How brutal is the 4-6 week training period?

You learn to sleep in a moving truck pretty quickly. The bed is comfy, at least in my trainers truck, and now my own truck. It's not all moving, it depends on loads and wait times. No, staying in a hotel is probably not going to be an option. I was terrified of the training period. Then I got the most awesome, skilled, caring, and serious trainer ever. We had a great time, and drove our buns off. 33 states, 25000 miles, 32 days. We still text with our trainer and will be friends for a long time. Pack light, take the right attitude, be flexible. You will learn a lot.

 

Put yourself in a closet and stay there 6 weeks with everything you need or don't have but need.

Then try to sleep in it. It's tough. Now try it with a total stranger who holds your life in his or her hands while you try to sleep. That's just one of the problems. There are many. But that's training.

I hear talk that they do three in the same rig to train. Not in my lifetime.

 

Also, this isn’t very critical but it adds a perspective to starting. While it’s important to think about the here and now it’s also wise to think about the end game, as in where you’d like to see yourself ending up at in your career. Right now it’s not as important because you haven’t even started yet but as you’re training and start seeing things you’ll notice things that might appeal to you and catch your interest.

Most importantly learn the basics. Once you’ve got the basics down you’re alright. Don’t ever feel pigeon holed because you started off in reefer or van or whatever. As long as you learn the fundamentals you can always learn new things to advance your career.


To end, please learn how to use a map. Yes, a GPS is a wonderful device that might work most of the time but when it doesn’t a map is worth its weight in gold. Get a nice Rand McNally truck map with the lamenated pages.

 

The hardest part about 3 in a truck was how little sleep the trainer got. Ppl have mentioned sleeping with one eye open and so on. I felt bad for him, but he swore he was getting more sleep with us than with any other trainees hed had. Otherwise, it was comfy. Keep your stuff picked up, help keep the truck clean, dont over pack, and be pleasant. In spite of all the horror stories, we had an awesome time.

 

It depends. Try and pick a company that doesn't force you to drive as a team. Sleeping in a moving truck takes some getting used to.

The time went by pretty fast for me.

 

Theres a flavor for every taste in this industry. You dont have to go with the first company that will take you. Theres long haul, but also regional and local. It depends on how much you want to be home. Long haul, there is a lot to learn, and you're on your own out there. A longer training period can be helpful, especially with all the really rough weather out there this year. If we would have taken the short route, we'd have missed learning the skills to drive in wind and snowy conditions. That experience is priceless. Learning how to judge the road, and having enough knowledge to know when to really shut it down in a safe haven has been useful on our own. And I happen to love my team partner. Hes my hubby, but at least it's not alone, and when you're unsure of yourself, it's nice to have a partner. It's also a great thing to have a backup spotter when you're new. Teaming is not all bad. These unsociable solo drivers don't get that part.

 

not to be the proverbial prick but when does one get trained with trainer SLEEPING?

 

Actually I prefer a company that has a mix of no team driving and team driving. When I was a trainer it was a relief to upgrade to run team. My trainer was less than stellar, so being able to drive without his "helpful input" was a blessing.

When I was a trainer I used the first week of team driving as a weaning process. Monitor what that driver is doing by listening to the shifts and general sound of the truck. By the second week of team driving I closed the curtains and slept well, usually. I would set the alarm clock and monitor on Google Maps whether the trainee took the right exit or turn in a complex situation or feign the need for a smoke break to get in the passenger seat to NOT SAY A WORD unless necessary.

It's best to simply be there to help and let the trainee do their job, for most trainees. The best ones I could listen and feign sleep while they did a drop and hook and got the BOL signed and macros sent to the company. Later I might inform them I was awake but never opened the curtain, because I knew they did it right.

I still stay in touch with a few of my trainees. Two are now trainers, paying it forward.

 

Long straight stretches, low traffic. Not mountains. Not rush hour. Not pulling into stops.

 

Hahahahaha! It’s training through osmosis or diffusion I can never remember which it is.

I think it’s important for the trainer to occasionally hide in back and softly weep about his poor choices...ummm never mind.

The trainer laying in his bunk with curtains open and watching the trainee (who has the illusion of being solo) is important. You can learn a lot about a new driver that way. I could be wrong though.