The most important item your not taught in training

Im a new breed driver but grew up around old school drivers and old iron. Biggest issue is lack of common sense and common courtesy. My trainer was one of those guys not even driving 2 years. Common steering wheel holder but I ended up becoming real good friends with him and got him out of that mentality.

If you didn't grow up around trucks you can't expect them to know everything but the lack of knowledge is terrifying

 

I think for this current generation they will use the CB. However no matter how you cradle the argument these new drivers are going to use social media to communicate. I spoke to a driver over the weekend who told me he shut his CB off like me several years ago. You can make any argument you like for using the CB but in the end between the new drivers using other media to communicate and putting up with the crap I rather just keep mine off. If I were still driving today I would just keep mine off.

 

Faceplate, twitts, etc are not going to be able to tell you about the 20 car pileup over the next hill. Ever.

 

Of course not. They're the ones that wreck on the opposite side of the highway.

 

Yeah, but the other guy said there's an app for that, no need for CB, lol.

 

You are 100% right. You can't make any intelligent argument against having road information. My problem is while I would love to have said information I just lack the patience anymore to put up with all the bull.

 

I did direct my post towards an A Gamer.

 

Actually Google maps does tell you this. Ok, not that's it's 20 cars, but it does notify of road closures and tries to re-route based on current (usually about 15 minutes behind) road conditions.
The only real problem is Google doesn't have a truckers version out.

-Steven

 

I got a CB once, nothing but garbage on it for the most part. I never rear ended anyone because I pay attention to the road, leave plenty of distance between myself and the vehicle in front of me, and follow the signs on the road.

Too many billy big riggers out there, everyone thinks they're the smartest and knows whats best. Want proof? Drive through any construction zone or downgrade in the country, doing the speed limit or even 5 over.

 

I haven't bothered buying a CB in the last year that I have been driving. My wife and I team and I talk rather loud and trust me, the last thing I wanna do is wake her up before it's her turn...trust me, tried it...will never do it again...lol. I see a CB as just as much of a distraction as a cell phone, except instead of having an ear peice, you have to reach and click a button everytime you use it. Now I know a lot of people who swear by it, but I just don't seem to have a need. Especially with shippers just using cell phones now it's a lot easier.

As for OPs issues with training...I have held a great many jobs. Some dangerous, some not so much. But all of my training in anytjing, including trucking, has just taught the basics. You and I don't drive the same, think the same or act the same. So wouldn't it make sense to teach someone the framework and then let them customize their driving to what best suits them? Otherwise it's the square peg and round hole situation. So far a year in my wife (also a new driver) and I have logged just under 300k miles with no issues. The problem is the drivers lack of common sense PRIOR to driving. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid