Some Questions For Any/All New[er] Drivers

Short answer:

No.

Long answer:

I don't know what they teach in CDL school. I earned my license by paying hourly to go out with an instructor to get my license. Roughly 10-15 hours seat time. NO backing time. My current employer gave me another 3-4 days "training" with another driver before being let loose to go run OTR. Paid me $50 a day for training days.

My honest opinion? While I hate the idea of teaming with someone, I would pay money to team with a professional driver for a week or two, AND pay for motels, AS LONG AS the professional driver would teach me, and show me things that have been learned over the years.

I can't even begin to list how many things should have/could have/would have been nice to know if there had been a senior, professional, driver along with me for a couple weeks at the start.

Telling me to go figure it out on my own, then telling me later I did it wrong, IS THE WORST TRAINING system ever.

If you're thinking of starting a driver training program, sign me up. Tell me where to mail the cheque.

For backing: I have no clue how to properly set up to back. I will figure it out, it will take me time, I will get it done. But I have almost zero idea on how to set it up properly, in order to execute it well.

It may not be pretty. But I will get it done.

 

I would say yes. But I would ask you if it's all van with tandems, or different trailers with different spacings or number of axles.

I could probably right now hit 75 out of 80 very well with a van, tandems. With a spread or a tri axle or a lazy flatbed, yeah, I'm not so hot. I screwed around for an hour a month ago with one of our flats, trying to learn how to back it in better. Not much improvement.

The one triaxle we have, it's a beauty to back up. Very responsive, just a joy to back up.

It's surprising how much of a rookie you can look like when you hook to a trailer you haven't driven before/for a long time, and go to back in a spot you would've hit 100% before with a trailer you're used to.

 

CDL school, from a company or otherwise, is only to get you a CDL. Nothing more.

Backing skills have to be acquired through experience in the actual act of backing into different places.
And nothing a a few weeks of training with a trainer or mentor will get that for you.

It is only when you are out there for several years and have gone to so many places that are SO hard to get in to that you you will get that experience.

And even then, there will be that next place that totally blows your socks off because you don't know how you even might approach it - much less back in to it.


I've heard, and read on forums, drivers saying that they learn something new every day.
I don't find that true, in any way.
Most days are much like the last once you get into it.

The exception, to some degree, would be with backing.

After a while you get used to most things, and docks.
But there seems to always be a new dock that you didn't expect.
One designed for a 28 footer or shorter... a blind side with no room on either side... an under ground place that is totally unforgiving... backing in on a one lane street...




Just how much backing skill do you expect to get when you are a rookie just getting your CDL?