My first trucking job

not worth the EFFORT

 

I think it is worth the effort.

New drivers have to SLEEP. Companies will push you to drive into the wee hours of morning to make a delivery,then wake up, reload and push to get somewhere else.

Make sure you are rested and don't be afraid to say " I gotta get some sleep".

They will tell you how "hot" the load is or "this is a really important customer" or "we do this run all the time". Don't buy into it.

A rested driver is an alert driver and a safer one. No matter how much experience a driver has. Once they get tired,mistakes will happen.

 

This thread is appalling, especially you "American cobblestone"

Do you think because he has a licence, he is good to go as you say? That licence is meaningless, completely meaningless. Millions of people have a licence that should not have one, but in your eyes, you think because they have a small plastic card in there wallet, that somehow that card connects to there brain, and makes them a good driver. A professional driver would always be a good driver, whether he had or licence or not. Why? Because he has the right personality, attitude, and professionalism, and a licence can't give you any of those things.

Look at the captain of that cruise ship that tipped on it's side. According to the Government, he was "GOOD TO GO AS YOU SAY" because he was a certified Captain to operate that vessel. Now look at what he did. He was foolish, immature, and irresponsible, and people lost there lives and those still alive could suffer potential emotional issues beyond repair. BUT IT'S OK, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAID HE WAS LICENCED, THAT'S ALL HE NEEDS TO TRANSFORM HIM INTO A QUALIFIED CAPTAIN RIGHT!?

I have the same commercial licence in my wallet as the guy who has been driving for 30 years, that doesn't mean I have his wisdom, experience, or level of skill. Having a licence in your wallet does not make you safe, or ready, to take on things you cannot handle.

You seem to have a lot of faith in your Government. I have read some of your statements, and one of which was "he has a licence, the Government says he is good to go, so let him go"

How dumb do you have to be, to trust the Government? Have you forgotten all of the trouble your beloved Government has gotten you and your fellow citizens into? Do you realize the system of society is geared as such to keep you working to the bone for the rest of your life, with others get rich off of you, laugh at you for doing there dirty work? The Government has the best interests of the Government, and large corporations at heart. The Government receives more money in corporate bribes and payouts, then they will ever receive in tax money from average joes like yourself.

Very few people actually get to know truck drivers, so they cannot distinguish a good one, from a bad one. I could put anyone's grandmother in the driver seat and have them driving the truck within a few minutes, that doesn't mean they will be good drivers, or have the right attitude, or good common sense, along with professional operating characteristics. ANYONE could drive ANYTHING, few can operate it WELL and efficiently. Things such as progressive shifting, nice smooth shifts, coasting to a red light to save fuel and brakes, accelerating slow and steady, not hard. Not idling the truck when it's not even freezing outside but your such a wimp you feel you need to run a 15 Liter diesel all night long for your amusement.

Trucking has a lot of people who THINK they are good drivers. They only compare themselves, to themselves, so naturally they think there a better driver then any other truck around them.

What makes a driver the best? Someone who isn't worrying about impressing others or showing off. Someone who is concerned about his safety, the safety of everyone around him, his freight, and his equipment. He treats everything with respect and doesn't take his job lightly, or to dismiss it as "it's just driving, anyone can do it" Someone who takes pride in there personal appearance and physical fitness level, tries there best to eat right on the road and take care of themselves.

I used to think I was one of the best drivers out there. My dad has been a professional, respectful owner operator longer then I have been alive. I learned from him and I started driving trucks in the yards when I was 14. I received numerous awards within my first 2 years of driving, and even winning a driving competition, and becoming a owner/operator with a fancy Kenworth W900L, at the age of 22.

My bubble was burst when I had a training day with a new company a few years back, and I had to ride along with a driver on a local run. To this day, he is THEE best driver I have seen. Very smooth, beautifully clean shifts every time no matter what, and very efficient in how he drove the truck. Next to him I would still look like a good driver, but not the best. Personally, I believe you can only become better at something, by first realizing you are not the best at it. Don't think you ever will be, and don't strive for such a title. Do that job the best you can, and take pride in your effort's given. When I won my awards, and that competition, I still did not feel I was the best, I don't care to be the best, I just care to be professional, whether or not I am the best or not is irrelevant to me, I couldn't care less.

The long and the short of it, even driving a car is no joke. Look at how 90% of people drive there cars today, and it's clear to see they dismiss driving as nothing. They don't even think when they get into there car, they just drive. A car is still a 4,000 pound chunk of metal traveling at high speeds, but even worse, every single day, numerous people who don't deserve a commercial licence, are granted one, and given 80,000 pounds of serious rolling metal to "fiddle with and learn the hard way"

Driving/operating ANYTHING, no matter the weight or the size, is dead serious. You could potentially harm someone else seriously, or yourself. Last week I seen a guy flip his riding mower over, and he almost died from his injuries. It's just a small 500 pound riding mower, but he didn't give operating it the respect it deserved.

