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

I imagine the op is getting tired of saying this and probably regrets even mentioning the 4-wheeler experience, so I'll say it for him,

He meant that he has some basics that may translate into trucking i.e. basic trip planning, road safety etc.

We have already covered that in prior post and I think he understands, if he didn't already, that his experience amounts to very little except a few things that can translate to trucking.

One advantage he has is life experience and experience learning a different vehicle (flying planes). People learn different things at different paces and some are really good at picking up the operation of different equipment. I learned fairly quickly and I believe it has a lot to do with the fact that I have driven almost everything under the sun to include a helicopter. However a big rig is a completely different animal and I still had to learn it from the ground up.

Truthfully no one stops learning and the day that you think you know everything is the day you should turn in your keys, because that is when you are going to get someone killed.

I understand where he is coming from though and the answer is that some people don't need as much formal training and the bulk of the learning happens when you are doing it by yourself. After 1 week of most on the road training you are running team with your mentor and its hard to learn from someone who is asleep, but he's there just in case you need him.

Any mentor program longer than 6 weeks is a waste of time IMO because after 2-3 weeks you can't learn anything that you wouldn't be able to learn on your own, but it is nice to have those additional weeks with a mentor just in case something goes wrong.

In conclusion I think a cdl training program only has to be long enough to get you a license because you learn most of everything with your mentor and the on the road training program shouldn't be longer than 6 weeks because after that you have learned enough to be a safe and efficient driver (provided you had a good mentor).

 

I think a good training program would be to drive local, one day trips. I know it may not work for the company but I'm just sayin I think it would be good training.

A lot of backing, tight places, some OTR, fueling, exits and on ramps just like being OTR but not sharing a truck with someone for a long time. I know it usually or never happens this way but would be nice.

 

if you want some quick practice then become a yard worker for a small amount of time, driving a yard goat you will be backing all day long.

 

To OP:

Often you will hear me give examples of fighting, boxing in particular, when I am talking about trucking. Why? Because in boxing, they teach you the very basics before they teach the trickier techniques. You learn the tricks but have to remember the basics at all time. Any trainer can teach you the basics of trucking. Hence, the trainers with 6 months to a years experience. The basic skills will put you in the drivers seat and you should do okay.

Are the basics enough to save a fighter when he gets stunned by a powerful opponent? In our case, our opponents are heavy traffic, stress, treacherous roads, fatigue and Mother Nature. Your basics are pre trips, HOS, backing, and driving. The comical thing about the wannabe drivers is if they were fighter wannabes, they would be asking question like, "What color robe should I wear to the ring? Black gloves or red? Do the shorts make me look fat?"

Ever notice that the vast majority of drivers are negative? Why is that? It's because they get beat up when they go to work. If you were a fighter that started out with a promising record, went 3-0 in your first three bouts, but got KO'ed in your last 4, how positive would you be? That trucking company is the robe on your back. Doesn't mean jack when the fight begans. That truck you're driving is like the gloves on your hands. Doesn't mean anything if you don't know the basics in your sleep.

Someone starts a negative post and it goes 90 pages. Someone posts about a technique that he or she uses to come out ahead, and everyone ignores it. Everyone thinks, "I can drive. I got my CDLs." But you hear the same things all the time after they get pelted. " I don't make any money! My dispatcher doesn't respect me. I got fired for 3 preventables in 4 months, it wasn't May fault, my trainer didn't train me properly. I am a woman, and they put me out in the middle of nowhere, boo effin hoooo!"

Its real simple. They show up to the big dance unprepared. Is it no surprise when they get knocked on their arse? Yeah, gotta blame the trainer.

Gut Check: Had a driver that wanted to get on the board of the top money making dispatcher. He threatened and reviled until he got on this dispatcher's board. He got a load that he was supposed to pick up Friday, and deliver Saturday, grab the next load Saturday and deliver Monday. He arrived Friday morning, but the shipper was slow, waited 7 hours to get loaded, then he started driving. Finished his 14, tired as hell, overslept and missed his Saturday deadline, couldn't unload til Monday at which time the other load had to be picked up by another driver. Of course the driver and dispatcher locked horns.

This driver called and complained to me about this dispatcher. I explained to him how it works. A driver wants the best dispatcher. A dispatcher will want the best drivers. The best dispatcher will line his board up with the best drivers. Every other of his drivers would have been able to make that run easily. He didn't expect you to drive tired, he expected you to be able to do what the rest do all the time.

The driver said, "But I was up, waiting all day to get loaded." I told him that all the rest of the drivers would have been asleep during the 7 hour wait, loaded, waited another 3 hours and hammered to the destination, unloaded reloaded for Monday delivery. That's what all the other drivers on that board would do.

See, there is a price you have to pay to make money. There's a risk you have to take. When Mother Nature acts a fool, do you park it or do you hammer through? Can you drive all night if need be? Can you ride in the saddle for 11 hours? Can you consistently punch out the miles? You will do well. Can you drive well enough on icy roads to stay out of the ditches. Can you still turn the miles in the heavy rain? Can you route yourself around obstacles? Can you throw tire chains? I didn't say you have to, I asked "CAN YOU?"

I tell you this, if anyone ever thinks about becoming an owner operator, you'd better have guts. Nobody pays you when you sit, so if the roads are open, you have to go for it. No ones going to call you to wake you up. No ones going to hold your hand. And if you do the same stuff you did as a company driver, hiding behind company policy or the "safety" playbook, odds are you're going to lose your truck.

Adios.

 

TripleSix, IMHO your entire post should be required reading for all new drivers.

This... was priceless...

... the analogy is spot on. The humor burned my nostrils (should have gone for the cold coffee)...

 

I thought it was a great post as well, never seen someone put it the way he did.