Things veterans should know about new drivers training.

School does not teach a #### thing. (To be blunt)

Schools are a fresh meat market to Recruiters intent on enjoying happy hunting grounds for naive fresh people who knows NOTHING about recruiters or the industry save a fortunate few who grew up around trucking.

Training as such is something of a lip service. Mule you with 600 miles to run by 7 am, get going yer late already. Trainer goes to the bunk, draws curtain and snores. Not a speck of time invested in anything but the bare minimum. Is engine dripping oil normally? Yes. "Oh good, that means shes got oil. Let's go."

I had three trainers in my lifetime that were absolute trainers. Sometimes they ride along in that passenger seat in times of difficulty. One time DOT was on my fuel tank while I was having a conversation with a trainer who was not existing inside my cab. So one way conversation with a ghost on the far right seat ruffled the DOT man enough to consider the Baker Act for me. When he started making rumblings about committing me for 72 hours and so on, I quickly pulled a tape cassette player and showed him the recorded ramblings. Grocery list, fuel stops, food plans, recipie, Scale dates and times, weights etc etc etc.

Oh... You have a good day driver, get some more sleep.

Being able to get vacation time off and bobtail to tourists attractions locally etc was plenty of good times for me.

 

I have to ask, why do I have to know about trucking school?

It isn't a case where I needed to go there in the first place.

 

“Know thine enemy!”

 

You know, it's downright scary when you think about it.

But, that being said, I'd hazard a guess that anyone who's been at this any amount of time already knows about the lack of training from these CDL Mills.

It also doesn't help the new guys case when an experienced driver offers some tips or help and is basically told to get lost.

 

I burned up a clutch in a then-brand new 2012 Cascadia because of this. I was never taught, even after having been with three different trainers because it never came up in the 6 weeks I was in training with a big company. I did not know to lower the landing gear and deflate the air bags. I was loaded to the brim with Miller beer. I got an earful from the shop about it, to which I said, hey, I was never taught to lower the landing gear and deflate the air bags and I just (reasonably) assumed moving the fifth wheel was no different than the tandems. Sigh...

 

It'll help you to understand why new drivers are [as bad] as they are and to maybe have more patience with them. Better yet, if you see a driver struggling, rather than make fun of them (and I'm not accusing you specifically of doing so), politely offer to help if you think you can. But if they turn you down, well, then that's on them. Accept their answer and move on.

 

Someone should’ve taught the guy in Colorado how to go down a hill before he smashed into parked cars and killed four people

 

People put down the trucking companies that trainer their own drivers. I did that years ago. Had good training I think. They had answers for every question anyone could think of. They trained us driving in the city traffic. It not easy for a new driver. They told us driving straight down the highway was easy. The hard part is city driving.

They even took us up and down Parleys hill by Salt Lake City, we could not use the engine brakes. Not sure if they still do that today. The trainers were ok nothing special that was just basically team driving.

 

Let's be honest if you don't want a crappy time at a company training for getting CDL to work some job get a pell grant and maybe some other scholarships maybe and go to trucking school some take those which reduce the price you pay.
You would save alot hassle if everyone did this. Sadly not everyone has money to there name or time or patience to do this. They go to a company they front the money sign a contact you will pay them back because they paid the hotel, and time to teach you the basics that's what it is basics they help you obtain your CDL and just enough training get you down the road to generate money. Has the standards been reduced yes I expect more crashes to eventually lead to the government required set standard before a student release to drive a truck on his own.
There are other options have a relative or buddy or rent a truck for a cdl teach your self basically. that last one you self taught while I am certain it is possible know the limits of a truck most wouldn't before ever stepping into a tractor trailer with a CDL. I worked on a farm operated all kinds equipment even did stupid stuff with them had them roll over while working the field when I had to go down the road help a buddy he lived downhill 6% grade that's how I learned but my tractor didn't go very fast so biggie . I got out working a farm and a few other odd jobs less risk if a season gonna be dry or prices of the crops went down.