1st Year Of Trucking

Quoted for truth.

We like to talk smack about the newbies but, sometimes, the problem is really with the people these newbies are learning from. Why get on a guy's case for not knowing something he was never really taught in the first place?

I've always thought that the problem with training is this: driving and teaching are actually two entirely different skillsets, and many trainers (even experienced ones) have spent a lot of time developing one skill without even trying to acquire the other. Simply knowing how to do something doesn't always mean that you also know how to teach it. You could be a 2-million miler with 20 years behind the wheel and it still won't matter: if you don't know how to teach what you know then that student driver is still going to retain very little and both of you might even get a little resentful and frustrated.

I am 100% convinced that many of these companies need to include teaching and instructional concepts in their classes for trainers.

 

I had two weeks training with a driver that had just two years experience, looking back I wish I had more time with a more experienced driver. I made my way but I was really green and could have used more time with a "real" trainer,90% do wash out because this is not easy and they get tossed out there without enough training or with bad training so I too agree with the above postings.

 

Yeah, I have seen sooo many rookie drivers with out the right training, not fully understanding how to scale a trailer, or what weights they can actually have on axles, I once had a new driver ask me where to find the "the loose nut behind the wheel" as someone informed him he had

 

It's not any different than riding a horse. If you stand there and look at it all day, you'll never know how. Best way to learn is get in the saddle and go. I had a guy show me how to shift (5x4) and the rest was up to me

 

This^^^^
Way back when, I was put in a truck with another driver with maybe a year under his belt. I was told how to shift, and went to an empty lot for an hour. Learned how to turn, somewhat how to back, and away we went. Drove with a co-driver for maybe a week, then took the test, and was cut loose.

The roads have never been the same since.......

 

Roehl is 8 days classroom 13 days with a trainer..idk where they getting 4 to 6 weeks

 

4-6 wks was the standard with most companies when I started. Sorry if that is no longer accurate information.

 

My very first time behind the wheel was westbound over Cabbage Hill in '77 under construction. "Remember, only use the clutch for first gear and don't hit anything."

Getting back into trucking in '12 the rules and regulations changed. I ended going with Swift for two years, the last as a trainer.

Most trainees got on my truck with a total of 10 hours behind the wheel experience. Most of them doubled that the first day with me.

For the OP I concur you MUST get at LEAST one year experience before thinking about getting your own truck. Make your mistakes with someone else's truck. Learn the business. MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN. Figure out how you will be able to PAY YOURSELF a good wage and STILL make a profit. Don't just buy a job.