Really now; How many people...

Started working on the farm when I was young, mostly farm tractors and such until I was 16, then the straight trucks, then the semis a bit.

 

None, zip, zero, nil
I had all the above experience before climbing behind the wheel for the first time in Truck Driving school.

 

I got into construction in TX # 20yo and got my CDL through the company I worked for. We drove 2 axle bobtails with a big rack for doors and windows (installed them in new homes). Back then it was commercial or chauffeurs + operator licenses. The shift pattern is comparable to a 4 wheeler, but I think I drove a 2 range rear axle at one time, if I remember correctly. No semi experience though..

 

No experience in a big rig, but had dragged a few horse trailers around before getting my CDL, otherwise, it was all cars.

 

Ditto for me ...... didn't do too bad once I got there ..... if I do say so myself ......

I'm curious to know why do you feel that people should have prior experience before learning to drive a truck?

It would be my guess, that ...... like many things in life ..... no experience would be better than bad habits picked up by not being trained properly?

Any of you old-timers have an opinion on this?

TST