Itching to go SOLO

I went to truck driving school in oct. Got my CDL on Nov 8, and started with SNI advanced driver training on Dec 3. I spent 2 days in class, 5 half days in class, and the other half in a truck. I spent what was supposed to be 2 weeks but was actually 10 days in my "training engineer". I officially finally completed final road test and everything on Dec 28(delays due to xmas) and am now officially my own solo driver.

I was dreading the whole "team" experience because I had no idea who this guy was, if he was a slob....etc... He was not a slob, kept a very clean truck. I was amazed at how much I learned in real life situations compared to what I learned at school. I was told by the school that they are only allowed to teach enough to get you past your CDL exam with the ministry of transportation. I feel I am ready to embark on my first solo load, but at the same time I am scared....

 

you know you think you know it all until something new happens. you need that time to see a varied amount of situations such as when a consignee refuses a load or you have to call police for an escort or to learn all of the macros and what not different companies have. just because you can pass a test that you were coached on doesn't make you a driver! and your ####iness isn't gonna help you it's gonna get you and probably some innocent person KILLED! open your mind as well as your ears and you'll have a much better life.

 

Yeah maybe he should be in Paris France too but headed to Honolulu...

 

I think what you're going to find, and as everyone here has pointed out, is that there's much more to this business than driving a tractor from point a to point b.

You may need less training than most because of your previous experiences, but don't automatically discount spending time with a trainer. He will teach you things that will make you more efficient in this business, which will reflect in more money in your pocket.

I know you have preferences as to how you see things unfolding. But if you take some time and read about people who have gone from school, then out with a trainer, and finally, getting their own truck, you'll see that it's more than just driving. You must learn how these companies operate.

And if you're a fast learner, as you've indicated in your posts, then all the better. It'll be over before you know it.

There's no end running the system.

Good luck.

 

Team training has got to be one of the more interesting times in your trucking career, or being paired with trainer for x amount of weeks...

I've done both, and it really 'humbles' you in a way...you'll either mature and adapt or there'll be constant friction...

When your teamed with someone, you really kind of get into 'generic' mode...

In other words no sharp strong personal opinions on to much...you learn to keep everything very 'generic' or general.

(that is unless the person your paired with is a spitting twin of you in as far as style, culture, ethnicity ect ect)...it does happen, but it's rare...

A better scenerio is that you might be a country guy from Nebraska, and your trainer might be a man from Uganda...yes...it does happen...

Or you might be city guy from Dallas, and your trainer might be a old timer from the hills of Kentucky....

So you really have to be 'flexible' during this time, and the less bias you are, the better, and if you are try to hide it...nothing worse than being at cultural odds with someone while sharing a closet together...

In other words if your trainer or student likes 'hip-hop'....don't blurt out 'I can't stand rap'....right then and you've created a rift, that won't benefit no one....

If you hate rap or country or heavy metal or blue grass or classical music, your trainer or student really doesn't have to know that...instead emphasize 'volume' and courtesy...(again that's being generic, without insulting anyone)...

Back in the day, me and my trainer could not have more opposite in music choice...they liked 'yoddling music'...Iriland yoddling...and me at the time, well I liked to listen to anything that made the older establishment upset...(I've since matured)...
But our vastly different taste in music, in no way effected our relationship...at times I listened to his yoddling music, and other times he listened to my selections...we got along great...

But like your teenager, sometimes if your a trainer and have a younger student, they may like to listen to stuff simply cause they know you don't like it...

Every now and then you'll luck out and get someone you really get along with, and will actually miss them, and feel a bit empty, when they're gone...

Just remember you don't have to 'marry' them...and stay focused on the greater goal or mission...

 

And definatly keep racial comments to yourself...

In todays society you can't look at someone and think you know what their ethnicity is or think you know them politically cause they 'look like you'...

Say your 'white'...and your student is 'white'...and you assume they share the same social views as you, and then you blurt out something about Mexicans or Cubans or blacks, then then come to find out they're married to one or are one themselves...and speak fluent spanish...

