Is 3 weeks of training enough?

Heck, at six weeks you're half way to being a trainer!

 

More than enough IMO. Training is just cheap team driving.

 

I've been in training for 10 years and ironically the BEST advice I ever received was from an ol' hand at a TruckStop when I started ...'Boy..if you have a question about securing something..you'll never get a ticket for putting too many straps n chains on..maybe a funny look now n then but #### em'..

In answer to your question O.P.-it will be a good start..

 

They don't give tickets out for to many straps.

 

I completely agree with bumpy never to many securements. I started with a flatbed company here in Ont. When the owner asked for a copy of my drivers licence it was still the temp licence you get when you do your commercial licence and they mail you the card lol. A friend that owned the trailer I was going to pull also had 2 trucks on with the company so he pulled some strings. My training was pulling a pre loaded coil 2hrs with my friend. We dropped the coil continued another hour picked up a load of skylights then I dropped him off at his truck and we went our sepperate ways lol. The first coil I was asked to pick up in Southbend IN I met one of our best and oldest drivers and he showed me how to chain it and he also stated no such thing as too many chains. That was my training and I had and still haven't had any issues. I went from a licensed truck mechanic who never left my province to long haul flat decker almost over night lol.

 

Our safety man, a former State Trooper in OK said, "If you have chains left in the rack and you roll over and a load falls off, you're buying it. If all your chains are on it , we'll buy it." Good advice.

Everyone on the road is drunk except you.
When you change lanes, turn on the signal and pull close to the line. Wait 3 seconds and you might hear beep, beep, beep instead of crunch.

 

That was me Bump. When your pulling a +8 axle set w/ a high load of lumber on crooked switch backed coast range roads that were never design for those trucks gut wrapping your loads can make a difference between delivering or being tiz up in the river at the bottom of a canyon.

 

2 impottant rules to remeber;

It either gonna stay on or fall off!
Throw as many chains till you think its safe and throw 2 more

 

I think they are correct , a lot of. Company's say " training" its just cheap labor , this ain't rocket science , pay close attention to WLL work ing load limits and rember its only rated as high as the weakest part of the connection , if that's a stake pocket or chain or binder or strap , I have seen load securment classes that were o my a day long so after eight you should be a subject expert , three weeks is really as much about being sure you drive well as well as customer relations ect , I think its plenty of time , truth is you will learn more your first few weeks alone than you did in the three weeks any way. Take your time. Its a career not a fly by night get rid h quick scheme.