 

Tank33

 

Tank, you make some very important points, the most important (IMO) being " A professional driver would always be a good driver, whether he had or licence or not. Why? Because he has the right personality, attitude, and professionalism, and a licence can't give you any of those things." I've said often before that I hire based on attitude rather than experience and a rookie with the right attitude is more valuable to me than someone with 30 years experience but a lousy attitude. LOTS of experienced drivers are unhireable, not because they can't drive but because their attitude sucks. In the case of the OP, the company IS sending him out with a 'trainer" for the first trip. If a trainer can't judge a drivers attitude and ability in 1 trip, perhaps they shouldn't be a "trainer". If, after one trip, the trainer finds that the newbie has a great attitude but needs more instruction for this particular job, then they can ride along for another trip or two. However, if the trained finds the newbie to be a conscientious driver with a great attitude, there's not much to be gained by sitting in the seat beside him for several weeks. If the driver, newbie or otherwise has a bad attitude, 1 trip should be enough to send him packing. That's what probation is for.

 

but it becomes your word against his, and how does a company stop a trainer from making such decisions on personal prejudicial basis ? we all have said the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person- in error. people learn, people grow- and you feel a trainer should be empowered to deny another s livelihood without any accountability ?

I realize you might think this as unwarranted criticism of your viewpoint, because it is clear what your intent is, and I believe most understand and agree with it too. But I think it is important to keep in mind the other side of the coin. I don t believe in an absolute rule. I try to do my best; and somedays my best could be a lot better- I am glad that when I err, I have the chance to keep trying- and thats not based on my attitude, but the attitude of my company- I respect that, and that makes me try even harder.

 

I'm a NEW driver. Graduated from school with a fresh Class 1 license 3 weeks ago. I'm currently sitting at an Irving Big Stop in Maine on my second week of a 4 week internship through my very respected college here in Nova Scotia. I will say that in the 2 weeks I have been out here driving the Eastern Seaboard, there has been times when I have said that I am not going to drive and have my coach take over. For example In my Opinion, someone with a fresh class one or commercial license should not be able to drive the number 4 through Montreal by themselves without doing it with or seeing it done by an Instructor.

 

Raamman, you may be misunderstanding what I mean by a "bad attitude". I'm talking about things like, smoking in the truck when company policy is "no smoking in the truck", knocking ice off the truck with a hammer when told SPECIFICALLY "do NOT knock ice off the truck with a hammer" and when confronted with the chips in the NEW $10,000 paint from the hammer being told "ah, life's too short to worry about stuff like that", drivers that routinely show up 4 hours late and really don't see what all the fuss is about. It has nothing to do with making mistakes, we all make them. I understand your concern about a trainer holding someones future in their hands, however, I would think that anyone would be on their very best behaviour on their maiden voyage, you know, one chance to make a good first impression, and if a new employee makes a bad impression right out of the gate, what will they be like once they get comfortable?. In my world, there ARE some absolute rules and the most important one is when you screw up, don't try to hide it, don't try to blame someone else, come clean, report it and accept responsibility for it. We ALL make mistakes and I have alot of respect for those that accept responsibility for theirs and I won't tolerate those that try to hide or pass blame and I absolutely will NOT tolerate a driver that refuses to follow company policy. Many here may think I'm a hardass or BFI blah blah blah but the reality is, that my drivers (that have the right attitude) are treated with respect, paid well, given good, well maintained equipment and are rewarded both verbally and financially for a job well done. The ones with the wrong attitude are gone.

pdizzle, I admire your recognition of your abilities. Not everyone is willing to admit that they need help. It shows character IMO.

 

I see your point and agree with those examples- ( where the heck did you find those kind of guys anyways ?)- but I've had my share of setbacks professionally due largely to the fact that I am not chummy person and focused on my duties instead- not that I am complaining, because I am better for moving on- but I feel badly for folks who get shafted by a tyrant.

I honestly cant say I ve met a trucker in the past year I ve been on the road who hasn t been respectful or courteous- it is perhaps the one aspect of trucking that makes me the most proud to say I am a part of. Maybe those "bad attitudes" get themselves weeded out- but I can t say I ve meet them.

 

I'm talking about things like, smoking in the truck when company policy is "no smoking in the truck", knocking ice off the truck with a hammer when told SPECIFICALLY "do NOT knock ice off the truck with a hammer" and when confronted with the chips in the NEW $10,000 paint from the hammer being told "ah, life's too short to worry about stuff like that", drivers that routinely show up 4 hours late and really don't see what all the fuss is about

Got them on both sides of the BORDER , had 1 JOB JUMPER tell me I cared more about my equipment then him , told him cost more $ to replace the equipment than him so GOOD BYE. Was last problem driver I had , most have been here 4 to 10 years and no problems.