Question:
Hiya
I am again one of the many attending the CDL Mills..4 week course..40 hours class..120 hours driving..of course this 120 hours will be split between 3 other sudents. Anyway..I am very apprehensive about the whole driving bit.
I am choosing Roehl ( already been pre-hired, but I know that don't mean squat ) I mainly chose them because you have to be with a trainer for 4 weeks then you have to run another 4 weeks with a student( not team )but together you can only drive 10 hours per day.Its kinda like reinforcement training, moral support for each other etc..So you cant be dispatched like a team.
There drivers are payed $30 extra per day and not on milage. The driving will be split..he will drive 10 hours and I'll watch or I'll drive 10 hours and he watches or any combination ...etc
Roehl also offer the skidpad training, so that was a added bonus for me because I'll be new to trucking and can use the extra training.
The fear factor comes into play when I will be out there alone or even in training..If I don't feel comfortable driving at 65 when the roads are clear or driving over 50 when the roads are wet. Hmm..this isnt coming out right. I just don't want to be another statisic.
I don't want to have to go into trucking thinking that when Im tired I can't stop and rest even though maybe Iv'e only drove for 3 hours . I want to be able to take my time in the rain and pull over at a truck stop when there is snow on the road if I don't feel comfortable driving. I want to know that it will be ok..if the weather is so bad that I can't see out my window that I won't be ridiculed for pulling over.
I just don't want to have to be driven into failure my 1st year trying to keep up with the big dogs. Im just a puppy in the truck..My question is this possible to do and still keep a job with a trucking company ?
Background info
38 No Kids, No Wife yet..retired correctional officer
Thanks
Jeff

Answer:
Originally posted by carpunky:
I am choosing Roehl ( already been pre-hired, but I know that don't mean squat ) I mainly chose them because you have to be with a trainer for 4 weeks then you have to run another 4 weeks with a student( not team )but together you can only drive 10 hours per day.Its kinda like reinforcement training, moral support for each other etc..So you cant be dispatched like a team.
I am not convinced sending two rookies out together is the greatest thing. Do 2 guys who have no clue about what they're doing make better decisions than 1 guy who has no clue about what he's doing? I don't know the answer to that, but I have my doubts about 2 being better than 1.
There drivers are payed $30 extra per day and not on milage. The driving will be split..he will drive 10 hours and I'll watch or I'll drive 10 hours and he watches or any combination ...etc
Sounds good.
Roehl also offer the skidpad training, so that was a added bonus for me because I'll be new to trucking and can use the extra training.
Most of us could use the extra training. I would like to try a skidpad in a truck-looks like fun.
The fear factor comes into play when I will be out there alone or even in training..If I don't feel comfortable driving at 65 when the roads are clear or driving over 50 when the roads are wet. Hmm..this isnt coming out right. I just don't want to be another statisic.
I don't understand what you are getting at-you drive a car, right? You have a better chance of becoming a statistic (dying) driving a car than you do driving a truck.
I don't want to have to go into trucking thinking that when Im tired I can't stop and rest even though maybe Iv'e only drove for 3 hours.
You are teh captain of your ship. If you are tired, you stop.Period. That freight will just have to wait, because ultimately,it is more valuable to the customer a day late than it is scattered all over the highway because you fell asleep at the wheel. And there is no freight, no truck company, no customer, and no job so important that you should risk your life and the lives of those around you because you are driving tired to make a delivery appointment. If you are tired, stop and go to sleep. If your dispatcher gives you hell, ignore him. It is illegal to fire a driver for refusing to operate his truck in an unsafe manner, and that is what driving tired is.
I want to be able to take my time in the rain and pull over at a truck stop when there is snow on the road if I don't feel comfortable driving.
See above.
I want to know that it will be ok..if the weather is so bad that I can't see out my window that I won't be ridiculed for pulling over.
You will be ridiculed. There will always be some billy bigrigger in a Petercar who thinks he is God's gift to trucking, and he will poke fun at you for not driving 70 MPH in a snowstorm like he does. IGNORE HIM. There will always be a dispatcher who is eyeing the bonus he will get for making a certain customer happy, and he will get on you for not driving in bad weather. IGNORE HIM. His job and his life are not in danger by the snowstorm you are strugling through 1000 miles away from his desk. But yours are. If the company you drive for doesn't appreciate that the driver is the captain of his ship, tell them to go to hell, and find a company that does.
I just don't want to have to be driven into failure my 1st year trying to keep up with the big dogs.
There are no big dogs, only bigriggers. The only thing you have to do is get the loads there on time when you can safely do so. This is done through proper trip planning, so you don't have to run like a bat out of hell, and you don't have the stress of keeping up with anyone but yourself.
Im just a puppy in the truck..My question is this possible to do and still keep a job with a trucking company ?
Yes. Sometimes it isn't easy, but it is possible, though not with all companies. If the company you are with doesn't run you like you want to be run, find another company. Don't let them push you around. Some of them will try. Tell them to go ***** themslves. It isn't their CDL and their lives that are in danger if you mess up.
Background info
38 No Kids, No Wife yet..retired correctional officer
Thanks
Jeff
No wife, no kids, you could make some halfway decent money if you never go home. Of course, if you never go home, you are not likely to meet someone to be your wife and have kids with...
Trucking is not for families. When/if you decide you want a family, you will have to drive locally, or get out of theh biz altogether.
"I consider myself a good judge of character, and that's why I don't like nobody."
-Roseanne
Answer:
Yo! Carpunky...
When does your class start?
I'm scheduled to start Roehl's school on the 30th of this month.
It'd be kinda cool to know someone there.
As the past becomes the future unfolds
Answer:
Ok here I go on my soap box again. Yippee for me
1. You drive the truck for YOU!!!! Not for every one else. Just becasue another driver is comfortable driving on snow does not mean that it is safe for you. If you feel the roads are unsafe to be on for YOU then park and wait it out. Just be sure to COMMUNICATE what is going on with dispatch so they can let the customer know what is going on. Remember that the guy running down the road in 4 inches of snow (or more) may have been doing it for 20 years while you may have only been at it for 20 days) As your experience level rises so will your abilites.
2. In my book a driver who is not just a touch afraid is a fool. Contolling an 80,000 pound vehicle in constantly changing situations is no laughing matter. It is at the same time both easier and harder than you think it will be. (You will soon see what I mean once you start driving). The guys out there who are totally fearless are the ones you see rolled over on ramps and curves or sitting on top of some car because they were running 6 inches off the guys bumper. The thing here is to put that fear to good use and allow it to make you more alert and a safer driver but not let it paralyze you into inaction and make you a danger.
3. True CDL mills are those schools that have you in and out the door in 1-2 weeks. There is no class room time and you barely learn enough to pass the state practical exam (The written exams you have to take on your own through these mills). From what I have heard about Roehl the are a little selective about what schools they will hire out of.
As for the rest of it. When you are with your trainer pick the guys brain clean. Ask questions and more questions. DO as much as you can. Get your feet as wet as possible during that time. When you get out on your own (or with another newbie like with Rohel training program) if you are not sure about something ASK!!!!!! Even after three years out there I still ask questions and I know many 20 year drivers who are still asking questions because you are all the time running into something new, and when you think you know it all that is when you need to get off the road for good.
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
Answer:
Wiz,
Not going thru there school..they just hire through the school im attending already..just waiting to get my liscence now...after graduation on jan 3rd. Will be going to oreintation to roehl then..but keep me posted on your progress..thanks all for replying

