Schneider driving training only 7 days, really??

hiring in a exp or inexp?

 

I am inexp.

 

I would know in about a hour if you are any good or not. For example if I asked you to turn left while staying in a gear all the way through and you followed that instruction, that tells me you are worth keeping and training. If you did shift and not follow through, I just had a clue you are not that attentive of a trainee and might not take instruction.

If you tried to show boat by ramming a trailer back at 50 mph I would have you at the drivers lounge with a bus ticket home in a few minutes. For example.

7 Days is just enough to settle into a truck for your part in the training. Im taught to stay with you and teach you structured for 8 weeks because the company gives me a very specific book to mark off each goal for each of the 8 weeks for the milestones you need to learn. I should know, I taught my Spouse. If you know anything about spouses, wifes do not take instruction from husbands when under stress. They will totally deny whatever I had to say or teach if the wife is angry at me. (Have had that happen, what then was a cool off period usually rest of the night. Next day is a new one and try again...)

By the same token, I have to discover your fears, just like my instructors discovered mine when I was a pup. For me it's downgrades. They kept me on downgrades all the time. I got sick of it then I got grade happy. At that point there was no more issue. Otherwise it's a oppertunity to fail and be sent home because the first load I got on the first hill it will kill me or someone. I found two on my wife. One was wide open spaces of empty, 300 miles from vegas offered her mind nothing at all. She cracked near Hawthorne Walker Lake. I drove her out of there to blessed Reno to rest a few days against the log book. The other was the need to precise lane keeping near NM/TExas on 40 back when it was under construction where 60 miles of shoulder isnt there. It's actually a 3 foot ledge you needed to keep 3 inches from in that right lane for 60 miles. If you fell asleep you fell out of the lane, rolled down into the gravel that that's that. She cried the whole time I had to harden my heart and keep shut up because she has to do it. After the training, I did not put her into that position again.

Training is a big thing. 7 days aint gonna cut it. If you are really BAAD. You are gone the same afternoon you first meet.

It's not so much the training, it's what you learn and keep for yourself. Don't owrry grass hopper, you will decide if you have a future or not after your own first big self scare within the first 3 months on your own.

Regarding grade happy my teachers created a monster. If I was not on a hill some place I aint happy.

 

Speaking as a former Schneider trainer in the bulk division, where training was two weeks OTR, 7 days is usually enough. If you still don't drive well after 7 days then another week or two won't help. Some people just flat out cannot do this job. Another factor people don't understand is that the yard training you get before you go with a trainer is very intense and thorough. Also, you can always request more time, you won't be turned down.

I think Schneider is trying to set a tone in that they don't want to recruit the people who want to train for a long time. To me, even as a rookie, I would look to a short training time as a huge plus. Training pay is crap at almost any company and I learn best on my own. Just teach me the QC and the ends and outs of the company and I can figure out the rest.

 

I don't agree with Schneider's training policy.

Depending on where you live, you probably won't see any mountain driving. One week is not enough time to get that endurance built up. You don't get the situational training that you'll get if you stay out longer. To me, I've just never agreed with it.

 

Big companies make you double clutch?

 

Hey Ike. Always get a kick out of your videos. Think Freymiller is a good place to start? You must see them around? I agree on SNI training. Good company for sure but the trucking school I went too didn't really prepare me very well so I'd prefer to get the 6-8 weeks training over the 7 days.

 

I would completely agree with you if for those extra weeks the trainer was up in the passenger seat training the student. A downgrade while you're teaming and your trainer is asleep in the bunk teaches you as much as if you were by yourself. But I also think it depends on the person. I learn best on my own when I practice. My week with the TE at Schneider was most useful in learning how to interact with customers and to see the little things. Would more time have been better? Maybe. But I'm still here and I'm doing well. So, I'm a fan of the program. And I'm also a fan of the fact that in my career so far I've NEVER, not for a single day, teamed with anyone. Never been in the sleeper laying down while the truck was moving.
To others though, perhaps having a crutch in the sleeper is necessary. Not everyone learns at the same speed.

As far as Freymiller.. Their pay is quite sad. But the trucks are nice. And it's reefer, so probably longer average length of haul. And crazier hours.

 

I agree here. I have tried setting the cruise and going to the bunk to get some sleep. It just bounces to much when the truck goes off the road to get any decent sleep. Seriously though, I've been through the east coast mountains, heavy and light. Today I went through with my first liquid load. I was worried but cautious. But I was fine. I think that is the best way to be though. Tomorrow is 8 weeks officially on my own. I've logged a little over 17k miles. I'm still learning daily. Not any more or less than I would if someone was sleeping in the bunk while I'm driving. My only area I'm really lacking experience on is driving in the dark. I get up at 0430 and on the road by 0500. Only getting a couple hours before dawn and none at dusk as I'm usually already parked. That'll change with the time and season change coming soon.

 

I back up high speed man so the trailer can't turn on me