Is truckstop good place for student training?

Of course, there are a few drivers who claim they never needed training. They claim trucking is so simple, a monkey can do it. Blah, blah, b blah, blah!

I think a certain mental disorder best explains these drivers.

 

Wow... you guys stink..... I remember my trainer teaching me to back up in truckstops..

One of the first times he did that.. he found a slot next to two very shiny, very new trucks.. a Kenworth and a Pete... bow was I nervous.. cause you could tell these were O/Os and they loved there trucks..

I tried to argue with him and get him to have me park between the Swift and Central ... there were several easier spots that I could get I to with no proble... but be didn't go for it.. he insisted on that spot, which was tricky, tight and between two nice trucks...

What made it worse, was the both those drivers were awake, the pete guh was in the driver seat of his truck and the kenworth guy... a rather big mean looking guy was standing by his truck... so, my trainer gets out and stands with the kenworth guy... I get set up.. and start to back up.. I stop, get out and look.. I ask my trainer if I am on track.. he shrugs his snoulders and asks "what do you think?"... I walk back to my truck calling every name in the book and even made up a few... I back up some more.. and get out and look.. I ask if I should pull up.. he answers.. "do you think you should?" I look at the kenworth guy to see if he will tell me.. he just hold his grumpy face.. so I go back to the truck cussing and swearing with every step...

Well.. I get it in... I am dehydrated from sweating bullets. . I pull the breaks, let out a big sigh of relief.. I look over at my trainer and kenworth guy... kenworth guy goes from frowning to a big smile and they both begin clapping.. I get ojt and kenworth guy shakes my hand and puts a hand on my shoulder, gives me a wink and says "You did good, c'mon I will buy you a up off coffee" as we start to walk I look over towards the Peterbilt and he gives me a smile and a nod...

I remember also, my trainer and Kenworth guy, Jeff, saying one day I will be glad my trainer makes me park in the hardest spots... and at the time I didnt agree.. why would I pick the hardest spots when I am solo.. I wouldnt.. well, they were right... there are times when the only spots left ones the hard ones.. and I am glad I can get into them...

Another thing.. when you are rookie and learning... and you tackle something like that.. getting into a tight tricky space a little approval from experienced truckers goes a long way...

 

Thanks for sharing that great story, BrenYoda! It's a great thing to be challenged AND your trainer did the right thing to let YOU work through the process. Obviously he must have felt you were up to the challenge. The real moment that any newbie know's they are really getting the whole backing thing is when they start looking forward to getting into a tight dock or between two shiny O/O trucks at a lot.

Regarding the OP complaint, while in a company terminal I have my trainee do it by the book with the horn UNLESS there are likely other drivers sleeping nearby. Anytime we are at a truck stop using the horn is verboten UNLESS you see another driver about to back right into another truck (had to do that earlier today). Otherwise take some consideration for other drivers and let them sleep.

Same thing goes for paying attention at all times to the needs of other drivers in truck stops: get out of the fuel lane as soon as possible, if someone else is backing into a space give them room and don't crowd them, if a faster truck is overtaking you get out of the way, if a truck is entering the freeway get over to give them room, if another trucker gets over to let you onto the freeway then stay slow enough to let them complete the pass and get over before accelerating, etc.

... you know, common courtesy stuff.

 

A good trainer should challenge you. I used to say to the trainee that you will do everthing, no shortcuts. I'm just your training wheels or guardian angel. You do the learning and I will be watching to give you tips and keep you out of trouble.

 

I think that is the thing that a lot of trainees/students dont understand... when you are being trained you want to be challenged and you want to be doing the work.... too many trainees/students get off track and think of it a slave labor... they complain that the trainer makes them do all the work..

I know I am a lot faster at dropping and hooking... I am a lot faster and disconnecting and connecting the glad hands and stuff then I was when I first started... and that is what helps me be ontime and get more miles ...

Same with backing into spots... the faster and easier I can do it the better it is...

So, you want to learn and get faster during training when your paid a weekly salary... so that you have a good jump on it when you go solo and get paid per mile...

 

i had something very similar happen to me. the OO went and ate with us and we talked for an hour or two. still friends with my trainer to this day. great guy

 

Some of you guys are missing the point. It's great that you are getting good training but don't disturb the guys that need their rest. Go somewhere else and set up a course just like the truck stops. Park some trailers close together and back between those. You new drivers will understand when you come off the road and want to sleep no matter what time of day.

 

I think that a truck stop should be a requirement of the training , I also agree that the rookie should be taught some driveing manners, it should be after the rookie is near finishing his/ her training , When I trained my rookies they knew how to park regardless of what shiny trucks were or werenot there , and I made sure they could do it before we went out in public places to do it ,I wouldn't sign off unless I was sure they were proficient in maneuvering high and low speed forward and backwards , sight side and blind side , as far as the horn vs beeper thing , beepers are required for fleets except those that were grandfathered before it was mandated they get to use horns , like UPS , hope the federallys ain't readin this but its rarely enforced , a good old fashioned piece of duct tape will muffle the beepers enough not to be annoying

 

I have no problem with training there---especially if you are out of the way where there is lots of room--and then as you get better--make it more and more difficult----BUT--gotta use your head---cuz if Im out back somewhere at 2PM--sleeping and you get real noisy--Im gonna get in your ### toot ssweet--and remind (sic)trainer--might wanna remind student this is a 24/7/365 job and courtesy goes a LONG way