Answer:
If you're worried about being forced to drive tired or too many hours or what ever you may be worried about in the subject of "fatigue"---you might want to try Werner.
Their paperless log requires their drivers to comply with the laws.
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I belive I've had it y'all.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
Any idiot can drive a truck (I am living proof!)
Just use common sense, don't get carried away and for Heaven's Sake, NEVER fall into the trap of thinking that YOU are the big powerful truck.
People are nicer than you think--though the stinkers tend to stand out in memory.
The other thing is--never hurry. If you find yourself in a situation where you've overslept or taken a dispatch that maybe you should have talked about--screw it! Just go to where you need to go, don't run over anybody and relax. I have yet to see the world end because a load of dog food was late.
Driving truck is not hard--you can make it hard, but that's up to you. I have found that the slower I go, the faster I get there. It's a mental thing. Trust yourself to do the right thing, make sure you know where the trailer tandems are, and just cruise, dude!
And never be embarrassed to be careful--a lot of people driving truck are a lot dumber than you are--get out and look, ask for help, stop and calm down. Have a smoke or whatever, then get your act together and do the job.
May you be well and happy!

Answer:
I am been thinking about going with Roehl myself but I think making you drive with a another rookie is a waste of time and too costly for someone who needs to get out there and start making real money asap. I mean if you don't learn enough with school and your trainer to at least do a half *** job then trucking may not be for you. Beside I don't really want to put my life into the hands of another rookie lol. If I wanted to do that then I would want to be a trainer and get trainer pay.
punky, this aprehension is normal and most everyone who hasnt drove oto and/or a big rig before feels it. BUt once you are out there actually doing the job you will feel better. Like has been said you should not let anyone take control of what you feel is the right and safe thing to do. Just use common sense and you will be ok. Drive slow when you need to and rest when you need to.
Let me add to that there are going to be many times in bad weather and when you are sleepy that there is no place for you to pull off the road for many miles. THis is one of the main reason trucking can be so stressful. Even with the box truck I was driving there was no place to pull over in a blinding snow storm
Charles
[This message was edited by Charlesx on December 18, 2002 at 16:47.]

Answer:
Apprehensive is a good way to be for a Newbie.
Onramp does it in on the Ice, slush and snow..

Answer:
I've been out on 5 trips with my trainer. If I'm not holding the pedal to the floor or running with the cruise control set wide open (truck governed at 67mph.) he gets upset. One of my evaluations said I was too cautious.

Answer:
I agree with the others it's yous ship you are the captain.If your sleepy pull over and sleep,if the company dosen't like it then it's time to find another.There's no such thing as being to cautius!

Answer:
Im freaking out...I look at the cars next to me and start thinking..my god..if I go over this small line..im going to kill someone..and I get real nervous .I'm siking my self out..is this normal ..will this feeling leave ?

Answer:
I think it's real normal at first. When I got behind the wheel for the very first time that truck and trailer were enormous. Every thing made me nervous. The TT seems to have gotten smaller with time.
The initial fear will settle down with experience but the concern should never go away. It's a fact, if you go over the line and hit some car you very well could kill some one. If you follow to close, speed or a multitude of other things people could die. Having that knowledge and always being aware of it is a good thing. Totally freaking out may not be so good. As I said it should settle down in time.
One orientation I attended they talked about becoming complacent. If that happens you will be a danger on the road. Complascency is what kills people. Being aware of what your doing and it's possibilities is what you want to be.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"