TRAINING... How long does it really take ????

Thanks for the input but I don't understand where you say you bet at 32 you have more experience hauling stuff around, like what ? I have hauled a lot of stuff in my time

 

First off , you have zero experience in hauling stuff , (unless you have drive a semi before) hauling stuff doesn't doesn't add up to being able to or having the skill set to safely operate a commercial vehicle. hauling stuff and driving a semi are worlds apart. , Please don't take this the wrong way dennisrock , but all people learn at different levels , some are quick-studies , while it takes some folks a while to get the hang of driving a truck. Some never get-it. But in all honesty...the skill-set needed to drive a semi can be taught to almost anyone...it isn't a hard skill to master. The hand's on skills can be taught, and learned...but the ATTITUDE , must be in place before you are ever gonna be able to be successful and SAFE....I've seen lots and lots of 20 + year veterans that have the "I've been there and done that" attitude and they are some of the most dangerous , not to mention , the lousiest drivers around. I've also seen some 2 years rookies with thr right mind-set , take a bad situation and run with it....it all depends on the attitude...if your mind ain't right you're gonna have troubles...Respect your equipment , the other people you interact with on the roads/highways , don't try and out-drive yourself or the conditions and you'll always come out a winner....remember ATTITUDE....is the truckers best friend...or his worst enemy...

 

[QUOTE="Hang - Man";3871816]In reality someone with half a brain, 1 on 1 instruction for 4 days, some luck and common sense and a good ability to handle equipment or motorized vehicles could go from learners permit to hauling freight and maybe go on to years of trouble free trucking.
In the same light, someone could probably learn to fry bar food and be called a "Cook" in the same amount of time, but to be called a chef may take some experience.[/QUOTE]

4 days nah not enough time for me, heck I still learn even to this day.
As for the chef I did a ton more training to be a chef, I went to culinary school for over a year to get my degree then 3 months of externship and then it took me a couple years to work my way up to executive chef.

 

Just like driving...you start out as a rookie...you continue learning even as an 'EXPERIENCED ROOKIE".....

 

So you have been driving a car for 44 yrs. you THINK you are so prepared for this job that you don't need nor do you want, it sound like. more training to teach you how to deal with the weight and leangth of some thing you have never probably been in, let alone driving. You sir need way more training than most then. Why, you ask. because of your total lack of knowelage as to what this job intels on an every day basis. You driving a car for 44yrs DOES NOT give you better skills. pay your dues like the rest and go to school put in your 160 hrs or what ever it is. I personally don't know I haven't gone to a school to learn to drive even a car. I had a car only lic. for 6mos. Trust me when I tell you, you will need more training than you ever thought you would need for anything in your life.If for some wild reason you slip thru the cracks. please inform this forum of your location so I can be on the other side of the country to where you are. Why, you ask. because you are going to be dangerous because of your attitude.

 

My trainer was an okay dude. It was winter time so I had to learn a lot fast. The company will train you as long as they feel necessary. They're handing you the keys to a million dollar liability, and expect you to huck it cross country without killing yourself or others, damaging the truck and trailer, or destroying cargo.
Driving my car and my truck are two totally different ball games. My car weighs less then the engine in my truck and 80K is no #### joke. Trucking is an exersize in patience. Take the time to learn it right.

 

Trainers?

OK I guess.

dennisroc, Orientation is the class to learn how that company works. Every company usually has one that introduces a person to their paper work, some safety stuff and how to use the qualcomm or what ever electronic device they may use.

 

Drifter and some others on here, It seems like I got a lot of good info on here but seems like some negative feedback also.

