10 days of total car hauling training and 0ne day of driving behind the wheel.

Hello Forum,

I need some advise from the experienced drivers. I have not driven a tractor trailer in over 6 yrs and never operated a car hauler. I drove for two years a 53 ft box in the past. In the past ten days my trainer taught me alot in regards to loading,unloading and chaining down the vehicles. I'm not 100% clear still on how to stagger the vehicles during the loading process. Keep in mind your dealing with cars,trucks, and vans.I feel about 80% confident with loading the cars,working the hydraulic and decks is tricky. In a very short period of time and working a few 16 hr days, only one day was spent behind the wheel driving.


I have nothing but good to say about my trainer. Time is always a factor to earning money over the road and being paid a percentage of the load. He wanted to push it as much as possible to earn while being paid to train me. At this point I'm not comfortable with the amount of training time behind the wheel after 6yrs of being away. I was allowed 9 hrs of drive time in one day for the total ten days. Do I have a reason to be concerned.

On average we drove 400 plus miles a day loaded/unloaded @14 cars ea day. My last day in training he drove 480 miles, I worked 16.5hrs in total loaded/unloaded 18 cars and ended up sleeping in the back of a car that was loaded on the trailer. As you can see I'm not affraid to work and can deal with the conditions that come with the job.

They wanted me in today an hour ago to head out by myself in a day cab to do the job. I have a call in to my dispatcher to explain my position on the situation. Waiting for the call back. I have a perfect drivers record and never a ticket or accident. I'm 36 yrs old and pride myself on being safe.

Should I have just took the gamble and headed out? What's your opinion on this. Need some sound advise from a professional driver. Is one day of driving enough for the past 6 yrs to take on all this responsibility?

Thank you for the input.

Respectfully,
Joel

 

Thank you STexan.

 

Thanks KW9s. I spoke with the dispatcher as of an hour ago. He acted as if the only importance was for me to learn the equipment. He had nothing to say about the one day of drive time behind the wheel. He is well aware that I have not driven in 6yrs. Operating these trucks loaded is much different than a box. The length and handling under the load doesn't feel in the same behind the wheel. The cars are hanging off attached to 4 chains one on top of another at an steep angled grade from the decks.

The guy didn't offer any further suggestions as to my direction in training or with the comapny. I'm at a loss for the next step with this company. I'm putting a call in to the owner that hired me. If not, it looks like I'm looking for another opportunity in the business. I enjoy trucking and will move forward with it one way or another. Just needed a little more behind the wheel time in training.

 

Karhaulr,

Thank you for the reply. At no point did I lead them to believe I had any experience in this aspect of the business. After they checked out my past stable work history, perfect MVR,passing their insurance requirements,background check,drug testing I was hired no further questions asked. They knew from my upfront conversation that it had been years since operating a tractor trailer. Was I eager to take the job behind the wheel and get started back? My application had nothing at all about driving since 2005 a 53 ft box with Sigma.

My trainer basicly said your driving today the third day into the position. I drove from Obetz Ohio to Lima Ohio then to Troy Mi. No problems during the trip. At no point did I drive afterward for training.

I guess I was looking for more drive time with a trainer. Maybe, I should have gone with a carrier with a 6 week training program for freight instead. Car hauling is one of the most complex in trucking period. I have found this out the hard way working 65hrs a week in 5 day work week at $50 bucks a day busting my ###. The trainer said most don't show back up after the first few days or leave a Rig/trailer at an auction the first day out before trying to load it. At no point did I plan on doing either. Good common sense in the past 20 years of driving a 4 wheeler have kept me without accidents or tickets. I had to make the right call on this as well.

 

Guys thank you for all the input. The advise and concern is appreciated. I have not talked with the owner yet. He's a nice guy and wants saftey first above all. I hate to let people down that have extened me and opportunity to earn. Driving a box never stressed me like this has. These trucks handle nothing like it and take the most attention to detail. I called at 8am on the dot to talk with dispatch, then 10 mins later to leave another message. The dispatcher seemed fine about it when he returned my call. Not sure what my standings are till I speak with the main guy.