% that fail orientation/trainee?

Screw statistics... My instructors wrote me off. I failed the CDL driving test twice. I had to go through 3 companies before I got the keys. I knew the job was rough when I took it. Dispatchers tried to force me to run illegal by threatening my job. I couldn't back up to save my life- I had to ask for help a lot. Most of my runs were in the northeast. My first winter in a truck was the worst one in three decades. Everyone in my CDL class with the exception of myself failed to make it through one year of OTR trucking- some went local, some got into accidents, most said screw it. I was terrified of trucks ever since I was hit by one in my car. I was blessed with a great trainer who forced me to face my fear. I made it through and got on with a good company that more than doubled my pay after six months. All the big mouths, superstars, and know-it-alls disappeared because they had no fear or humility which led to stupid mistakes and in one case, a fatality. They were reckless. Its a miracle I made it through, and I truly believe I was protected by a higher power... since I had fear I was cautious... since I was humble, I accepted my weakness and was able to learn.

What I can say for sure as a member of that 5% that survive year one is that all the bad stuff you hear is true and there's even worse stuff... I never wanted to do this, I just needed a job and well... this was the best I could find even with a degree... I make more doing this (sad but true).

Strangely, in the end I really like it out here... best job I never wanted.

 

And this is the way Swift and the other training companies want it; in fact, if it were a 100% failure rate I think they would be even happier. That way they can continue to cycle warm bodies in and out of the truck and collect their corporate training welfare. These are not freight companies but rather training companies. Take away their taxpayer funded training money and they would have to try and make money honestly like the rest of us.

 

"Best job I never wanted"?
That 'bout says it all right thar.
It does grow on ya though, --- and gets in the blood.
A love -- hate relationship, --- of sorts.

B I N G O !!

If it doesn't seem to make any sense,
Follow the money trail.

 

Dont guess this will go over too well... but I will throw it out there anyway..

One of the big reasons for the high number of quitters... is because of the free CDL classes... especially the state paid thing... it draws people with a poor work ethic and poor money management... many show up with little to no money at all... that is no way to start a new career... plus, you have people who havent worked steadly for any length of time, who are lousy with their own responsibilities. .. and think they can or will be able and willing o work 70 nours a week and handle the job responsibilities. ...

 

Bren, this is a very perceptive statement.

 

I know for me... I had a lot of time and money invested before I showed up for orientseriousn. .. so just bailing was not an option. ..

I went to a good private school.. paid $4,500 tuition, and another $500 in books and fees.. I took on a 2nd job as a bartnder for just over 2 years to save up the money I would need.. not just the tuition, but also to cover the time off work as I went to school full time for 6 weeks... so after working two jobs for 2 years and putting out thousands of dollars you just dont throw in the towl because you miss home, or it isnt as much fun as hou thought it would be..

Most companies offer tuition reimbursement.... which is great... so I got the tuition and fees $5,000 back...

I honestly believe that if there was no Free CDL schools... then only those who are serious and determined would go to CDL school and the turn over rate would not be as high... you would also see a big difference in the kind of people who show up for orientation...

Now.. I am not being a meanie. .. I understand people being down and needing assistance to get back up... I just strongly feel it is and witness it being abused in this industry... I have seen people show up for orientation and can instantly tell they wont last... the schools will accept students who have DUIs or multiple speeding tickets even though those will prevent the student from getting hired... and, that is a waste of tax payer money..

I dont know if it has been done or if the information is available. . But it wojuld be interesting and telling to know of those that washout or quit within the first year.. how many paid for their own school and which got their school paid for..

 

The state of NC paid for my truck driving school as part of the "re-training" part of CAFTA back in 2007. The manufacturing company I was working at nearly for a decade up and moved all operations to Honduras. I loved my job there and I hated to see it go.

When the Employment Security Commission held large meetings with me and my fellow employees that were losing our jobs (there were nearly 800 people working there), this retraining program was offered to all of us. I took advantage of it and enrolled into a truck driving school for what was the beginning of a very scary career change. Manufacturing was just going extinct in NC at the time and it was time for me to change.

I got a few pre-hires by graduation and off I went to TMC. I left orientation there after 3 days....it was just not for me. I didn't like the culture of the company, the way the current drivers talked about the company, etc. Something just didn't feel right to me, so I left. Remember, this was nearly 7 years ago.

I immediately called Roehl, went through their orientation, drove with a trainer for 6 weeks, etc. The job was hard at times. Truck driving takes a lot of thought and planning among many other things. Long story short, I found a local driving job online, applied for it and I am still with that company today and still driving a big truck.

I love my job now. I can truly say now that I am satisfied with the decision I made to change careers and I am appreciative of the program the state had in place to help me get there! I have never taken food stamps or welfare of any kind and have only been on unemployment once in my life for a very short period of time. I have been blessed.

It's not to say that many people DO take advantage of government welfare and these programs and DO NOT utilize them in a way they were meant to be used. But I just wanted to show that in my case, I used the program, benefitted from it, and have a good job today because it was there for me.

 

My 1st job driving a trailer truck I did a lot of backing up, much of it at night time around places that were built only for bobtail trucks, & when I went of the road I had learned how to back up. I do not know about today's drivers but back in my day in the 70's & 80's I helped a few drivers back up to their dock. I think in doing so that helped them learn how to back up.

I wonder if any of today's drivers will do that? Or do they set back & laugh at them especially if they hit something tearing up their truck or someone else's.

Seems to be a new breed out there & most only looks out for self.

 

I think your correct. I know of several in years gone by that were on disability that when to a local college with their fees being paid by the government, plus getting paid to go & after they graduated they stayed right their on their disability.

And yes, it nice to get assistance, yet we have to many that takes advantage of this riding the system.

 

As told to me by a recruiter (and it's born out to be fairly accurate):

About half the people that go to school fail to get their CDL

About half those who apply are accepted for orientation

About half those that come to orientation wash out

About half that start training finish successfully and are assigned a truck

About half that are assigned a truck are still driving after three months

By the time you have a year's experience you are close to one in a hundred.