I tried to stress that I am not trying to make it sound like truck driving does not need a lot of training but that some places have you train for months which it seems like you are more of a team driver.
You are right I have never been in a semi but am very interested in becoming a driver when I move back to the states. I drove a 25 ft Ryder truck and pulled my car from Indianapolis to Seattle. Does that compare with a big rig, I am sure it does not but I really enjoyed the trip and thought maybe one day I might like to drive a truck.
When I say I have been driving a car for 44 years, I didn't mean I was ready to go trucking without any training and I realize that there is a big difference in each of them. I have traveled all over the USA, Europe, Asia and South America and have learned a lot about navigation, defensive driving, driving through construction, bad weather, mountains, some basic trip planning needing to be at certain companies I have worked for.
I don't feel like I have a " total lack of knowledge" as you say. I have studied and passed all the CDL test on this site and have visited this site almost everyday to learn anything about trucking that I can, I am always checking on Youtube for informational videos, Pretrip, backing, parking, changing lanes, understanding Qualcom, reading about HOS, chaining, driving in the ice and snow, checking your tires and brakes, coupling and uncoupling, DEF, slowing for turns, making wide turns to the left and to the right, braking in emergency, fueling, doubles, triples, flatbed, tankers, Hazmat, sliding the tandems, Reefer trucks, how and where to fuel them and how to operate the controls, have learned about reading a truckers atlas, and GPS, Google maps, mountain driving. double clutching, floating the gears. Gear patterns for 10, 13 and 18 speed transmissions, checking airbrakes. I know there is a lot more things I have read about and learned online and talking with other people.
Your last sentence says I am going to be " dangerous because of my attitude " I don't feel like I have a problem with my attitude, my attitude is great and I am excited to maybe becoming a driver someday.

As far as safety, I work on and fly airplanes, trust me I know about safety.
I have never backed a big rig into a dock, but I have hooked up a tug and moved several jets worth $$$$$$ Millions into and out of hangars and luckily no mishaps, knock on wood.
As far as training, I had 8 hours flight training and then did my first solo, after 12 hours did my first solo cross country. This was all in 3 weeks flying a few hours a day.
I am just saying if you are passionate about something I think you can learn faster.
I never said that I could just hop in a truck and go I can imagine it is really hard to get used to something that big.
Sorry if you misunderstood me and I still have a great attitude.

If you think I will be dangerous because of my attitude, just think of me the next flight you get on because I probably worked on that airplane

Have a great day !

 

[QUOTE="Hang - Man";3871908]FYI: I do remember being in a truck stop and watching a driver trying to back up for over ten minutes or it seemed like it, i pointed it out to another driver who i was talking to at the time.
I must have said something about the backing driver being new and it turns out the driver i was talking to knew the backing driver and stated "he's been driving for ten years" --eye opener![/QUOTE]

Like any other such endeavors, some days you got it, some days you don't.

 

Hello to everyone...I understand the premise of dennisroc questions because I am in somewhat the same position. I drove concrete mixers and a occasional material trailer from 18 to 35yo. Then operated heavy equipment up until a year ago. At 57 I decided to go back into driving and drove a mixer again for a few months this past fall. I was surprised how quick it came back to me but not interested in doing the local thing again. I am starting driving school in next few days to get my cdl A even though I could just test for my permit and student drive with a family member until felt proficient enough to take the test. Schooling is the only way to get hired because of a company's insurance requirements.
What I would say to you Dennis is any years of 4wheelers can not prep you for understanding or feeling the weight and size factor. Things like backing, understanding trip procedure, and such are learnable on the fly with a reasonable training period, what it actually feels like takes driver time.
Am I right or wrong?
The plan I decided on is going to Schneider basically because their training period is 3 weeks. I would rather spend time in a classroom understanding what the company expects and finding the way I can make myself the best wage than the 260+hrs some companies are using for training. For me, a week on the road with a trainer learning the day to day procedure is plenty because I think the driving part I have a general experience at. (for those that think driving a mixer is not comparable think a constant moving load that is most of the time weight pegged out in a city driving environment)
Without driving a truck of any real size or weight I would recommend to swallow your pride and take as much time as you can with a trainer. Making an error in the weight or size area is very critical.

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