Brand new cdl holder and I got hired to haul tomatoes. I had 1 day of orientation in the office and 1 day of sitting in the passenger seat. Now I'm out here on my own. Is this common? I've read that all the mega carriers put new drivers with a trainer for an extended period. It feels crazy that anyone would trust a greenhorn with a truck. Anyone else just get tossed into it?
1 day of riding as passenger and now I'm on my own - no trainer?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Red Barclay Jr, Sep 12, 2026.
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WesternPlains, blairandgretchen and nextgentrucker Thank this.
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Do you work for Morning Star?
nextgentrucker and Red Barclay Jr Thank this. -
Close. One of the other companies in the area.Chinatown Thanks this.
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That seems brief, unless it's a very predictable job that has you doing exactly the same thing in the same places every day. In that case, it only takes a day as a ride along to see it all.
Lonesome, Magoo1968 and Red Barclay Jr Thank this. -
Welcome to the real world.
You should be glad you didn't get the cattle prod. treatment.
My opinion is the one day orientation and the one day passenger's seat is too much wasted time. As a licensed driver you should be ready for work day one, but some of these sensitive types now days feel they need the hand holding. -
Yup, and a road full of 12'6" overpasses.
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Must be a shortage of ketchup and spaghetti sauce we're not aware of
Lonesome, Badmon, OldeSkool and 1 other person Thank this. -
1980. At DMV 8am on my 18th birthday, hauling sugar beets before noon.
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congratulations, that’s the way it should be to get started. Don’t worry, you’ll likely make a mistake or two that you will look over your shoulder to make sure nobody saw it, but be careful, and youll do just fine. if anybody comes on here stating that they would never work for an outfit with that, disregard that. They don’t know much. Some of the best drivers on here never went to schooling. Luck in battle
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Not if I have anything to say about it.Deere hunter, Bud A., Lonesome and 3 others Thank this.
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