Trainers don't grow on trees ... Orientation was done days ago.

Thank you everyone for your valuable experienced advice... I've learned a lot reading your responses ... I am going to sit tight. Patience is a great virtue. Thank you again ...

 

Well, this is the update: I think my waiting might be coming close to an end. Today I got a call from the DQ that I've been matched with a trainer ("mentor") ... I called and spoke to him. He was in northern Pennsylvania waiting for a load. He confirmed that loads were slow these days so you had to go where they sent you, unlike before Corona when you could have multiple loads to chose from. He's been an OTR driver for 21 years, was a company driver for this mega-carrier and is presently an O/O working under their umbrella. He lives an hour down the road from me so that will be convenient for home time. He said he wasn't sure what he'll get right now ... but he is taking a week's vacation from June 12th. If possible he'll take me on before then, but that all depends on the dispatch if they can arrange for it and have him back by the 12th. Else, I'll have to wait until after his vacation. He sounded like a nice fellow. I don't know if I'll have to wait this extra time until after his vacation or if they can get me on his truck for ten or twelve days prior?

 

It's been exciting, challenging and tiring. I've developed a new and deeper respect for all you experienced veterans out there... wow, how did you do it?

I simply couldn't get the time, nor had the energy to go online and read or post anything. Now I'm at home again so here are some observations.

I was fortunate to get a million-mile driver-mentor with 21 years of OTR trucking under his belt. Real nice guy and very knowledgeable. Occasionally short tempered and harsh, but I didn't mind since he was correcting me. The only problem was his thick accent (Latino) which I often misunderstood, adding to his aggravation. But my ears got sharper and it got better. He was a task master and we were on the go, go, go ... One day I did 10 hours and 58 minutes of driving just getting to the terminal in the nick of time. Backing, turning, coupling, uncoupling, tandem adjustment, etc., he was giving me all the opportunities and I was taking it in like a sponge and realizing how much more I needed to learn. One day we got caught in a severe rain storm with high winds on a mountain road in Tennessee (it was an interstate highway fortunately), and it really made me nervous. I asked my mentor if I should pull over... shrugging his shoulders, his response was, "you are the driver."

I was lucky to get a good trainer and hope this continues after I get back on the road. I'm presently off the truck. I had a stupid accident. I fell down on concrete towards the very end of a long day and injured my wrist so I've been taken off the truck until the doctor gives me an all clear. It's been four days now and I am really anxious to get back to finish my training. Everything was going so well until this... I am so ****ed off at myself for being clumsy. The worst of it is that I heard from my mentor today that they have assigned him another student. That means when I get full medical clearance (hopefully no later than next week) I'll have to get back in the long line and wait until I get re-assigned. Once again, it's "hurry up and wait."