Dont want to spend six weeks with a trainer.

If you do well 2-4 weeks is typical. And its a good idea to spend a little time with a trainer to get familiar with how the company operates, very little of it actually has anything with driving skills. Unless your a horrible driver...I trained in 14 days when I started.

 

I agree 1000% with what Chompi said. The training time will go by quickly, and you can use that time to learn everything you need to know in order to be successful at your new company.

 

Hell, going with a trainer is actually a lot of fun! You are going to save yourself a lot of stress! You will be making money and learning the trade with no responsibilities on your back. Plus most trainers are going to pay for your food and showers and stuff.

By the time you get through school and orientation and do get with a trainer it will be time for winter driving. This is when you will wish you had a trainer when the chain signs are up and your about to go over Donners!

I understand some people like to keep to themselves and aren't the type to be social and want to be stuck with another guy for a few weeks but suck it up, its only to your advantage and the time will really fly by! Your going to be one scared puppy when they stick you behind that wheel by yourself for the first time! Hopefully you won't be headed for NYC or Chicago or something like that on your first trip.

 

This bought back memorys of my first solo run , after traing , they cut me loose with my first load to pa, of all place's, now i never been out of Iowa, outside with my trainer and all we ran was west, here i was going too pa and pick up a load of milk and cheese in refg trl, i never been off I-80, took the exit , o boy big mistake, i was going down two lanes roads , seem as wide as my truck, then went down a steep grade , then at bottom was hairpin curve, were they double right back, i wacthed my tail brush up agaisnt the tree branches, found the place, big dairy outfit,on the bottom of a side of a hill, driveway went straight down from side of hill too diary, on edge of town, back it off the road with a high crown in middel of road , my landing gear allmost got hung up on that, i just goosed it some more, got loaded and went back same way i come from, yes that's was my scarest first load, on 2 lanes and hairpin curves.i kinda wish i had my trainer , being first day out by myself,

 

I got a great trainer at Stevens. He was from the same town I was from and that's why he picked me. It was nice having somebody to talk to who knew where you were from. He taught me a lot and was very patient. We got along very well. Last time I talked to him he was with Crete.

 

My first solo run was supposed to be to NYC but my FM took me off of it, he didn't like sending first time solo drivers to NYC. I went to Laredo instead.

 

Roehl was an 8 day orientation then 8 days with a trainer.