What companies have the SHORTEST time out with a trainer?

I was with a trainer for 70 days and actually had quite a good time on the road with him. Usually you go out 90 days with a trainer here. I still talk to him a couple times a week.

Training isn't the greatest thing in the world but it's not the end of the world either. If you can't make it a few weeks you probably won't make it at the job.

 

What if he's driving an automatic and there is no middle peddle?

To the OP: Schneider is 7 days of orientation at an OC where you'll go over company policies, make sure you understand HOS and how to use the elog software, and go on at least 3 check rides (backing and button hooks included). Then 10-14 days with a trainer (who should be sitting in the right hand seat for every mile you drive).

To the posters who have stated that longer company training periods are better for new drivers: you're not wrong but you're not right either.

If a person comes out of a PTDI certified school then they SHOULD know how to handle a truck under most situations. A REASONABLY intelligent person should be able to learn a company's workflow in under two weeks. Deficiencies in either of these areas would probably indicate a need for a longer training period.

One thing you aren't taking into account is how people react to each other. I am a very easy person to get along with - provided I can go and be alone for a couple of hours a day. Without that 'me time' I get cranky (one of the several reasons I'm not married).

My trainer was knowledgeable, intelligent, reasonable, and an okay communicator. His taste in music wasn't bad either but by the end of the 12 days on his truck I could have gladly strangled him. My learning was inhibided by the fact that I was stressed out by being in virtual constant contact.

If we want to improve the quality of new drivers we should not look to company training programs. Company training programs should teach drivers how to operate within a company's framework NOT how to drive.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that you are allowed up to 30 points when taking a CDL test. I got 6 when I took mine and four of those were for canceling my turn signal too soon after taking a corner. I did not then nor do I now consider myself a great driver. A year later I barely consider myself a shade over decent. My point is that it's way too easy to pass a CDL test. It should be #### hard to get that little piece of plastic.

As long as I'm on my soapbox - all the stupid things we see every day: following too close, failure to yield, failure to signal, speeding, taking out curbs (or lawns/the fender of the poor schmuck next to you), parking on the fuel island, etc - are too often not a function of ignorance but of stupidity. And you can't fix stupid - even with a ten year long training period.

 

gentleroger, very good thoughtful post. I am like you, I am pleasant to be around, but hate to be around someone all the time. That is one reason that I like trucking, being alone. That is why riding with a trainer will be difficult, but hey guess you got to man up and deal with it.

 

If a person comes out of a PTDI certified school then they SHOULD know how to handle a truck under most situations.

Not true in all cases. I've seen students who just left Roadmaster and couldn't drive a truck to save their life. Grinding every gear, not being able to negotiate turns, not knowing which gear to select before descending a hill, etc.

 

Make the most of your experience. If your time out is short and you learn nothing, was the shortest training option really the best ? Most company training is to an extent flexible as to the ability of the student. You have a lot to do with how long you will be in training. But don't expect to get out quicker if you go into it thinking you don't have anything new to learn. You will find out quickly you never really stop learning about "Mistress Road" . Good luck !

 

Gotta give the credit where it's due to Kittyfoot for educating me on the term "Mistress Road"

 

For new drivers with real potential this is all it takes . I have trained people out of the warehouse or sales that wanted to become drivers . It was local runs and usually didn't require more than a couple of weeks .
With too many carriers long "training periods " is just a way to get half of a team to run for $350 a week .

 

It comes down to some people pick up on it easily and some don't. And it's not a quality you can pre-screen for, unfortunately.

 

What type of trucking interests you? Reefer? Dry Van? Flat Bed? Tanker? Would help to know.