Why Military vets with M915/M916 experience should not accept trainee status

QC is buying new Macks with autoshift to be driven by veterans .

 

Everyone has to start somewhere as a newbie and I don't think training can be short shifted. What is safer a person with some training on the road or one without. Driving automatics is a lot different than sticks, but some men have a natural knack for it. Some companies are trying to get into the role of hiring vets, even CRE, there are going to be a lot coming home to no jobs.

 

Lol , the word vet is dollar signs to truck schools. They hear gi bill and start hearing caching caa ching, caa ching , caa ching... They they charge an outrageous price to teach a hand to drive, well actually let me rephrase that from all i hear is they teach how to pass the dmv skills tests... Half the people i have talked to these days say most of the new drivers can't turn a corner without barking the sidewall of their trailer if they are pulling anything longer than a 20 footer. And reading here alot are not being taught how to properly shift gears up or down..... Thats my take, i have taught a few people to drive in the past and made #### sure they could pass my road test before turning them loose and......... Fyi............ I didn't get a dime for that effort.. My teacher took the time to be sure i was able to drive proficently and safe........ I would expect any trainer to provide the same level of education to their students. no matter how much money they pay to learn....

this is not to say all truck schools are crappy, but some that i talked to were trying to sell snow to alaskans like they had to have it or they would all die..... reminds me of the old snake oil salesmen.....

 

A tactical vehicle doesn't have to be high mobility. I see what you're saying in that it's not in the same mobility class as a HET, M923, LMTV/FMTV, etc., but it's still tactical.. uses the same 24v system, NATO standard slave ports, has a blackout drive system, wired for the tactical A/N-PRC series radios.. even as a low mobility vehicle, it's still intended for tactical operational use.

 

Hey RickG: I know you said check the terminal, but have you maybe heard of a pay range atleast for company drivers?

 

Im sorry but theres a lot of difference between driving offroad in the military and driving on a highway or the interstate. The rest of us had to go trhough truck driving school or rent/buy a truck and trailer and go down to the dmv to take a skills test ajd then go through the 6 weeks of company training they should have to as well. Probably going to rub some people the wrong way saying that but its the truth. Military exp shouldnt count for real world on road exp. Theres a lot of difference between backing out in bfe and putting a 102" wide trailer in a spot with a foot on each side if not less at a dock. Theres a lot of difference between securing military equipment on a trailer and securing other types of cargo. Maybe im bias maybe im just a jerk but the same rules need to apply to every body and ill be darned if i want to be going down a 7% grade with somebody that hasnt been in that situation before. Just my opinion on the matter.

 

The drivers at our terminals are paid percentage , average gross $1,000 a week . Home for most restarts . Runs average 3 days , some local day runs , some overnight .

 

Generally speaking I'd say a vet with a couple of years military experience is far safer than a newbie out of a cdl mill that spent 4 to 6 weeks with a bottom feeder trainer .

 

As a 63w. Wheeled veh repairer, i agree largely with your statement, though the m900 series ( m931 for example ) was full air with s cam brakes. the only hydraulic system on them was steering.