"Soft skills" and self learning

Good luck to you.

 

Most of what you are wanting to know is what you will learn on the job. Just hope and pray you get a decent trainer that knows something about the industry you are entering. Most drivers don't.

 

After a few months, Its not the driving thats going to get drivers.. its all the other stuff that they were mentally blocked on when they were learning to drive. Its all important. but at first, the minds of the learners are crammed full of the mechanics of shifting, turns, intersections etc etc etc.

 

CDL driving schools, often called mills or some other derogatory name, are really for a limited number of things.

Teach you the very basics of operating a large vehicle.
The basic skill set you will need to know and be able to demonstrate in order to pass the state and DOT written and skills tests.

The rest of the education process is up to the training company that the student signs on with.

And here in the problem exists. Most of the companies and training people fall very short on that function.

 

School will teach you to pass a CDL test without killing anyone.

Then your real education will begin, usually paid for with blood, sweat and tears by you.

 

Watching videos and reading posts here are only so much help , if you can shift a 10 speed you can shift an 18 speed , you just need to get your hands on one .
Most of the soft skills as you say are just common sense and hands on , I'll bet you do just fine , you seem to have the right attitude

 

The schools who taught these things went out of business as they are simply not in demand.. the demand is for cheap training (free training). Truckers by and large do not care about any of the things you mention.. Just wait till you get out here and see these people in action. The war cry is "no one every told me _________" and its their fault that I "______________". If you have the driver to know and understand then that's a plus for you. But you are going to be the exception, not the rule. Ask some drivers how they check their brake lights... the answers will amaze you.

 

Look at it like this , I can explain to you how to fry an egg , or you can just do it and get a feel for it .
A lot of trucking is like that , once you do it and it clicks you got it , now some folks have a hard time getting it and some just get it .
I see your avatar says lead farmer , speaking for myself and others that grew up farming , there is a lot of cross over skills and it just comes seemingly natural .
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