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Phase I Training at England

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by AWaistOfAir, Dec 25, 2011.

  1. Dec 25, 2011 #1
    AWaistOfAir

    AWaistOfAir Bobtail Member

    15
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    Dec 25, 2011
    0
    I am just starting out on phase 1 with my CR England trainer. This guy has 20 years accident free experience with the same company, and has really taught me a lot. Now I know why experienced truckers all say we need a trainer to get started on the road to success.


    Things that my trainer has taught me:


    1) All the training packets and lesson plans that England gives us is a lot of bull. There is just no time to do any of that stuff if you are going to deliver the load on time. We do have time to go to truck stops and hang out. There is also no time for backing practice. Been on the road two weeks, and have only been allowed to back the truck 4 times.

    2) PTI / DVIs are for #######. My trainer gets paid to drive, not hang out underneath of trucks looking at tires. The other day, I found a trailer tire that was FLAT, and the air / electrical hoses were just hanging on the ground. I pointed them out, and we got them fixed, but my driver would have just driven off, because he gets paid to drive. The other day we were down for two hours because our marker lamps were out. This could have been prevented with a 5 min pretrip. But we don't do pretrips, because we are not gay.

    3) All those lessons, and progress tracking sheets that CR England gave us are a waste of paper. Hell, he doesn't even have all the lessons, nor video tapes that we are supposed to be watching. There is just no time, not with all the stops my veteran driver has to make to take a leak, and get the $5 two slice of pizza specials.

    4) The rule banning texting and driving does not mean you can not work facebook from your smart phone. This is witnessed every time we go over the rumble strips while driving.

    5) Students ARE allowed to sleep on the top bunk while the truck is in motion and drive at night despite what the non-driving ####### at England might have said.

    6) Looking through dirty windshields is a driving skill, that newbies like me just have to get used to. Windshield washer fluid is expensive, and he has to pay for that stuff out of his pocket (until he gets reimbursed). If you ever see our truck going down the road, you will realize just how little we spend on cleaning the truck.

    I know I am just venting, but if you ever want to know why the new breed doesn't know anything, this may be why.

    Note** I know I am full of it, and don't know 1/4 the stuff that my experienced driver knows (especially about backing and working around congestion but going the rate I am never going to get that experience. I really think I could have learned more just going out in a parking lot and 'playing around' than I can with a trainer. I have learned a lot about driving with a dirty windshield though:biggrin_25520:

    Just my 2 cents.
     
    AWaistOfAir, Dec 25, 2011
    AWaistOfAir, Dec 25, 2011
    #1
    OmcCheese and DenaliDad Thank this.
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  3. Dec 25, 2011 #2
    seabring

    seabring Road Train Member

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    Apr 24, 2011
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    Man i would be looking for a new trainer or a new job, why waste your time with someone whos not doing what they are supposed to? If your supposed to be getting trained then speak up and get put with someone who will train you. You are probably getting paid SFA while training so at least speak up and tell the company you want a trainer who will teach what you need to learn. Screw anyone whos says "keep your mouth shut" or " just take it rookie" cos thats crap! If you are in a program that requires you to earn a minimum income while you learn the job then at least get someone to teach you the job and make it worth your while. Or quit and get a job and learn on your own, If you allready have a cdl and a brain then go get a job with a decent company ,its not impossible, although some will make out that it is. If you wont speak up or make the change yourself then you are getting nothing but a low income for nothing in return.
     
    seabring, Dec 25, 2011
    seabring, Dec 25, 2011
    #2
  4. Dec 25, 2011 #3
    marmonman

    marmonman Road Train Member

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    Dec 14, 2009
    central illinois
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    What the hell do you expect ? You picked a sorry assed company like England and you really think that you will get the best training in the world ?

    You didn't join the army you went to a trucking company that couldn't care less about you your training or anything but making money off your ignorance of the profession that you have chosen .

    You go to a low life company you will be treated like a low life truck driver .
    The old saying about being known by the company you keep really applies in the trucking world .

    Don't be supprised when you are treated like an idiot when you work for a whole company of idiots .

    But I may be wrong because after all I am just a old driver that never has had the wonderful training that you can get in three weeks at a CDL school . So I can not be trusted to know anything worth sharing with a certified CDL school graduate .

    Never mind it must be all this holiday cheer I am feeling .
     
    marmonman, Dec 25, 2011
    marmonman, Dec 25, 2011
    #3
  5. Dec 25, 2011 #4
    stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    Oct 10, 2006
    NC
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    First concern I would have is why is a so-called 20 year veteran training at England. That should throw up a red flag as to this guys caliber of driver.

    There is a fair share of long time drivers that are less than stellar. I know, I've had some of them work for me, and I've also teamed with some.
     
    stranger, Dec 25, 2011
    stranger, Dec 25, 2011
    #4
  7. Dec 25, 2011 #5
    DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    5,204
    3,175
    Aug 10, 2011
    An Alaskan lost somewhere in the Lower 48
    0
    Sounds scary to me. I wonder how much faith in the words the guy would have while trying to explain an equipment failure to a DOT FMCSA inspector or State Police officer...just prior to being put out-of-service?
     
    DenaliDad, Dec 25, 2011
    DenaliDad, Dec 25, 2011
    #5
  8. Dec 25, 2011 #6
    Lantern

    Lantern Road Train Member

    1,800
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    Mar 8, 2011
    Deliverin Soda
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    I won't kick you about your company choice as I have no first hand experience working for them, if your trainer isn't doing PTI/DVIRS, or hell half the stuff your saying then he isn't worth jack to you. Request another trainer.. Company's want to know what trainers aren't doing their job properly, and the only way to know is to tell them. Here is your chance.
     
    Lantern, Dec 25, 2011
    Lantern, Dec 25, 2011
    #6
  9. Dec 25, 2011 #7
    FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

    4,314
    10,375
    Dec 23, 2008
    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
    0
    Good for you for at least recognizing these bad habits. You may not learn what you need to learn while on this guy's truck but you are smart enough not to pick up these bad habits either. Learn from his mistakes, talk to as many drivers as you can when you are at truck stops, terminals...etc and you will do okay.
     
    FatDaddy, Dec 25, 2011
    FatDaddy, Dec 25, 2011
    #7
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