New Driver Mentorship

Your overall attitude will determine your success or failure...

 

with swift... first 50hrs on driveline shoild last a week) traner does super solo.
he should be sitting upfront in that time.
yhen when yoyr shift is over, if trainer wants he can continue for a few hrs.
thaycway truck doesnt move for 8-10 hrs.
gives trainee time to acclumate.
after the 50 hrs its team driving.
there be time for you to take shower,food, laundry and bathroom breaks

 

It depends on the company, some are solo only(trainer always in passenger seat) in training. Alot of companies they run solo for a week or two, then they decide at some point you are going to be running more as a team. This is after you tested and have your CDL. Permit drivers always need the trainer riding shotgun.

For the shower etc lifestyle questions, that will largely depend on you and the trainer to work out an understanding, definitely don't be afraid to speak up if its been a few days since a shower or you need the restroom.

If you do team at all definitely have a system with the trainer for when he is driving and stops to go into a truckstop, you dont want to crawl out of the sleeper to use the restroom and get left behind at the truckstop because he didnt know you woke up and left the truck, it happens.

 

The procedure varies from company to company and trainer to trainer. Some companies have a specific process where the trainer is sitting in the passenger seat while the newbie drives for some period of time. Some companies leave the decisions whether the training truck is used like a team truck (you drive, I sleep) or like a supervised solo truck.

The trainer and the customer appointments usually sets the schedule for the sleeping, showering, eating, etc. The point being it's won't be relaxed and leisurely, it's job. You will need to speak up for your own needs and also cooperate with the trainer to get through the training period. I found it to be the hardest part of my trucking career, simply because I didn't know when I would get a shower or when I could eat and I had nothing but my clothes with me. As soon as you get your solo truck you can carry a fridge/cooler/food, shower when you have time, etc. The shortest distance between you, a paycheck, and your solo truck is demonstrate to the trainer you are safe and think ahead and can back the trailer. You will be in someone else's truck and they have trained newbies before. Do it their way unless it's unsafe. Being uncomfortable isn't a reason to demand partial command over the truck. My difficulty was not being able to sleep much in a moving truck. Some people sleep well. I did 8 weeks with a trainer. Don't rush through it. It is where you learn 90+% of how to do this job.

 

I know for sure the following companies do it all solo type:
Cypress
Leonard’s Express
S&S Transport
Roehl

 

I believe it’s done solo over at Indian River Transport.