Tankers, flatbeds and doubles. Should new drivers get experience with vans first?

I don't think anyone with no experience should be hauling a dangerous load. I blame the companies in the first place for hiring no experience drivers and to me that just goes to show you what type of company it is. I'm sorry if I rub the new drivers wrong but you'll never convince me that someone right out of school should be driving hazmat and it seems that drivers with 1 or 2 years always try to convince us it's ok.

But there is a point here and that's hiring drivers with bad habits. I gave many road test and I could tell right away if a driver was good for our job and the process would stop there. However, the hiring process is just not a road test. A good background check is necessary and a company can not tell if you have no record from any job.

I know very few gasoline companies that will hire a driver with no experience and those are the companies that have the worse records. There's just too much to know and driving should be second nature so your attention can be focus all around. The pay matches the job.

 

Vans are the longest, and hardest to see around in the mirrors.

So I'd say if you learn how to handle van city driving around corners and how much space you need, starting w/vans is the best idea.

 

All we haul is gasoline and thankfully the company has the insight to hire experienced professional drivers. End of story.