10 day training? Are you high?

So a few weeks ago I'm getting my DOT Med card and about 7 student drivers from Watkins Shepard are in the lobby with me.
They start asking me about Cargo Transporters which is who I work for. So I tell them our training is 8 weeks for student drivers and they tell me theirs is only TEN DAYS! I thought they were kidding then I see on Watkins website that it is indeed 10 days! Are these people high? That's just crazy! There is no way you can learn what you need to know to safely drive a truck in TEN days. I really don't know how they are getting away with this with their Insurance company unless they are self insured. This seems like an accident waiting to happen. Not very reassuring to the motoring public either.

 

For the truckers who support this, I never wanna hear you complain about DOT regulations again!
You can NOT train someone to properly drive a truck in ten days! Not to mention all the little things we do the doesn't even involve driving. One driver ask how long is Swift?. 4 to 5 weeks. My company trains for 8 weeks and you MUST have at least 3 years experience to be a trainer. Some might think 8 weeks is too long but or students CAN drive a truck! I fully support a federal regulation to require a minimum of 6 weeks with an EXPERIENCED trainer. These crash courses are not fair to the motoring public and most of all not fair to the student. You wonder why we have so much regulation? Look what companies do when you let them have their way. The next time your wife and kids hop in the car to go to town, remember to Stop and think about that guy pulling 80,000 pounds with 10 days of training.