Is training counted as experience or just solo time?

If you logged it, you experienced it...right?

 

I have always counted it as experience...others might not...I mean heck I was driving a truck while training.

 

Companies go by your hire date. Your experience starts on your hire date.

 

I say its experience.

If someone would like to say any different, go live with a complete stranger in a truck for four weeks and then come back and tell me you didn't gain any "experience" in truck driving.

unloader

 

Most companies don't include training time as part of the experience, what they usually look for is at least six months solo, or if teaming, 6 months first seat.

Once one gets 6 months solo in, can normally find another outfit to call home without an issue, but do your homework ahead of time, for instance walmart may want 1-2 years solo with same company, and others require no more than 2-3 jobs within a certain time frame.

 

When you apply for a job you are asked to fill out an application. This is not something that is done before a court with a mans life on the line. It is simply and application. You don't have to be exact. If they want someone with 1 years experience. Put it down. If you have had your license that long. They will then call your last jobs up to a total of 3 years and confirm it. Provided that they were driving jobs. They may go back as far as 10 years but they only have to confirm 3. You then have to take a road test. If you have said on your application that you have 3 years experience and drive like you just got out of school, they will fail you on the road test. So you want to be as good as you say you are.


Think of the process like you are going out on a date. Say whatever it takes to get the date but don't expect to get a second date if you can't perform as promised.

 

Wow its not looking good to a perspective employer if you had 6 months of training and was still let go from your last job for incidents. You might have to look into the guys who hire felons like Western Express or Carolina Cargo. Just don't think many will take a gamble on you with your record. I also would look for another career if all I had to choose from was two companies I mentioned.

 

Generally speaking I would not count training time as "experience". Just because you're driving the truck during training does not mean you are being 100% responsible for the load. How much of the trip planning did the trainee do? How much coaching did the trainer have to do? It's just like you can't count time spent at your CDL school towards "experience".

In this specific case- 6 months of training with two companies and then 6 weeks solos - I would classify you as having less than 3 months "experience". Jumping companies (for good or bad reasons) so quickly raises some red flags about a driver's ability to safely and efficiently haul freight.