Many hispanics can easily pass for 'white'...and you would never know they were hispanic, until you here them speak the language...

Racial opinions is just something to stear clear of...but if you must talk about stuff, at least ask their opinion first...and they will tell you how they feel...but never assume you already know how someone feels just based on their color or looks...

Don't make 'gay' jokes...cause obviously you have no idea what your trainer or students orientation is...

That's why again, it's best to just keep everything 'generic'...not to much fratinization...otherwise, weeks could pass, you could get a call from dispatch telling you to come to terminal, and find out law suit has been filed for 'whatever reasons'...it happens...so be careful what you say and share...

 

Thats very good advice ghostchild, im a new cdl graduate myself, and while i havnt had the oppurtunity to be out on the road yet, i agree with some in here that 4-6 weeks with a TRAINER is well needed (and no I dont mean the 'team' operation some companies stick you in) and i cant wait for the chance to do mine.

 

Thanks...

Just remember when you do get out there, it's not your mission to 'change' your trainers personality, nor is it theirs to try to change yours...

There's so many different personality types out there and variables...

That's why useually the best mode to get into is generic mode...meaning just for the time your with them...be as agreeable as you possibly can with them and their habits...

Not all, by no means all...but some trainers (and maturity level does vary with trainers...)
Some may make it a point to establish immediate dominance over their student...

The 'I know everything, you know nothing' type relationship...sometimes that's tolerable, if indeed they truly do know everything and are able to teach you what they know, but other times it's very intolerable, when you find out they don't know anything and simply have a big ego.

(And students can have big egos too)

Example...

Trainer gets student who use to do this and use to do that, who use to own this, and use to own that, and once had 1 million dollars yadda yadda yadda...

For a trainer, that can be hard to deal with, expecially when the know it all student is older than the trainer and tries to pull 'age rank'...but still can't even shift properly....

Kidro, it also helps to have a sense of humor, that humor will be like medicine to you at times...
And write about what your going through...talk about it with others, blog about it ect ect...doing so helps keep things in 'perspective'...and you'll enjoy looking back on it someday...

Another piece of advice...this is very important, and something new I've added...

If, for any reason, during initial contact or interaction with trainer, you just absolutly know or feel, or see that your being in truck with them will be an issue...that's the time to speak up...

But it must be something very obvious, not just personal bias...it has to be where you feel your safety will be jepordized, or say (and this is just an example)...

But say your Jewish, and your trainer is flying a Hezbolah flag inside of truck...ok, that's just not going to work.
Some may disagree with this one, but I say better to bring up your objection initially, than to get inside that truck with them and now your at their mercy...in that whatever occurs after that is largly up to 'interpition'...and they can write anything about you that they want...

So i really don't advise that, unless your just absolutly sure it won't work...

Back in the day, my trainer always wore a uniform...by choice...they didn't have to...but in a way it helped me...cause things always felt 'proper'...our roles were clearly defined...we weren't friends, weren't just hanging out together...their uniform was a constant reminder thay it was 'business'...and that they were the trainer...

The guy went by the name of 'Father Nature'...cb handle, and lived in Oregon...
This was back when they trained right...
And he even took me to his home once, where we spent the night during the off time...met his wife, his older soon, and their cat....

That's when all company drivers would wave to each other, when approaching from opposite directions on the interstate.

It's back when you could maybe actually see yourself doing it for 20 years, cause you never felt alone back then...never...there was always someone who would talk with you on the CB radio...

You know...one of these primitave things...


Yes, back in the day, everyone had one...they were a must...and it was your life line to the world, or at least the world of drivers...

Everything started and ended with the CB...that's how information was past from driver to driver...info on strikes, places to park, bear locations, road hazards, traffic, CB auctions, and other naughty things I can't say...

But it's an era that will never return...

Anyways...back to your team training...best of luck with that...
And if any issues come up, feel free to share your concerns on here and I'm sure myself and or other past or current drivers, can try to help you sort through it...

 

day and a half with us but ur constantly watched for 6 months and 1 too many screw ups and ur out....needless to say we dont hire rookies just dont have time