I'm failing Out Of School

You can't teach EVERYONE to fish. It's gonna be a LOOOONG road ahead. You might want to reconsider because the getting taught is the EASY part. The learning afterwards is way more difficult.

 

Good plan.
Don't let a few lazy unmotivated people ruin what will be a life long tool for you to make a living.
Above all don't give up.

 

Good idea.

 

I agree with this.

This might be tough to stomach but getting your cdl will be the easiest part.

But who knows? You could end up being the guy who struggled in school and excels in the real world. Much better than the star student who realizes he can't hack it after a year or two.

You have to realize the typical driving instructor usually doesn't have a degree in Education or Psychology. They've received basic (sometimes pathetic) training from their employer. And eventually developed a certain way of teaching the student to pass the exam. And generally speaking, it works.

Unfortunately, whatever your current instructor's method is, it's clearly not working for you.

So rather than try to change how he relays information - which will be next to impossible - the smart thing to do is find a different instructor.

I've never been a truck driving instructor and I have zero intention of becoming one. I prefer the solo runs and there's no way I'm going to stand in a parking lot teaching newbies for $16 an hour.

However, I have, in an earlier profession, taught people things which were initially foreign to them. And it can be a challenge to convey information in a way that clicks for each particular student. What works for one doesn't always work for another. It's a rare and underappreciated skill.

When you request a new instructor, he may not be some trucking zen master. Quite honestly, the odds are against it. But, with a little luck, he might give the same message in a different way - a way that clicks for YOU. And that's all you need at this point.

One final thought. You mentioned your eyes are corrected to 20/40 in one eye and 20/20 in the other. This can alter your depth perception which makes certain maneuvers difficult. Is it possible to change your prescription and correct the 20/40 eye closer to 20/20?

Obviously, even you don't or can't correct, brain plasticity can adjust for this discrepancy in the long run. But right now, everything is new to you. It's something to be aware of.

To compensate for this (as well as other hurdles) it might help to use your get-out-and-looks, even on something like the offset. Make mental notes. If you make x adjustment with the steering wheel, the tractor does this, and the trailer does that. Break it down into manageable chunks. With time, you'll need fewer get-out-and-looks. And eventually, it will all flow into something which feels as natural as tying your shoe laces.

 

Mr Instructor Pullup sounds like you have to learn by doing. Some people need theory explained to them instead. Mr Pullup must not have any room for excessive talking. Pullup he says.

Fine.

I would try to find another instructor. Instructors are not.. those who taught God how to deliver the materials to build the world and heaven above in 7 days. Not always.

My instructors were abusive. They hit, and yell bad degrodatory words until you learn to do something right. It would be considered assault today. But then you had to learn and when you were rewarded with silence from that right seat you knew you were doing well then. Moving on to the next hit and bad words.

I was a teacher a few times to a few students unlucky enough to endure my supervision, usually consists of do this again don't do what you did last time do it the other way.

What did I tell you, the other way. what part of *&^% other dont you understand? And escalate from there. *Shrugs. Ive done that with my wife also. Who was told that whatever happens in that cab is NOT going to happen anywhere else because she has to learn. She learned. But I wont do that again.

When I was given a crew of newbie temp CDL's fresh from school they either know how to auto but not manual and either manual and not auto. It's real simple with these people. Auto? Take their hand with truck in idle at nuetrual push finger on the D and release clutch, now we are moving. Get to the barn bye.

With the manuals.. well. They get into first. Let the clutch out, add power. Don't be a wuss. Own this ##### more power. That's it (JERK!!! RODCK!!! RATTLE) but moving. Go to barn bye.

But boss how... but.. B Y E. Endeth lesson. Get going.

=) As far as I know they never hit anyone. That's plenty good for a few hours work.

 

At first, I thought you had a legit gripe. Now I have my doubts.

Right now - you're in a combative mode with this particular instructor and with the whole situation.

It's easy to log in and say the instructor is a screw up.

But since I'm not there to hear and see everything that's going on between you, the instructor, and the tractor/trailer, I CANNOT objectively say who is at fault. Maybe it's him or maybe you're partially to blame.

Like I said last night, getting your cdl is the easiest part.

And I can't help but wonder if a similar argumentative scenario won't repeat itself with the trainer at whatever company hires you, the dispatcher (when you get your own truck), dock supervisors, and so on...

You claim you're smart. Then show us and walk away from what is an unwinnable situation.

Talk to whoever is in charge at the school and request a new training environment.

 

I just read your recent post. Sounds like the new environment is just what you needed.

So get the skills portion down, get your cdl, and move on.