Things veterans should know about new drivers training.

I graduated from a school in Phoenix six months ago. I knew going in that all we were going to learn was "enough to pass the test" at ADOT, and the in-house road test with our examiner.

I learned "how to do the job" while I was on the road for 200 hours BTW with my mentor. Still, there is something I learn every day while I am on the road, actually doing the job.

No one...and I mean not one of the instructors explained the physics of sliding the tandems, and the relative weight value of each pin. Luckily, I had enough common sense to know which way to slide the tandems to increase/decrease the weight distribution...but I had to figure that out on my own.

We never did a back with the tandems slid in school, so I had to "learn that while I was doing it" at a SAIA DC near Chicago.

BUT...I was a cop for nearly 30 years, and I was a Field Training Officer for a lot of those years...so I had the wet noses coming out of the academy and I understood that the academy only taught them the paperwork of being an officer, they learned how to be a cop for the 6 months to a year they were with me on the road.

I only have six months on the road and I am under zero illusion that I know it all. I know enough to know what I don't know and to keep all the paint on my truck and the trucks around me. I have driven through every weather condition that North America can throw at me...and have kept my truck in my lane, out of the ditches, and off the back of a tow truck...but I still learn something every time I roll out and I hope I never think "I know it all".

I still get out and help other newer drivers slide their tandems, or spot backs (instead of talking #### on the CB)...all the things no other driver ever did for me...even ones with the same logo on their truck.

 

The problem I see is newbies with no desire to learn anything from anyone. All of us were once new & inexperienced but we often knew it and we had a CB that was always on. If we made it obvious we didn't know something we heard about it. Now newbies are isolated and phone addicted so they don't know they are doing something badly or like a spoiled child. The laziest most selfish habits are TAUGHT as normal by "trainers" with no experience and no desire to improve.

 

A lot of new guys, I have found, are afraid to ask because they get humiliated by the so-called "old hats" and experienced drivers. They HAVE asked for help and were called out and insulted, rather than someone just saying "Yeah, I was new once, and this is how I found works best for me".

And....yeah...some guys think they know it all on the day they get their temporary CDL. They exist just like jerks with a few years under their belts.

All professions attract jerks and trucking is no different. Lord knew I worked with cops who were complete tools too.

 

I went to CDL school 5 years ago and yes, they're only interested in teaching the bare minimum needed to pass the DMV test. But that's all they should be doing. A driver's first job is where they cut their teeth and learn how to handle a rig. The company a new driver chooses is usually based on their pay scale with little consideration given for the training. A good trainer can set up a new driver for an easy transition, or make it a nightmare. If the trainer is only interested in getting miles and sleeps while the trainee drives, it's a waste of time. If your trainer sits in the passenger seat for every second the trainee is driving and gives advice, the new driver will be in a much better position when it's time to go solo. I had a decent trainer and a couple other drivers I made friends with that I could call for the first few months when I had questions. It made a world of difference.

 

The horror.
I went to a 10 day cdl puppy mill school and learned just enough to pass the cdl test.
Then my training company sent me out for 4 weeks with a trainer where I learned a whole lot of stuff.

 

It’s preaching to the choir in here. If a new driver is in here, and can read they will have the capacity to become a driver. It’s takes pride and passion to want to learn something difficult. You’ve got to want it.

I had one of my trainees tell me that company XXXXXXXXX was the best company. He got fired for following gps and hitting a tree. I said “well why didn’t they teach you to trip plan?” The “best” company would make sure you’re ready. He gave me a blank stare. He was at Western Express because no one else wanted him.

Drivers are disposable to the megas. Nothing more. New drivers don’t seem to realize they’re one bad decision from losing their job or worse.

I really wish I knew how to fix this. All I can do is the best I can and try to help people with what I actually know.

 

I feel pretty lucky after reading this. My CDL class ran three months. Four students, 3 teachers and three trucks. One month of 8 hours on the road solo w/teacher 5 days a week. Learned a lot in the process.

 

Where was that school at?

 

Local community college in North Carolina.

 

The sad truth is bigger classes are horrible for learners. There have been many studies and instances like an example highest average GPA came from Texas recently came from in a small town school classes were like 8 kids. really not different with older adults we need more time actually process we aren't the best sponge-like we were younger but if your unwilling to learn nothing can be done.

If I was unwilling to learn when I came home or misbehave when I was a kid you best believe there was gonna be a belt involved. computers won't an option really back then either or cells like today