New Driver, Getting Exhausted With Trainer

Hi all. I'm a new driver and I've been out with my trainer for 2 weeks. We get along well and he's teaching me well but I feel absolutely exhausted every day. I am doing flatbed and I know there is a physical aspect to it, which I understand, anticipated and expected. But my trainer has us overlapping our clocks so I've been working basically 15-18 hour days, even though I'm only driving for 11. He does trip plan but doesn't plan rest eating or showering. Only drive time, shipping and receiving hours and HOS.

I know I'm new and its gonna take some time for myself to adjust but it's kicking my *ss right now. Personally I like to shower daily even if that means I have to stop running a little earlier. Especially if I'm in the heat chaining, tarping and pouring sweat and getting covered in dirt. And after that day, I need to use my full 10 hours to eat and rest.

I'm not saying I want to stop at every truck stop we drive by to pee and eat but the pace just seems insane right now. Is my trainer running very fast or am I just getting worn out from being new or a combination of the two? Regardless, I'm getting through it and keeping up and I'll work through it.

 

Welcome to boot camp.

And, it a combination of the two.

Kind of wondering how overlapping your clocks has you working 15-18 hours a day?
And how exactly do you overlap your clocks to do that? Because you are on a 14 hour clock.

 

Different strokes. I run hard every day, usually 750ish when I'm out. Doing that x2 in a truck is tough, as is rest while another drives. I don't sleep much anyways, but i get really worn down just by myself after a few weeks being a light sleeper.

I've seen @Chinatown mention melatonin before and started it myself this week. I may not be sleeping longer, but more good sleep for certain.

May help you some.

 

Trucking, in general, is a system shock to the body. In the beginning, I found it similar to basic training and field exercises in the military.

Eventually you'll likely get "conditioned" to the irregularity of it.

Imposed sleep deprivation is a known tactic in torture and interrogation. At least truckers get paid to endure it.

 

are you driving during day time or night time?

 

Two guys with a clock and the trainer would #### a brick is he goes to bed after his shift I’m guessing.

 

Well 15-18 hour days shouldn't be happening. You have a 14-hour clock. After that, you aren't required to do anything. As a matter of fact, you're prohibited from doing ANYTHING.

So I mean...you can either get through this, or you can rock the boat in an attempt to get shorter days or a new trainer. Those are kind of your options.

 

How many more weeks of team training is still required before you can drive solo truck ?

 

Sounds like your trainer was maybe in the Marines or Army's Special Forces.

I didn't start out in flatbed--but I don't remember my OTR training period being anywhere near that grueling.

If my math is near correct--another week, maybe two--and you're through with your trainer--& then out on your own.

Do you think maybe you can last that much longer?

Are you learning a lot from your trainer, anyway?

In trucking (& also, in life)--persistence pays off......BIG-TIME.

"The race goes not to the swift, or to the strong....but to those who keep running....."

--Lual

 

Why call them trainers when they are co-drivers?