Just wondering

I learned a lot in driving school, although I had some backing experience with Saturday and summer jobs as a wash boy and fueler. School was followed by three years active duty during which time I did not drive except in basic and AIT. Based on my school training, I lined up a civilian job before I was discharged. I then drove solo for 1 1/2 years before going team. Team driving put some polish on my limited skills.

Sodbuster03, very few teenagers have the opportunity to ride and observe. Schools are a necessary evil.

 

The insurance companies now dictate how people learn (or supposedly) to drive a truck.

I'm old school, was taught by a neighbor and who would hire me every summer to team with him coast to coast. Parents decided I had to get a college education (which I did) and probably has helped me on the paper end of this career. I drove with my neighbor every chance I got, he taught me in a flat nose KW....it as a long way up and if you mis-stepped a long way down.

Taught my partner the way I was taught so she is old school as well. So you have two in the same truck (okay she'll be back aboard first of March) who learned the same way.

 

It would be one thing if students were required to have a minimum level of skill before graduating . The schools take their money , put them through the course , and turn them lose . I jumped all over instructors at an Orlando driving school after we hired one of their graduates . That idiot had no business behind the wheel of the truck . They admitted he needed a few tries to "pass" some parts of the course .

 

I brought a cabover and got my permit, a friend rode with me and showed me what not to do.

 

Old school here. Back when I started they hadnt yet dreamed up the "CDL". I only needed a chauffeurs licence, and there was no driving/road test. Nor any "endorsements".

I was grandfathered into the CDL thang.

 

Skill level before graduating? Lets go one step further please, out west here (I know ugly Californie) they let in the truck schools having never had a license to drive, let alone any experience whatsoever at the wheel.
I don't like the term behind the wheel, as that can mean sitting in the bunk area or the passenger seat. This is another thing the schools do, they count total time in the training truck whether at the wheel or just sitting there (supposedly watching and paying attention) but they are mostly just BS'ing while another student is driving (to use the term loosely)

 

Well I learned I alot from trucking school went to Schneiders school in green bay and had one of the best road instructors who was old school. Nowadays everyone has to go through a school or some sort of training all because of the insurance companies. Cant just teach someone in your truck and get the liscense unless you start out with your own truck and own insurance then suppose you could teach yourself.