board to ''the higher ups.'' That's not my job.My job is to try my best to train students to become safe,attentive drivers.I think I'm getting better at it everyday.But,since you feel so strongly about this,I'm sure you'll waste no time setting those ''suits'' right.It's important you share your valuable insight with them as the situation for drivers will no doubt change for the better after your informative exhange with ''the suits.''

    Maybe one day,if I ever feel the urge to go OTR again,I will become an OTR trainer.Because as you pointed out,not everyone can drive and teach..I can do both.
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2012
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  10. Rookie Trainer 2

    Rookie Trainer 2 Bobtail Member

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    --------REPLY

    I didn't think I offended ''Celtic Wolf.'' If I did,I apologize. I thought I was just making an observation.As I pointed out in a previous post ,I wasn't there and neither were you. It seemed to follow a common formula though and as he said himself,it wasn't his first accident..

    I'll skim over the rest of your post cause you sound like you're looking for an argument..Not interested..

    I will say though,that if you ask anyone who goes through the TDA course,we do constantly remind them that upon completion of the course,they are far from being experienced truckers..That takes time..

    It also takes the guidance of an experienced over the road trainer.A fact we don't gloss over.I don't diminish what they do..I only have the students for a week or so.I can't cram my experience into them in that short time.I have a job to to do,and I do it while understanding my limitations with the time I have with them..

    That's why I hope my students are sent with a trainer that knows what he/she is doing and can turn out safe drivers during the month and a half they spend together..

    But hey,I have absolutely no problem leaving this board..I was only trying to help with questions about the training program,including the important,essential role of OTR trainers..

    But don't put words in my mouth..My experience is very recent.I'm not an ''ex driver''.I'd have ZERO problem getting a job tommorow.I know what I'm talking about and can hold my own against you or just about any driver I've met,with few exceptions.

    Are there "dud'' trainers,I'd bet you there sure are.I also know they are being weeded out.So,tell us,why don't you train there anymore?

    Nevermind..
     
  11. jjranch

    jjranch Road Train Member

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    Well if you must know it was about the miles and the lies and trust us it wont hurt our feelings if you never post here again.
    Like you said you walk away from lying drivers well I walk away from lying instructors here is me walking away.
     
    road runner 9630 Thanks this.
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