Concerned student driver...

Sounds like your trainer is the problem. Her shouldn't be yelling at you. Your learning.

 

Your like everybody else saying that. However I can see the trainers POV in this instance. He is an O/O leased to this company. Its his truck, he pays for maintenance, tires, repairs etc. Sorry I'll go against the grain on this one but if a rookie almost tore up a $600 steer tire on my truck he would get yelled at if it was coming out of my pocket. Now I don't know the situation and swasnt there but if he'd swung out way to far and that was the cause I wouldn't be happy and would be a little hot and would yell.

Although the trainer is wrong saying he's being too cautious in the city. You can NEVER be too cautious in the city. I still swing corners out a lot wider than I need too. I'd rather swing into another lane or across a yellow to make sure I don't hit the curb or the pedestrian standing waiting for the light than risk it. Being overly cautious is better than not being cautious enough. It only takes one laps of judgement and getting TOO comfortable to get yourself or somebody else killed.

 

If you aren't nervous in the city,it would be problem, I to still get nervous during city driving them folks is crazy. Relax a little sounds to me like your more afraid of the trainer yelling then you are of city crazies. You will be fine,we all have different comfort levels.

 

If the O/O is that worried about his equipment being damaged, he shouldn't be training, PERIOD!! He is being well compensated for training the student, most of whom have had minimal experience with a big rig, damages are just a part of life!!

 

I wouldn't know I've never trained although that is a very good point. Some people just have a tendency to yell though I yell all the time not on purpose though I'm just 3/4 def.

 

My school had two driver trainers. One rarely said anything positive and jumped on you for things I felt were minor. The other trainer was very mellow, laid back and only got upset if it was something major, otherwise he'd ask you if you knew what you did wrong and if you could tell him where you made the mistake and how you'd fix it next time, he was cool. Guess which one everyone drove better with? The second guy. I've never ground so many gear changes (or completely forgotten what gear I was in) or missed a turn, or any number of things as I did with that first guy because I was so on edge. In the end I think I learned different things from each of them, but I was lucky enough to have both.

I think when you first start out city driving is very stressful but I'd rather be around a driver that is over cautious than have him bang into me.

 

Is it my imagination... or were you just YELLING at 379exhd?!?! Just razzin ya!

Seriously tho, I never had a road trainer but did go thru a truck driving school, even tho the past 30+ years I had a CDL (hazmat, tanker, & all endorsements, but only B class). I had 2 instructors, one of which was great in classroom, but a "hothead" during road skills. With him sitting shotgun, I couldn't even shift smooth or drive worth a cr*p, so many times. When out with the other (calmer) instructor, or alone in the cab, I drove like a pro (skilled & confident,, NOT ####y).

Moral of the story: Your confidence and true skills will come naturally, in short order, once you are separated from your "sometimes on edge" yelling trainer. With each passing day, you'll be fine and confidence will gain quickly & take over (still cautious, but more skilled/confident). That fella beside you can have a big impact on your confidence & present actions, sadly sometimes not in a positive way. Within a few months you'll feel entirely different and like a pro. You won't be a pro!, but you'll feel like one.

 

Ive been driving for 20 months and still get nervous. I seem to be very cautious especially arriving to places ive never been. Wait till your solo and you got a dock to hit and your left leg starts shaking like your on drugs lol. My first trainer yelled at me too but was a great guy if I wasnt messing up. I got a new trainer which he was friends with my first one but he in my opinion was better in the teaching and personality department. That being said when I look back on it I was being to thin skinned with my first trainer and I probably should have never switched trainers I was just lucky both were good guys.

Just get ready for the roller coaster cause your gonna have good and bad days sometimes you will be happy, sad, proud , confident, scared, confused all in the same day lol.

 

WOW did he really say your over cautious?

There are two places I seen drivers who don't have enough caution;

1) On the side of the road with a messed up truck

2) In the news paper cause they ran over a family or cause they wrecked and are now dead!

Some drivers et caught up in those pennies per mile issue, no load is worth a life!

 

Well we don't know if he is being well compensated. I know of at least one company that makes O/O pay to have a trainee on board.

There is no way you can tell me you wouldn't be worried about your own truck, but I wouldn't put my own truck through that.