I failed my cdl test today....

Well done. Best of luck to you in your new career.

R/

Frat

 

Dashing through the snow ain't always like the song says..

 

Jesus, Chompi you sound like Chris is the only one to succeed without a trainer. The WHOLE company goes without a trainer and they are doing fine. Look at the stats. I respect you've been there and done that but you're flogging that dead horse till it's legs have fallen off.


Basically what it comes down to is your confidence ability. If you are confident you can do it, go for it. If you have doubts might want to look elsewhere. You're not sitting in a class room for 10 days, you're out on the road, driving through the mountains and backing into docks. You are training. You just dont go out over the road with one.

Good luck Walstib, as you've found out on the W&S forums, they are family over there and will help ya out when you need it.

 

I went straight from school to a small carrier and had no trainer with me. I did have a road test and that was about it. My situation was about the same, started driving my own truck towards the end of October 2004. I survived and thrived, you just have to be very careful and use common sense.
Nowadays, with my own Authority, I choose to run South where there's little to no snow and when it gets bad up here, I stay home and push snow instead.

 

Hey walstib! Congrats to you!!
You know I am in several W/S threads (with you too!) so I have a good idea who you talked to and yes some of the guys really are doing well there w/o hours of training with a dedicated trainer. Some people go out for 180-240hrs of training and still have no clue how to trip plan, do a log book or know HOS. I think some is attitude -Look at AT....all of 21 years old....doing pretty well. Keep your options open, read, ask questions but in the end you will go with what you gut tells you and what fits you best!! Good luck to you!!

 

You may be right that inexperienced people take less chances.. But experience lets you know when you are out of you zone and what to do when you get in a jam.. I have been through alot out here and I will tell you the problem you will have is this.. You are running somewhere in the south mid to late January or Feb Temps are freezing and you are in a Winter storm watch area... Its clear no signs of precip. Next thing you know the trailer is coming around on you.. what do you do. You have found some black ice. What you have learned in 2 months has to save your life and everyone around you.. Good luck. I hope it goes well

 

No accidents are not limited to experienced or inexperienced people. You have to do what your gut tells you.. all I am saying is be safe. I would have no problem starting out on my own having it to do over but this time of year it is going to be very dicey. I am not trying to talk you in or out of anything just be safe and remember you are responsible for everyone on the road not just yourself, also that truck stop is the place you are most likely to have an accident. (those are on private property so they don't pop up on that site) So be careful and safe.. Good luck