Itching to go SOLO

I feel the exact same way. I am getting into trucking because I want freedom. I understand that a company needs to feel comfortable with me driving alone before they just hand me the keys, but i will be looking forward to the day I can just be out there on my own.

 

I also did all that stuff AND own a 42' motorcoach. Sorry ti inform you but driving a combo vehicle is a VERY DIFFERENT experience! If you think you can just jump into the cab and know it all YOU ARE WRONG. MY advice....do the 6 weeks with a trainer like the rest of us. I for one DO NOT want to share the road with some over confident rookie!!!

And before you go off on me let me tell you...I AM A ROOKIE and have found that you NEED a lot of training. So suck up the shared cab time. You will be glad you did.

 

If a person really needs 6 weeks training,

to drive a truck,

maybe this isn't your cup of tea............

 

I've always wondered that as well.

I can't stand the people always attacking rookies and people in school, but my old man taught me to drive his trailer truck in less than a week. Then went down and passed driving test, CDL in hand.

 

Believe me all of us newbies have the same concerns. I am a loner as well, but know I will have to suffer through some mentor. Knowing my luck I will get a slob that don't shower, refuses to stop and let me pee, eats at every dive truck stop that has a greasy spoon and won't shut up.

I hate people that talk to much....

I had rather read what I need to know and go. But as other said, we have to suffer through the mentor process to get to our goal of being alone.

 

Freedom ? . How free does this sound ?

BFI's keep you on a pretty short chain .

 

Passing the CDL test is not "training" in the fullest sense. Most CDL schools teach only the basics and just enough of them to pass the test. The real "training" comes on the road, in the weather and freight conditions the company has. All you have to do is read posts from CDL-holders who get hired and have a very difficult time doing things like a 90-blindside back. Driving on the relatively safe streets of a city is very different from driving the freeways of our country in really nasty weather, like climbing and descending the Rockies or Appalachian mountains under a load. And then there are the FMCSA regs - not to mention individual state regulations and how they're applied to the truck you're driving. Ever drive a truck in California?

Nope. Merely holding a CDL doesn't mean you're "trained." And it can take six or more weeks before you satisfy a company that you're good enough for them to accept the liability of putting you in command of an 80,000 vehicle with a high-value load. Or here in Michigan, up to 160,000 pounds.

 

Just because you can make a truck move DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN DRIVE IT!!!!

 

And IMO even 6-8 weeks isn't enough! Driving is a constant learning experience. If you can't see that then you need to re evaluate your career choice.

 

If I listened to you guys, then we all need to stay with our trainer for 20 years. Geez, my uncle drove OTR for over 20 years. Never had a trainer. He had to learn as he went. Over 3 Million miles and he never had an accident. I think that is pretty good for a guy that got in a truck and started driving.

You are correct, some people need to have someone tell the how to wipe their ### and tie their shoes. Other people will be able to figure out enough to be a safe, responsible truck driver in a very short time. Heck, I see drivers with 20+ years that tailgate, speed and weave in and out of traffic. So in my opinion they probably needed to stay with a trainer forever.