Helping one another

Yes, but I am not SP's enemy. I understand why he feels like he does toward driving schools! And he is justified in that opinion. I spent 12 years in the racket and know that most schools are a sham. So I am not directing this toward him, I am glad he thinks we truckers should start working with each other rather than against.

We do need to treat each other better. We are all we have to work with after all is said and done.

 

Hubcap sorry i was kind hard on you,it's not just in the trucking industry ,it was in construction to,... I could'nt go a day a few years ago with people looking for work back when you could'nt get a decent operator or they tell you they'v run this or that and you give them a chance but road test them first, and when the man asks you ok,i havent run one like this befor and cant even move the machine, and you can see hes afraid to touch button or levers,you know he aint been on one befor,or i had a guy that went from truck driveing to heavey equipment operator school,,,,,,,, evey anser out of his mouth is they taught me that in school!!!!!that got old quick,,due to everthing he touched caused extra alot of extra work!!!! and it got to the point i asked him, when you drove your truck were you good at it? he said yes. i handed him his last check and said you might want to go back to it!!!!!!,due to him not listening an learning what was trying to be taught to him it cost 22 hrs of overtime for 5 guys that new what they were doing,to fix 3 days of someone that didnt want to learn,,,,,iv been on both sides of the fence,,, but i;m a man and i make mistakes and if i;m wrong i;m man enough to admitt it,

 

When I started out about 8yrs ago an old driver once told me be thankful when a EXP driver gave me a hand....I took it to heart. So to show how thankful i am for help, I purchase subway and walmart and whoever gift cards for 25 dollars and keep maybe 10 with me on the road....i get some help or just a hand, i hand them out. i started this 8 yrs ago when that old driver gave me a hand. Saying thank you is great but those gift cards have made me a few friends for life. YES 8 yrs later i dont know it all and cant do it all and i still hand out those cards. Just my 25bucks worth!!

 

There is a lot to be said for that, and there are a lot of new guys out there who need the help. Instead of making fun of them when they dont know thier way around a truck, lend a hand and help a guy figure it out if he is willing to listen.

If he is not willing to listen, sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the "I told you so"

But you will be suprised how many there are willing to listen, even if they have to experince a few humbleing moments first.

 

I would start every class with the same speech "I can either be your favorite Uncle, or your Marine drill instructor....Your choice."

Some chose the DI. I found humiliation works.

 

You know this reminds me of when I was in the navy, I hung out at the auto hobby shop quite a bit. Had a guy who put a new cam in his chevy truck, nice little pickup, but it wouldnt start.

He had also put another carburator on it, and he put a stupid tall spacer under the carb, and did not get the proper bracket for it.

Frustrated he asked me if I could give him a hand, I went over looked under the hood, and I could see the hack job he had done putting the carb in, I told him, "I will help you but there are a few things you need to address before we start, you need to replace this fuel line, it is kinked, you also dont have a fuel filter, you need one. Also we need to get your spark plug wires in some looms so they dont get burnt on your headers, and you need to either put your old carb back on, or you need to get the proper bracket for the one you have now so the cable is not kinked."

He got all upset with me and replie "well can you just tell me why it wont start" I told him "I may just have, you need to make those things right beore you go any further, because they might be the source of your problem." He got even more upset, said what ever and walked around the back of the truck.

I went back to what I was doing, about an hour goes by, once again, a bit more humble he asks me if I can help him, I asked if he fixed the things I told him he needed to, he tells me no. I told him when he had I would help him.

The next day about noon he found me, told me he had fixed everything, I went over started lookiing at it, it did not take long to figure out that his timing was 180 degrees out, we fixed that the truck still did not want to run, wound up having to pull the intake and relash the valves.

We put it all back togeather, truck fired right up. Set the timing got it going. He got all excited, thanked me, and was all excited that he could put his other carb on now. I told him with out the right bracket it was a bad idea, well he insisted.

About 30 minutes later he fires the truck up, revv's it and the throttle sticks wide open with open headers.

About a month later he got the new engine put in the truck, and opted to use the factory carb.

All over a 15.00 bracket.

 

I would allow students to try turning corners on their own in a secluded area and they would take all their lazy driving ways and run over the curb every time. So I would explain that once the wheel is turned, the trailer was headed for the curb. So put it off as long as you can.

But, they had to try it their way.

When they failed enough times, they would ask for help. So I would get them set up going into the turn, far enough away from the curb, yet close enough to keep a car from passing you on the right and I would say. "Now, do not turn the wheel 'til I say now. And when I do, turn it all they way".

The would start out holding the wheel straight, being tempted to start turning it early, watching the trailer. With everyone watching in the silent truck, waiting for the moment to turn the wheel..waiting, waiting. And when the time came I would yell at the top of my lungs...."NOW!!!" and it would scare the hell out of them but when they got around the corner they were amazed that it worked!

Then we would take the 18 wheeler into down town Fort Worth, turning corners both left and right, sometimes on the second day in heavy traffic. But I would work their rear ends off and that is what it takes. You have to work 'em hard and every day make them face and beat a new challenge.

But if they refuse to listen? Why waste my time?

 

That is when you sit back and enjoy a nice big warm fuzzy cup of "I told you so"

 

Oh yeah...I used to enjoy sitting back watching the student sweat through his clothes. Cuss traffic, bang his head on the dash, argue with the DPS (DMV) lady because he never studied and couldn't pass his General Knowledge test. watching patiently while he killed the truck 353,275 times taking off up a hill, forgetting to put the button down...Low air buzzer ringing in their ear and me on the other side of the truck watching...patiently watching and smiling while traffic goes around us showing the class their "Tallest finger".

Oh yes! I loved it! Southern Pride and I would be having the time of our lives whittling down the misguided student drivers arrogance to the point where they were so humble they might listen.....for a change.

That is when you become fatherly to them, when they realize everything they thought they knew about trucking is wrong.

Some never get there, and they are handling a clean up on isle 9.

But it is their choice.

 

Or they wind up working for CR England.