Orentation and Trainer Time

Dude, crap your pants just one time and i assure you that stopping to use the rest room will never be an issue again trust me.

 

The school was only to get you your CDL - not to train you as a truck driver.

You are now in the real world, and training to become a real truck driver.

I only hope I do as well as you seem to be doing.

I start orientation on Tuesday, so I am in the same boat as you were a while ago. That is to say - I have my CDL, but I have yet to learn to be a trucker.

It seems like you have a good trainer, so just go with it and learn all you can from him.

 

Hey TD - thanks for the inside scoop on your experiences! It sounds like you are doing fine. Like any job, it will take time for you to adjust to everything.
Hang in there dude! Just a few more weeks 'til you get your own truck....

 

So basically you are running team..I hear that is common with those companys.Prime does it big time with their trainees,but I do think it makes a better driver.

 

Carry food with you. Beef jerky, a couple of canned soups, trail mix, healthy chips or crackers and lots of water.

And do that stufff I texted you about.

 

We don't "run team" with trainees - until they're quite a bit down the road with some experience. Trainers sit in the right seat until they are comfortable that the trainee can manage to keep the rig going down the road safely. Then we back off a bit, doing right seat in heavy traffic, getting into shippers/receivers, backing, etc. As a trainee gains more confidence and experience - and the trainer and management concur - then and ONLY THEN, do we "run team."

From what I've heard, Swift takes a similar approach.

 

I kinda question your trainers methods. I trained for three years and when I first got a new student on board, he sat in that jump seat for at least two days just watching and learning and listening to me break down everything I was doing. Example....discussing what im seeing in front of me, beside me, and around me. Always aim high in your steering and look as far ahead as you can, so that when traffic is slowing or some other incident is occurring ahead of you your not surprised when you come up on it.

Just remember we all were newbs at one point, and we have all been through what your going through. It may all seem so overwhelming, but it does get easier as the days and weeks go along.

 

Part n' parcel of what happens at Prime dude. If they get their CDL through Prime, that is 100% covered with a CDL instructor in the right seat 100% of the time. One-on-one instruction. If they come from a third party that's what they get until the trainer is satisfied they are competant to drive on their own without 100% supervision.

As with many others... here's the question: Exactly how many years of experience do you think we have to give a newb driving down a lightly traveled, straight interstate highway, before they can actually be trusted to not crash the truck without 100%, 24-7 supervision?