Training a inexperienced driver

Time management

 

I would bark orders at them in German, and then go lie in the bunk for the rest of their shift. If they need anything, the screaming will wake me.

 

Nope

 

i was an instructor at 2 different CDL schools, and believe me, i loved it........at first.

i had some very good students, that wanted to learn.

then i had smart-arses that thoguht they knew it all, yet they were in trucking school..?? (many of these were the "state hand out thru unemployment, and were only there for a free ride, to continue to get those unemployment checks and had NO DESIRE to ever get a job trucking"...i know this cuz way too many TOLD ME THIS....)

i lost my desire to teach, after dealing with the wannabe's, which means the students that wanted to learn, got lost in the process.

the wannabe's zap your energy, your desire to teach others, and just tire you out, so much so, that even though i have been retired a few years now..??

all CDL students and newly licensed CDL holders waiting for a trainer..??

can go suck eggs........

 

Put 100% of your effort into backing. They will need to do it every day, every customer is crowded, every truck stop is crowded. Newbies are shown how to straight back from 8.9 miles in front of their dock door or parking space. There are not many truck stops or customers where there is 8.9 miles in front of the space you need to put your truck.

 

I've thought of becoming a trainer. I just can't get passed having someone I hardly know cooped up in a truck with me for a month or two.
That said, I'd be big on safety and changing typical 4 wheeler driving habits to those needed for a rig. Such things as anticipating traffic, seriously increased following distances, keeping your eyes aware of what's going on much farther in front of you than you do in a 4 wheeler. Simply changing habits that a normal driver may have that are fine for a 4 wheeler, but that are not good enough in a rig. Past that, maneuvering of course. To include, but not limited to backing. Also, how to trip plan, maintain the needed paperwork, how to balance life in a rig so you don't burn out. Also, all the legal HOS stuff so a driver can stay legal. As my tag line mentions, safety is first priority, running legal is the second and getting the load delivered on time as the 3rd priority, not the first.

 

My trainer made me back into a parking space at the truck stop every time we stopped. If we pulled in to use the restroom, get something to drink, get food, get fuel, sleep, whatever the reason I was required to back into a parking spot. Every backing opportunity that is missed is one more day before the newbie gains confidence in backing.