Well, we lost our "newbies"...

Ability is not discrimination.

Sex. race, religion is.

Mikeeee

 

We never did. In fact the first choice the company would use was in town gasoline delivery experience over all other experience. We used to have a 5 year experience requirement but changed with most other companies to 2 years.

The drivers themselves (beside the driver trainer) would make sure a new driver was ready because we never wanted any company bookwise kids coming around investigating when they didn't know a compartment from a fuel tank. Once the driver was turned loose we all still watched with a close eyes. That's a luxury we had when we all had to load every two hours next to each other.

 

That coulda sum's it up right there!

 

In the time it took me to amass 12 months driveing time I had worked for 2 trucking company's and had gone back to my old job once!
I think alot depends on what co. it was and why you left and how you present it.
I now have a good job at a good co.

But then again I don't pull a tank or Haz-mat.
Just my .02

 

It's both. Being a certified "non-idiot" won't save you from any and all rookie shenanigans. Companies like experience for a reason.

 

I'm sure they didn't have as much money invested as the amount they lost because of the screw ups. I would have sent them home. 13 weeks is a long time. Thats 90 days, if they can't do it flawlessly after 90 whole days they will definitely cost the company some money. This is coming from someone with absolutely no experience. The only thing I see myself having a problem with out of training is backing and that because I have never done it before. SMH his company should have go rid of these guys long ago. Hopefully the others in the training class are a lot better. Management is to blame. Greed is not the answer apparently!

 

Very simply put: most drivers entering the field today are idiots! Everything is a joke, most could care less because they have never had to be accountable for anything in their lives!!
Then you have the ones who lack common sense and are only driving a truck because its the ONLY job they could get or fall victim to the "Big Bucks" they will make!!
Lets not forget about the "College Graduates" who after 3 weeks of trucking school are Masters of the road and think it's just so simple but yet are too stupid to shut up and actually listen to what someone is trying to tell them and/or show them how to do something.
Oh and the newbies who think what they did in their past job makes them smarter or gives them an advantage over experienced drivers; MY GOD THEY MAKE MY TEETH ITCH THE MOST!!! It doesnt matter what you have done before trucking is a very simple JOB but not everyone can do it, why not you may ask?? Because it requires thinking!!!
Why do you think Newbs are loving E-Logs and qualcomm's and everything else these mega fleets are shoving down OUR throats, because it causes them not to have to think!!! All they have to do is hold the steering wheel!!
Crash Avoidance systems, anti roll, automatic transmissions, cruise controls that slow down when they run up on another car!! Dont believe they love this crap?? Just Venture over and read a Prime, Schneider, CR England, JB Hunt or any other newbie thread on Truckers Report!! They will scream its all about SAFETY, no its about them being unable or too lazy to use their head for something other then wearing their stupid looking company hat.

DISCLAIMER: This rant was written while sitting on a 2 lane road in North Carolina for the last 3 hours, why, because a Swift Intermodal driver didnt see the 6 flashing, yes 6 flashing, yellow lights warning about the 25mph curve (basicly a left hand turn) and put the truck on its side blocking the road......

 

Darn Sorry dude, thats got to suck!

 

Not saying there won't be some sort of rookie shenanigans, but these 3 situations are not rookie shenanigans, they are idiot shenanigans. Wrecking, and forgetting something that your load NEEDs to make it to the shipper are not rookie shenanigans, they are pure stupidity or complacency.. Which even experienced idiots pull off. lol.