Just helped a Rookie

the company will "ASSUME", that's thier prerogative.

it's the way it is done way too many times.

 

You have two kinds of noobs that post on TTR.

1. Type one asks all kinds of stupid questions that have absolutely nothing to do with trucking. They're interested in lot lizards stories and the donkey show and video games and television shows and pillowbiting. They think that you and I are idiots and since we two idiots can do this job, they're a shoo in and will excel in the job.

2. Type two actually comes in asking about the job and tips on how do do various aspects of the job. You can usually spot these posts because the fearmongers are drawn to the posts and paint a very bleak picture. "Yeah, saw a doorslammer slam his hand in the trailer door, took his hand right off. Be afraid, be very afraid!"

When you were a young hand, they (the company) threw you to the wolves. You looked around and saw some older hands doing the job. Some of them were worlds better. You went up to the old hands and asked them and they realized that you were a rookie and they helped you. Thing is, if you didn't get out of the truck and OBSERVE and ask for help, you wouldn't have received help. Things are still the same. There is help for the rookies the same way there was help for you and me. If I don't ask for help, it's on my head. Good on @jammer910Z for volunteering to help another hand.

 

He will remember you forever I think. Now if everyone were that lucky to find a mentor who doesn't look down on them.

 

I love this.

Then when I finish laughing about what rookie does not know in action, I have to cry over the lack of teaching same about tandem sliding.

Sometimes I think if I stay in this business long enough, such as it is I might end up losing my mind.

 

CDL schools teach drivers just enough to pass the CDL test.

Most company trainers teach drivers just enough to make themselves a few extra bucks and make the rest up as they go.

New drivers need somebody they can call at almost any time once they're solo to ask questions. Or, they need to be smart enough to come to a place like TTR and ask how to do something the right way. I had a friend I could call, and he was a lifesaver. This place is a great resource to get questions answered quickly.

 

Also, some of these companies let some of their drivers train with less than a years experience. I mean, how can a trainer lets say teach a student how to drive in an Upper Midwest winter or any major city in the Northeast if they don t have adequate experience?

Secondly, like some have mentioned, all some trainers care about miles and money. They want to run team right off the bat. How can a student learn if you re in the bunk sleep, or glued to your smartphone, laptop, or tablet?

Some of the trainers should never be trainers. If you don t have the patience and can t get your point across without yelling or cursing a student, you should never be in the first place.

 

Schools can not teach a guy every aspect that has anything to do with driving a truck, and really a trainer for a few weeks couldn't either.
Most probably figure a person that is old enough to drive a truck, will have enough common sense to figure out on their own, how to do things like lock and unlock the pins for tandems. Probably more important, they teach them how to get the hard ones to slide without taking the driveshaft out. lol
All that said, I have helped a lot of folks new or old, if nothing else just to let know when they get to the hole they want.

 

My buddy went through CDL school and got a job. His trainer didn’t teach him anything, had only let him back the truck up two or three times.
Trainer didn’t even show him how to use the eld properly to make life easier. Trainer also didn’t know jack about the dot regulations but has been driving for 10+ years.
Blatantly tried to run illegal when there was no need.

Just because someone gets a trainer who is a veteran doesn’t mean that trainer is worth his weight in dirt.

 

That also works two ways, just because a guy happens to be a good trainer ( I know I would not be) does not mean a student is trainable either.