First Day of Class one Training went BAD

Still have trouble and teaching baby truckers how to look dopey....I love my job I love my job I love my job

 

You'll be OK. Soon you'll have that CDL and be on the road. Don't waste it though on some junk company as your first job. Dozens of companies to choose from. After a hard days work at CDL school, relax with some coffee and start submitting job applications. You can start the applications during the first week of school.

 

It sounds about normal. Wanting to do what the trainer shows you is step 1, watching what the trainer does is step2, doing what the trainer did is step 3. Don't beat yourself up, and don't pretend any way is as good as any other way. Try to be a human copy machine until you figure it all out and you will get better.

 

You aren't the only one.

 

same here and having my dad next to me just made things worse lol but you"ll be good practice makes perfect

 

I sucked for a solid 6 months. Try to stay calm and don't beat yourself over it. It comes with practice.

 

My "Truck Driving School" was Army AIT back in 1979. The two things I remember clearly was one of the NCO's in my face because I stalled a truck tree times in a row with out actually moving anywhere, and becoming a bit disoriented the first time I backed. Truck was parked between two rows of barrels, 55 Gallon Drums, all the Trucks were, just had to pull forward and back straight up. I pulled forward, looked in the mirror and saw 3 rows of barrels, my two, plus one from the truck to my right.

It sounds pretty stupid trying to explain it, but I actually was confused as to which rows were mine, and of course started for the wrong one, then tried to steer over to the correct one which completely jacked me up and I took out 3 barrels.

It gets better LOL, hang in there.

 

That dude was just coasting out of gear and randomly moving the stick around - and grinding like a boss - for half that video. lol

Where was the 'instructor'?

 

I just went through all of that. My trainer took me mostly on back roads and through small towns for many hours slowly increasing difficulty as we went along. He rarely said much but I'm sure his nerves were as bad as mine in the beginning. It takes time and more time driving and shifting and a patient trainer. I still grind some gears even after getting my CDL but nothing like the beginning. Like the man said lay off the coffee and if things go sour pull over for a few minutes and refocus. You are not expected to know how to do this correctly or even close for a few hours yet. I was my own worst enemy when I began learning. Just keep practicing and get out some applications. Remember nothing good comes easy.

 

I think what you need is a nice massage..... Any in the area? That will relax you....!!!

 

Remember this: You are not competing with anyone but yourself. Don't focus or concern yourself with what or how others are doing.

Don't let anyone try to rat you out in your head.

Take it seriously but not so that you cannot focus.

Everyone was new at their job once.