In training and nervous about a lot.

I'm glad to hear that you're going take your time. So many new guys are in such a hurry to get to the big bucks. I'm in favor of taking your time so that you'll have longevity in the industry. We definitely got your back. Ask as many questions as you need to on here. We'll help you any way we can.

 

HA! I meant no disrespect, many women chime in here, and wouldn't know it by the handle. "Having your back" is a carry over from the olden days, when we really did look out for one another. We don't know any other way. With the way society is today, you may never even get to actually TALK to anyone, and consider this your "1 up" on those drivers that go it alone. The "flashlight in a dark dock", I taught myself, and the job today doesn't really require interaction like in the past. We had to do just about everything by trial and error, but back then, an "error" didn't send you to Alcatraz for life either.

 

I remember training. I was my trainer's first trainee. He had nine months of experience at the time. I will say though that he was a pretty good trainer, and he went on to train probably ten drivers a year until he passed away a year ago.

He was terrible at trip planning though: "Just follow the GPS!" Never told me where we were going, never gave me time to look at a map. He was horrible in that area. I spent ten weeks on the truck with him. I was ready to throttle him by the time I was done. That was way too much time.

I started out flatbedding, so backing was a challenge. I pulled tankers for a couple years too, with short trailers and no tail swing. When I started pulling boxes a few years ago and bumping docks all the time, it was a little like learning to back all over again.

You have gotten great advice already. The only thing I would add is to make up your mind right now that you are not going to hurry just because someone else is waiting on you. Let them wait. If they blast their horn, ignore it. You can't hit anything if the truck isn't moving, so if you're not certain you are clear, pull the brakes and get out and look. The impatient driver will be on their way soon enough, and anyway it's not really your problem. Any day you arrive safely without hitting anything is a good day.

 

Bail out if he offers you a PINK WIG, ha ha ha

 

When I was in training (20 years ago) it was 2 months
Month #1 i did all the driving, backing, drop/hook... solo only runs trainer on duty in the jump seat and over saw as needed..
Week 5-6 super solo, I did everything required for 10ish hr's he did the rest
Week 7-8 team

Of course my school was bot on quickie school.
8hrs a day, 5 days a week for 2 months.. class time around 3hrs a day, drive 1.5hrs every other day the rest 9f the time on the backing range...

As to parking I like to get onto the stuck stop between 1400-1600 and roll out midnight-0200..This will actually work for most loads. Even if I have say 4hrs of drivetime left I stop and take my 10 (if you stop between 1400-1600 you almost never have to wait for a shower)
Most loads have a 10hr break between pu and delivery.. nothing says WHEN you have to take it. Doing this also puts you driving at night (early morning) less stupid people on the road and faster going thru major city's

As to the trainer. Stick it out if you can BUT if it doesn't work out call the training department and inform them about ALL of your concerns and request a new trainer..!!

Above all else (now and in the future) do everything SLOWLY and get out as much as you need to to be safe... i like most drivers don't like waiting 5min for someone to back into a spot. But even if it takes that long if you get in and don't hit anything, it's a successful backing.. HINT when your practice backing at the truck DONT pick the Eze stop. Pick the HARDEST and do some BL8NDSIDE because you will need it.

 

Research online isn't going to answer your question. You need a helper and a tape measure to check the actual length. I've never seen an actual chart sticker like that on a trailer before. Is that something from a Google search? Not all holes are spaced the same distance on every trailer. One trailer might have them an inch apart whereas another has them 6 inches. So that chart is good for the spacing of that particular trailer and similar spec'd, but not all trailers. Most companies have multiple different hole spacing on tandems sort of like it's not even given any care or thought when buying trailers that the fleet all be the same. Again, the only way to be sure is to use a tape measure and check, the "8th hole fast easy rule" will not always be right.

 

You'll have to measure with a tape and figure it out.