Question:
Well, one of my students finally did it. Put the truck and trailer in the median. It happened in North Dakota 2 weeks ago. There was a little snow on the roads, and he was cruising along at about 55-60 at around 9:00 pm. Traffic was lite, but there was one truck trying to pass us. The other truck hung back for awhile, and then zoomed past us, cutting back into the lane directly in front of us. There was a blinding spray of snow combined with a patch of fog at that very moment, and my student was disoriented.
He hit the brake - HARD!! and the trailer started to become jackknifed. He followed the trailer and we went bumpety-bump down the slope to the median. When we stopped we were still upright, and there was not a scratch on the truck or the trailer, but we had to be winched out.
Could it have been prevented? In my opinion, yes. He should have eased up when the other truck was whizzing by us, so as not to be affected by so much snow spray. He would have put more distance between that truck and us, created our following distance, and not have felt the need to brake so much.
But he was a student driver, a male with "something to prove" to his older lady trainer. He didn't know his heavy footed braking would do that to the trailer.
So now... 2 weeks later, here I am at Freightliner, getting a 3-axle alignment. The alignment problem developed over the past two weeks, gradually worsening. I've lost 3 days work due to this.
It could have been much worse. The trailer could have actually jackknifed, the embankment could have been steeper, and we could have rolled the truck. We could have been hurt, or killed. There might have been other vehicles on the road who could have been involved as well. It could very well have been disastrous!
So... take notes, everyone... Students, trainers, and solo drivers. See if there is anything here that you can put in your memory for future reference....

Answer:
WOW!
Glad that you're ok! Bet that was one hell of a ride!
Thankfully the truck stayed 'on it's feet'. As long as there was no injuries or damaged equipment, then everything else is minor.
What was your recommendation to the company about the student?

Answer:
I just wonder what the recommendation is on the trainer? Were you in the sleeper all the time like my trainer was? How do you train from a sleeper anyway?
As you can tell I had a bad trainer. Always sleeping and no training just making money off my miles. What a scam.

Answer:
But he was a student driver, a male with "something to prove" to his older lady trainer. He didn't know his heavy footed braking would do that to the trailer..................................................................................................................................... Why was a female trainer and a male student put together out on the road? This really sounds like a line of bullsh$# to me.

Answer:
Might I suggest you read these before you make assumptions about Lightfoot. I've made portions of each available and provided links with the 'rest of the story'. Note the dates of the posts.

Training Wheels

Comp'd?? Or Stomped?

Answer:
Well Hoss why dont you re-read my post I state that I had a bad trainer not that all trainers are that way. And why again was a female trainer and a male student put together,isnt that against company rules also? My trainer was in the sleeper five minutes after i started driving and stayed there til it was his turn to drive during the whole 4 weeks. You know like a team not as a student and trainer.

Answer:
Sorry you had a sh*tty trainer. You should've asked for a different one. Correct?

That statement right there lead me to believe that you 'knew' that was how she trained her students.
As far as why there's a male and a female on the same truck, I don't have an answer for ya on that. Maybe Lightfoot will check in again soon.

Answer:
It does make you wonder a bit. Could it have been prevented. Probably if the easing up part was explained before the accident.
Driving in poor road conditions and he wasn't told, really! ??????????
How many weeks had he been training?
Trainers should be awake and alert from the beginning of training to the very last hour while the trainee is driving. Of course the trainee got the ticket (if 0ne) and probably lost his job. Over some thing that is way to easy to do like over braking.

Answer:
Gender plays no part in training for many companies. I trained quite a few guys in my day, most of which are still driving. One company I worked for did (and still does) put 2 warm bodies in a truck and called it a team. So that would be a "company" policy. Not a universal one.

Answer:
if you dont mind me asking what company do you train for?? i went thru training with Schneider... i am glad nobody was hurt and this here is proof that OVERCONFIDENCE can be disasterous... thank God it wasnot worse....http://dieselducy.com
my trucknet blog
the LOVE of MONEY is the ROOT of ALL EVIL!

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I trained with USA trucking out of Van Buren Arkansas. Stay away from them at all cost.[/b]

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i met several people who went thru training thru USA truck and they said their training was a joke.. Schneider has a GREAT training program but like all companies, the company itself has some problemshttp://dieselducy.com
my trucknet blog
the LOVE of MONEY is the ROOT of ALL EVIL!

Answer:

Hmm? Sounds like Crst!

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Two warm bodies?! Now thats a job with "benefits"! LOL
Aloha
Thomas

Answer:
sounds like England from the minute you meet youre trainer you drive sollo, 5 on 5 off. Can't learn much that way but thats how they do it Specializing in marine repairs: Inboard, Outboard, and I/O's.
Local and long distance hauling available.