Rookie LTL, should I go OTR?

I'm a brand new driver with no exp. Working on my 2nd week of LTL. Needless to say, there is A LOT to learn. My trainer has been not so helpful at times, and I've felt like I'm drowning under the pressure of getting the job done, let alone the fact that I'm trying to learn how to safely run a rig down the road and in the yard. I nearly resigned today because of an incident in the yard and my trainer had totally walked away from me and I had to recieve help from another driver.

What would you experienced guys do in my situation? Stick it out or go otr with a training company to get more experience first? My terminal manager wants to keep me onboard and said I will get as much training time as I'll need before they set me off on my own. But obviously, I want to make sure that I remain safe on my job, so I'm trying to balance taking on a high pressure job with remaining safe as a new driver. I think I'm going to just proceed at my own pace until I get my feet under me. Just wanted to throw this situation out to the experienced guys on the board and see what ya'll think. What would you do as a rookie in my situation?

 

I can put in for a linehaul gig after I complete my training and get a few months under my belt.

 

Thanks, Puppage. Thats what my TM said as well and I'll be starting with a new trainer tomorrow.

 

Thanks, Six. The 'incident' in the yard was moving a trailer. He said just hook up the blue line, dont worry bout the landing gear and put it to the side. We'll grab the one behind it. So, I did as told, hop back in cab, put her in gear, and now I'm trying to DRAG a pup trailer through the yard. Its a simple task, and lesson learned on my end to never cut corners, but dang it if I wudnt mad. This wasnt the only example, but just the last one that had me say time-out, I need to address whats going on here.

I would say the 'struggling' is trying to balance the learning curve with having to adjust to the non-stop ltl world. So for instance, because I'm worried about the clock, and since my trainer is hanging out in dispatch not anywhere near me, I'll drop the ball on something having to do with the manifest, or not properly working the diade or something like that. I really am putting in an effort to learn as much as I can, but I feel at tines I'm trying to drink from a fire hose, and my trainer is sort of letting me just figure it out on my own. This is when I feel that my ability to operate safely is put in danger, and I do not want to harm anyone because I made a rookie mistake from feeling under the gun with no guidance.

 

Thanks, Buck. Appreciate it. I definitely know I have a career job ahead of me. Just gotta learn to run at my own pace until I get my feet under me.