% that fail orientation/trainee?

So I have my school lined up, about complete with research of companies to apply at, and read this website religiously for knowledge and insight. The one thing that worries me is the amount of people I read that wash out for one reason or another. I personally look at orientation and driver training as a very small amount of time in my life and feel as though I could survive just about anything. So what % washed out from your orientation/driver training? Me, during training am going to keep my mouth shut, yes sir/no sir, and get my truck..

Thanks in advance for your response..

 

0%...they started dropping like flies once they got their own truck...doesn't take long for all the warm and fuzzy big truck driving fantasies to wear off.

Edit: I just remembered one guy who quit after two days out with a trainer. Funny thing is that he was the most gung ho one of the group...this guy had been dreaming about driving a big truck since he could remember.

 

I was told by someone who knows that only about one in 20 new drivers actually stays in the industry.

Once they get out on the road things get real and that reality is completely unexpected for most.
Expectations vs. reality thing.

 

When I was at orientation at Swift I asked the lady doing the orientation and she said in 6 weeks 50% of the people are gone. The thing is, if it is something you want to do and understand it is really a lifestyle change you should be able to make it past the first year. If you are getting into the industry expecting to make thousands of dollars a week, you might not even wanna waste the time.

-Steven

 

My class had 70ish students at the start and finished with about 30. It wasn't tough, you just had to show up everyday. No clue why so many quit/failed, the instructors were good and there was plenty of time for practice both on and off the road.

 

7 of us, one failed drug test, one failed driving test, one didn't catch on to the securment fast enough then a week into it one guy was found to have suspended license.

 

I have a wife and kids to provide for so I looked at it as I don't have a option to fail. So far so good, coming up on three years and I cant complain. Most people that fail have something to hide or have other options where failing isn't so bad. My opinion anyways.

 

i don't know about having something to hide.

a lot of is really just not knowing what to expect. and when it hits, it's not what they want.

i remember my orientation. the last thing talked about, was the loneliness. i almost walked away. it certainly wasn't what i had in mind.

to this day, i still have my moments that make me want to walk away. it don't even come close to what i was hoping it would be.

that loneliness comes in more then just 1 flavor. it's not always about family. but friends come into play also. your never home to hang out with them. eventually, they stop talking to you.

all that for the price of gooberment over regulation. not exactly the career of choices.

it takes a lot of work and thinking to really like this job.

 

It was about 60% wash out where I went... about 20% failed drug screen (dummies!), 10% failed the physical, 15% couldn't pass written or drive test, and the remainder quit because of tyrannical so-called "trainers" that were utter idiots!

Be prepared to take abuse from at least one instructor... that you would NEVER tolerate under any other circumstances. Finally... be prepared to discover that most of what you learn for the tests is NOT practiced on the road! Safety is "preached", but runs a far second place to makin' money for the company. Good luck.

 

There's where to concentrate your research John. Check the archives to see if there's a thread pertaining to why folks get out of the Big truck truckin' industry. If not, it might be an idea to start one. If you have any doubts about being able to tolerate the lifestyle, now is the time to discover that beforehand rather than after you've signed the dotted line.

Many of those who wash out early had the same thoughts. I doubt very many go into it thinkin' they're going to wash out early. I think many just think "driving"-- how hard can that be? What they don't realize is that the "driving" part is the easiest. If they're having trouble getting the hang of just driving, the rest can be over whelming. Big truck truckin' isn't a vacation or leisurely sight-seeing, --- as some seem to envision. Self discipline is imperative.

I don't know the exact percentages that wash out, but it's high numbers.

As for keeping your mouth shut during training, ........... why?
If you have comments or questions, by all means voice them.
If you have a trainer who objects to your comments and/or questions, reject that trainer. It's your future career and your money that you paid to learn as much as possible in a relatively short time. Get as much bang for your buck as possible.

Good luck and
Best of success.