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Which of the megas have reasonably short training periods?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by MediumD, Nov 16, 2015.

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  1. Nov 21, 2015 #41
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    I would rather listen to only one person because otherwise I'd be more confused then I already am getting 100 different answers to one question.I would hope to get a good trainer and if he's not doing his job I would request a new trainer.
     
    pattyj, Nov 21, 2015
    pattyj, Nov 21, 2015
    #41
    allniter Thanks this.
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  3. Nov 21, 2015 #42
    Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    Unfortunately to a lot of trainers a trainee is just a few hundred bucks a week extra. This industry is way too overregulated. But I expect very soon for the FMCSA to establish rules setting up minimum standards for people that train.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2015
    Moose1958, Nov 21, 2015
    Moose1958, Nov 21, 2015
    #42
    MediumD and BuckeyeKev Thank this.
  4. Nov 21, 2015 #43
    mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

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    Wow. Bless the trainer who gets you. I'm sorry man, you have the wrong attitude about this.
    Short training period? HAHAHAHA. I'm still learning, and I've been driving 4 years!!!
    Aviation/4-wheeler driving? HAHAHAHA. I'm still learning and I've been driving 4 years!!!

    Seriously though, change your attitude. Your post comes off very ####y and arrogant about the whole thing. Driving an 80,000lb death machine is a huge responsibility!!! It is a SKILLED position with it comes:

    Maneuvering a combination vehicle in tight spaces
    Dealing with various traffic conditions and situations, weather and the like
    Dealing with shippers and recievers
    Time management, hours of service compliance, medical compliance.

    OPERATING A TRUCK IS NOT CHILDS PLAY, AND SHOULD NOT BE THOUGHT OF IN A FRIVOLOUS MANNER. LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN, AND BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

    Your wake-up call will come.
     
    mjfreespirit, Nov 21, 2015
    mjfreespirit, Nov 21, 2015
    #43
    Robd1178 and allniter Thank this.
  5. Nov 21, 2015 #44
    newguy76

    newguy76 Light Load Member

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    Aug 14, 2013
    Del Rio, TX
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    Didn't read all the replies but I just started driving for Schneider in October. Training is 3 weeks but you must have your cdl already. 1St week classroom and yard training with road test. 2ND week, you go out with a trainer and sleep in the truck. Good thing about this is they don't use you as a team driver. The trainer is on duty at the same time you are driving. Honestly, I didn't get much training the 2nd week. Other people did. 3Rd week is pretty much all about learning the qualcomm and a final road test. Hope this helps
     
    newguy76, Nov 21, 2015
    newguy76, Nov 21, 2015
    #44
    White_Knuckle_Newbie, allniter and MediumD Thank this.
  7. Nov 22, 2015 #45
    MediumD

    MediumD Light Load Member

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    Well then thank you for your input, and I wasn't trying to be a spelling or grammar nazi. Stevens doesn't seem to have much presence here, and wasn't exactly on my shortlist at the moment either way..

    That's a rather large part of why I'm concerned about the training I'll be forced to enjoy. If I attend a CDL mill and sign on with a company whose trainers are 6 months out of another CDL mill... does that make me a real good driver?

    To a certain extent, I agree. You make it sound like you know just about everything you'll ever need to know... Then again if you were a trainer, you would personify why I don't want to spend more than 5 minutes in the cab with anyone like you. Congrats on thinking you've been perfectly trained and aspiring to be a seasoned driver that turns into ape feces and hates "far" kids, you're obviously a real winner.

    I almost mistook you for "Ruckie" for a second. My mistake.

    But congratulations, you're still learning after 4 years? I sure hope your trainer has been getting 3.75 years of overtime pay!

    I've maneuvered a single car trailer in some tight spaces, and I thought I should just stick to driving a car. Then I had a 1 ton Dodge/Cummins with a 40ft flat, and discovered that a long trailer vs cab wheelbase makes it a nice and easy maneuver. But that was only 14 wheels, so let me get someone to blow you, since you've mastered 18: everyone has an ego, but ####ting on me with 4 whole years driving a Class A CMV is indeed impressive. Traffic, weather, the like? Yep, never had to deal with those driving 120k/yr with La Bajada, Sedillo, Raton Pass, etc. I know, you have more wheels on your vehicle, so obviously it's something that only a half man/half god can do - I'll double check my birth certificate, but I might just be able to do it as well. Shippers and recievers? Try hospitals and labs, get back to me on that one. Time management, as a legal 1099, that determined my net per hour - do you think I ignored it? HOS, like I said, I'd prefer to drive relatively safely; I've legally done 22 hours straight and survived, I'd like to put that kind of day behind me for good. Medical compliance? Not a problem for me, and I've probably moved plenty of TTR members "samples" to Tricore, Labcorp, Quest, etc.

    I'll ignore 4 vs 18 or so wheels. Get back to me when you've operated in 3 dimensions, talk to me about a death machine when you're at FL 200, near full fuel and just starting to determine you're experiencing carb icing over a heavily populated area.
     
    MediumD, Nov 22, 2015
    MediumD, Nov 22, 2015
    #45
  8. Nov 22, 2015 #46
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    there are companies with a good training program heard Crete is real good but dont think they have a school.companies like prime swift Werner crest and crengland really dont care who trains as long as they get thru the required exp to be a trainer. I would be starting research now on the best company sponsored schools and training now so you'll be ready when the time comes.
     
    pattyj, Nov 22, 2015
    pattyj, Nov 22, 2015
    #46
  9. Nov 22, 2015 #47
    MediumD

    MediumD Light Load Member

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    Dec 3, 2009
    Albuquerque, NM
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    The one thing I'm most thankful for right now is that I won't need my CDL schooling to be "paid for" by a company. I had planned to pay about $3-4k cash to Rocky Mountain truck driving school. Timing is in my favor right now, so I will be enrolling in my local community college's spring semester for 22 credit-hour PTDI certified course. I'll spend roughly 4 months in the class(es) while also working part time, but since I'll be charged in-district rates, it should be a great deal monetarily, and I'd guess I'll be better prepared to drive 80k gross than I would be with a company school.
     
    MediumD, Nov 22, 2015
    MediumD, Nov 22, 2015
    #47
    pattyj Thanks this.
  10. Nov 22, 2015 #48
    dca

    dca Road Train Member

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    the tests of time will tell
     
    dca, Nov 22, 2015
    dca, Nov 22, 2015
    #48
  11. Nov 22, 2015 #49
    Nighthawk325

    Nighthawk325 Light Load Member

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    Aug 30, 2010
    Houston, TX
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    Seen some good drivers come out of the local votech here. All they needed was some polish and job specific training. In that same scope we've had some that I guess were sleeping through class. Either way I have found it easier to train folks who went through the college/votech route as they spent more time on skills and thus ours isn't as long or intensive.
     
    Nighthawk325, Nov 22, 2015
    Nighthawk325, Nov 22, 2015
    #49
  12. Nov 22, 2015 #50
    crzyjarmans

    crzyjarmans Road Train Member

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    If your looking at OTR, going though a local college is fine, but the company you go with may still require you to go with a OTR trainer, I have a friend that had 30 years local driving experience that they wouldn't let go solo from the start, he had to go with a OTR trainer for a few weeks, I'm not a trainer, but he got lucky and they let him go with me for that time frame, best of luck
     
    crzyjarmans, Nov 22, 2015
    crzyjarmans, Nov 22, 2015
    #50
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