Schneider newbies= lack of training

Although I do not entirely agree with this post, I cannot entirely disagree. Two days ago while driving my PV on Interstate 8, a Steven's truck did exactly what he is talking about, he seen a gap barely large enough for his rig to fit into, no signal, just whipped it over and nearly caused a chain reaction with the cars behind him going 15mph faster than he was! Not the first time nor the last that will happen.

As for training of new drivers, I've said it before in this post and I'll say it again, people should be more concerned with how easy it is to obtain a CDL. Personally, I was stunned a few years ago when I got my CDL how easy it really was to obtain, can't blame the companies, you're licensed when you arrive, they're just making sure you learn to do it "Their Way" "Safely" in orientation.

I remember back when I got my 4 wheeler license, I had to have my permit for something like 6 months before I could take the test to obtain my license. CDL? Yeah, permit today, road test a few days later and you're good to go, thats the problem, has nothing to do with any company. Just my $0.02.....

 

Yea but he was a Canadian. I mean you got to expect that out of them. They cross the border and get all confused.

 

Ma'am, sounds like your son needs to call:
"1-800-wah-waah".
No disrespect, Ma'am, but why does he need his mother to complain for him? Even in the Army we got letters from Mothers complaining about their sons' rough conditions when we were in Viet Nam. Time for him to "Man up".

 

Problem is he is obviously doing well being he hasn't had any accidents. His comfort level will go up with time but it is good he is still a little afraid of it because when you get too comfortable you kind of lose some focus of what's going on around you, not everybody but it has happened and that is when wrecks occur.

This job isn't rocket science if you are just careful,patient and take it slow. The construction co my brother works for takes guys without a cdl and has them go test with no training and then they turned him loose pulling a 4 axle trailer hauling a 100,000+ pound over size crane in to Memphis. He has been doing it a year so far with no problems and that equipment is 12'6" wide.

 

I was in Marine boot camp in 1968. I was honestly disappointed in the training. Drill instructors explained that so many Mommas wrote to their Congressmen complaining about their babies being abused UCMJ put strict restrictions on training. Drill instructors felt they could not properly train men for combat under these regulations and let us know they were putting their careers on the line to violate these regulations from time to time. They'd tell recruits " You can have me put up for charges if you want but when the rest of the platoon leaves graduation day my legal counsel will keep you here on a legal hold as long as possible "
Nobody complained . A little off topic but just another example of negative consequences of government regulation.

 

WHY ARE YOU STILL BLAMING SCHNEIDER? Sni doesn't train, why don't you call the school he attended? That is where your PROBLEM is. Sni must have felt he was ready. How many tickets does he have, how many wrecks? Every day we are still learning doesn't matter if 6weeks or 20years experience every day we learn.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

 

She's never going to get it. If I wasn't a driver I'd start a drinking game that consists of taking a shot every time she typed "3 days OTR". I'd be hammered!

 

Ok, having read this whole thread, what is it you want to hear? Because you aren't listening to anything.

Veterans of 20 years, veterans in the industry, veteran trainers, veteran SNI drivers - all have come into this thread offering advice and saying that this is normal. If you're wondering why people are starting to become harsh with you, it's because all of this is being met with a "Yeah, but..." and "3 days OTR" like it's a sacred mantra.

The bottom line is this: Schneider feels your son is ready - they wouldn't have passed him if they didn't. If he feels he isn't ready, then HE is the one that needs to bring it up, NOT SNI. As others have pointed out in this thread, if a driver feels they aren't ready then SNI will provide additional training.

If he's the type of person that won't speak up, then this industry is going to eat him alive no matter what company he goes with. And if your son won't speak up about safety hazards and risks, or the fact he doesn't feel like he has enough training, then the truth is he has absolutely no business in trucking. You HAVE to have integrity and be vocal in this business or you'll get railroaded, and you're putting other people's lives at risk. Once again, this is your son's responsibility, and NOT SNI's.

Three days is really all you need to see if someone will operate a truck. The companies that spend several weeks out with a trainer really do help, but it's mostly about getting them to learn company procedures and having a veteran on hand when things like tricky docks and the like come up. If you aren't confident enough to keep the truck in a straight line going down the highway after three shifts, then you may never be. It gets easier with time - and your son obviously knows enough about how to back and how to navigate through city streets or he wouldn't have been given his CDL.

And honestly, if he's scared, it means he's going to be cautious and a very safe driver. SNI drivers are some of the safest on the road. They're slow as hell and take forever to park at a dock or a truck stop, but they're safe.

This is 100% on your son. You can be there to listen to him (my folks were) but these are NOT battles you can or should fight for him. Have confidence in him, because right now you're showing none, and are so focused on SNI that you can't see that.

If you're asking people for advice and they give it to you, and you then hammer the same points again and again, then don't be surprised when people get exasperated with you.