Question:
Havent been able to get to the boards here for a while. Training the month before Christmas on a Target Dedicated route has been BUSY. I've been unfortunate and fortunate at the same time. Think it rained nearly every day the 1st 2 weeks and caught in the snow & ice storm this past week. Flat tires on the trailers, Always having to slide the rear tandums, clogged fuel filters ... it's been a pain in the a$$ but good experience for me. Better to encounter it now with the trainer than later on my own.
I have been truly lucky to have a great trainer. We get along very well and have in fact become pretty good friends. Some of the younger people might not like him as much as I do. He's old fashioned. Trucking has been (and still is) his life. 31 years with our company and 50 years total driving experience. He's in his 70's but more energetic than most teenagers I see these days. He's proud of his profession and proud of our company. I've learned so much from him this past month and I'm truly grateful.
The past 2 weeks have been so busy that we have been running as a team. I've hit over 200 hours driving time and he has logged easily as much. One day a couple of weeks ago he told me to handle the delivery, that he would help me if I needed but if I didn't he would leave me alone. I did the drop & hook, made the 374 mile run, swapped out the trailers at the store's loading dock, and made another 150 miles back toward home. The next day he bought me a steak and started talking about giving me one of his old CB's & a tandum pin puller. I told him he should wait till I pass the roadtest before he starts trying to give me things & he replied "as far as I'm concerned you've already passed it".
I know that there's a big mixed bag out there when it comes to trainers. It was my biggest worry prior to starting. Everyone cannot & will not be happy with their trainer but I hope as many as possibly can be as fortunate as I've been.

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That should tell you something....

I thought yousaid you were in training?LIARS SUKK

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I don't think it's the trainer to worry so much about. It's the awful job choice. But happy trails anyway. Let us know if you see anything positive about trucking. I sure haven't been able to find anything.______
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I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

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Sounds like you have a good start. There's no better time than the bad weather months to train. It's when you need it most. I wouldn't worry much about the team driving stuff. After school and a couple weeks on the road pretty much anyone can drive a truck straight down the road. It is good he has started letting you do the deliveries and backing on your own. I hope though he has been awake while you did it.
Any way i hope the rest of your training goes as well.
I have to say I do wonder about being that long with a company and 50 years on the road. You would think retirement plans would have kicked in long before now.

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Thanks Stuffs, and I agree. While I prefer to drive in nice clear weather & daylight hours it's best to get the experience of as much real life up front.
As for the trainer, he can retire any time he wants. In fact, his wife begs him to. I guess it's just too much in his blood, the guy likes driving. Guess there's a good side to that also. My grandfather worked til he was 84 & everyone kept telling him to retire. He died at 86. Maybe work isn't so bad after all.

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Ahhh, the ol' "it's in my blood" excuse.
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Most people have something good in thier "blood". For you its all pure azz hole.Hunt, Fish, Shoot

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ICE-MAN,
When are you going to get out of that broke down Gov. surplus chair your gay boss man bought at an auction and start cdl training?
Big

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You really are dumb and a sad case for comidy as well.
I will start cdl training when and if I want. And if I do, you will know that I'm doing it because I want to , not have to. Something you know nothing about now or will ever know. Because your to stupid and make a pizz azz wage and will have to work your sorry azz putz off the rest of your life so you can afford to eat cat food when you retire Hunt, Fish, Shoot

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YAAAAWWWNNN You need a new writer Icey,your Comedic
talent(snicker)has waned.
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Ice Man is one of my biggest fans.
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Quote:
"The past 2 weeks have been so busy that we have been running as a team. I've hit over 200 hours driving time and he has logged easily as much."
Not to be too AR, but am I the only one who sees a problem with the legality of this? Maybe it is just an exaggeration.
Good luck anyway, keep learning, and keep an eye on those HOS!

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Cadillac Jack, sorry if my post came out a bit unclear. My 200 hours have been total training time, not past 2 weeks. I only meant the past 2 weeks have built up the total faster than I expected.

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Shifting it sounds as though things are going well for you. I dont recall who you signed on with. But to have someone training there as long as your trainer has, in my eyes says something about the company.
I have always been a firm believer in training is just that training and not teaming. But in your case it sounds as though you were ready to try things "on your own" alot of times folks are forced into that when they arent ready.
I hope you continue to find driving a challange and rewarding. Yes to some in its own way it CAN be rewarding. It really has to me for the most part.
Good luck with things and let us know how it goes.Company Driver Division

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Yes, the primate house was always my favorite part of the zoo Hunt, Fish, Shoot