Trainer vs No Trainer

Which experiments can we do for that cheaper insurance?

And yes, I know you meant experience. Just buggin with ya.

 

I think it all depends on the individual, myself. Some people need as much training as possible and some dont. My wife and I were with a trainer for phase one but when we "graduated" to phase 2, we didnt have a trainer. We finished up training by ourselves. Not that anyone thought/didnt think we needed one, but merely because we signed on together when we applied for the job. Apparently, at the time, not sure if they still do it today, but for us, they put us in a "special" fleet after phase 1 because if you come into the business as a team, they put you in a truck by yourselves because they needed teams..... My guess was because this was the time when they were transitioning into making teams mandatory for company OTR drivers. If you came in by yourself, then you would have to spend another 2 months with a trainer before they let you out on your own. There may be more to it, but since I didnt really ask questions about it, that was my take on it.

Could we have used extended training? Probably, but we did fine while on our own and are still doing fine over a year later. Besides, the second part of training mostly has to do with learning the fundamentals of becoming a leaser so, at the time when we had no interest in leasing, we figured it wasnt necessary. But even though we are leasers now, I still dont think we needed further training after phase 1. Contrary to what most have said, yer drivin a truck, not flying the space shuttle. For most, it doesnt take a brain surgeon to figure it out.

 

So are you still double clutching while you drive like you were taught in school? In the real world you do not drive that way! Things like this are what newbies miss out on not going with a trainer. The whole point is yes you can drive a truck without a trainer. Will you be driving like a real truck driver? Probably not. Your skills are at weekend Rv driver at best. There are many things taught (by a legitimate trainer) that are not even mentioned in school. Do you know how to throw chains? Do you know what to do if you blow a steer tire at 75mph? Are you flashing your high beams at drivers to let them know they have passed you and can move over? Do you know the areas of the country you need to take extra precaution? I am not bashing you, I myself came into trucking the exact same way you did. Without a trainer. Boy that was a mistake. I drive for six months by myself. After that I ended up teaming with a senior driver. Whoooaaa! What a difference. I learned more in one day than I did in school and the six months I was out by myself! That is the difference. That is also going to be your key to making money. So you are teaming with your wife now? you should be running at least 6000-7000 miles a week. If you aren't, ask your company for a trainer. Good luck.

 

Sometimes....... Alot of times I float after teaching myself since its something the company doesnt want people doing because too many people dont do it correctly......kinda like drivin too fast or not using top gear with a 13 or not runnin their 5th wheel all the way up as much as possible (whether that gap really hurts mileage or not......most times I beg to differ but thats a different conversation.....).

You dont??? Look, I know that a lot of things they taught in school were bogus. But I think double-clutching is a lot more important than you give it credit for unless you're a master at not usin that clutch to shift. Like I said, nobody taught me how to do it, I figured it out on my own. Even if I did have a trainer, theres probly a 9 to 2 chance that the trainer wont give any teachings on it because the company doesnt want gear floating because if done incorrectly, it can strip gears and f*** transmissions up.

True, but as I said, phase 2 to our knowledge is mostly about learning how to run a business by leasing. But then again, I dont know because we didnt have the supposed luxury of having a trainer for the second part of our training.

Probably not?? Wow, Im sorry you feel that way. We've been going strong for over a year now, Id say we're doin something right.

You're kidding, right?? Weekend RV'er? LOL!!! Some motorhome or fancy pickup with a travel trailer aint even in the same ballpark as a 73-foot tractor-trailer.

Yes, we both know how to chain. It was taught in school and by our trainer. But seriously, is chaining really that difficult?? Personally, I think chainin a big-rig tire is easier than chainin a car tire because theres no fenders to deal with unless your truck has those annoying fenders over the wheels.

Yes, that was taught as well. We cant go 75 anyway unless we use good'ole Georgia overdrive, though.....

I dont think anybody teaches this, but I could be wrong. I did hear somewhere on here that some companies discourage that act. Our company didnt tell us not to, but the didnt tell us to either. Besides, does it say anywhere in writing that we are supposed to flash each other over?

No, but if you're in an area that you arent familiar with its dangers, you be extra cautious.

I didnt think you were bashing, but not everybody needs extensive training. Like I said in my first post, would it have helped if we had a trainer for the remainder of our training, probably, but we managed without one. Its no big deal.

Yessssir I am! We are capable of runnin that amount of miles but we choose not to. We get by just fine on the miles we run which is around 4500 to 5500 a week. But one final question.... If we arent running the amount of miles you think we should be running for any reason, how would a trainer make a difference other than the fact of having a third person on our truck that can keep the truck running ####-near constantly??

 

Yea, like my trainer taught me to never use the flashers except in California (because it attracts the cops), to never actually get out to do a PTI/DVI. Those should be done in the cab of the truck over the qualcom. My trainer has a feel for the truck and doesn't need to inspect stuff. Also that it may be illegal to text and drive, but it is not illegal to facebook / MMO and drive.

These are all reasons that it is better to have no trainer then be with a lousy trainer. Trainers are not there to 'train'. They are there to get as many miles on their truck and trip pack as possible.

my 2 cents.