Question:
I see by the way alot of these new drivers are talking I believe their career is domed by the way they drive. It seams like they go to school to get their CDL and gain no knowledge on how to drive the truck and when they get to a company that will hire them the driver trainer could care less about teaching them so they develop bad habits and get tickets that closes the door to the good companies.
No one is there to teach them the professional way to drive and all they know is how to do the paperwork and get from point A to B the fastest way possible. I've been driving a truck since 1978 and now I'm retired and I'm proud to say I have not gotten a ticket in a truck for anything. Sure I pushed beyond what I should have and was lucky I didn't get caught but the man that taught me how to drive always taught me to set goals and seek the best. Get specialized to where your driving skills are in demand.
I was told to take care of the equipment and it will take care of you. At my last job we would have contest to see who could do the best pre-trip inspection. We'd even have the mechanic rig the truck with an OOS item to see if we caught it. The boss would write it off as training. How many new drivers even check the fuild level of the truck?
All you drivers out there know you see trucks operating with questionable maneuvers and you think to yourself "where did that guy learn to drive". I don't have the answers but when I'm asked by a new driver what he should do to find work I tell them to look for the low turnover rate. Find a good driver and ask him or her the questions before your out there. There was this poster on another group that was going down the grapevine in CA and asking on the CB radio how to get the truck back into gear. People were telling him match your road speed with the tranny but no one saw what I believe was a major safety item. What's he doing going down a grade and not knowing how to keep the truck in control.
I've said this before that I believe there should be a law pasted that would require these CDL schools to add a course on how to drive. A good defensive driving course with truck inspection included.
I know years ago when Cummins came out with their new "Progressive Shifting" engines they handed out booklets called Professional Driver Techniques. It covered everything from pre-trip to shifting to engine shutdown procedures. It's a shame that something like this is not there for the new driver.
Like I said I don't have the answer. I help when I can but what do some of you long time driver think. Have I seen just a few drivers or is this wide spread?
Answer:
Amen Retired Gashauler too many newbies out there who think they are super truckers and no one can tell them anything that they don't know i hate it when i am loaded to the max and a truck comes up and passes me slowly and then cuts in too close and then i have to change lanes to get the following distance back


Answer:
The mentality of todays drivers is generaly sickening.. I started driving in 1988 and even I have seen a LOT of changes, none for the real good I am afraid..
I wish we could get some of the old days back.. I feel your pain.................
Answer:
Why is it that I have only been driving for the last 2.5 years and I agree with you guys 100%? and I experience the same things you guys do on a daily basis and scratch my head, I just saw a loaded flatbed go through the empty lane at the grapevine scale the other day (and these are guys with more "experience" than me) Am I rare as a noob? I pretty much follow the professional driver code. I try and continue to try to learn from the "old timers" and listen to everything they say and use it in practice and basically ignore most drivers with less than 5 years experience unless they really do have something good to add.
I have done the SMITH System safety course. I have done skid pad training. I have done simulator training. I did a 6 week PTDI Class A course. The only other person to drive in my family was my Grandfather (tankers 20 years) and he died before I was born, it's not in the family, really. I don't follow closely, I do the speed limit, I only make necessary lane changes, I signal everything, I will flash you over without high-beams, I will say thank you when you flash me over, I will wave when you pass, I am courteous and respectful, I don't use the CB, I am in the proper gear at all times, I don't pee in a bottle, I throw away my trash, I don't get cocky, I only fuel and wash my windows at the fuel island.
So why do I feel like an oldtimer? I am only 23 and only have 2.5 years under my belt. I love this job (I know I'm nuts, it's more of a love/hate relationship) but I shouldn't feel this way about other drivers or at least I don't think I should right? This forum has helped me tremendously with all the ins and outs of the industry. All I can say to all wannabies and newbies is (find a new hobby) pay attention, listen, act like a professional, act like it's a job, be courteous, and respectful of your fellow driver even if they don't give it to you.
Answer:
I've been driving trucks since 82, locally until 89. when I started OTR
I never went to truck driving school, and from what I see out here today, I'm glad I didn't.
I had to learn on my own in city LTL Tampa/St Pete area. I never had a trainer, but I did get very good verbal advice from older highly experienced drivers. Those drivers started driving in the 50's back then. I was careful who I took advice from and who I didn't. The advice filter system....LOL
Well it must have been pretty good advice because I'm working on my 23rd year with a clean MVR. Two tickets before that in my car...I've only had two tickets since I received my license when I was 17. I'm 55 years old now. Not a bad life time driving record.
It is my personal opinion most drivers out here are not interested in developing driving skills, maneuvering skills, tough terrain driving skills, bad weather driving skills, defensive driving skills, speed control driving skills, just to name a few.
It has nothing to do with how much money you make or don't make. Learning and teaching yourself how to drive a semi correctly is a personal achievement. A personal goal. It's not about fancy silver belt buckle awards. I don't do this because there "may be an award" in it for me....I could care less about awards, not even money, yes, you read it correctly, not even money.
I do it because I have a desire to be the best behind the wheel. Nothing more.

Answer:
I drive for the money. Since tickets and accidents make it difficult to earn a living driving I do my best to avoid them. Being the best you can be so you can earn the most possible makes sense to me.
I wonder sometimes how some of the 20+ year drivers ever made it that far. Some have got to be the worst drivers on the road yet they have spotless records.

Answer:
I agree wth what you are saying 100%. I drove OTR from 1975 until 1989. After getting married and the wife wanting me home I quit, never got the CDL when they started so now that I have decided to go back, I have to get a CDL and ride with a trainer. Now, this concept in itself is great, after 18 years I need some refresher in the classroom and the truck.
The problem I am witnessing is the training. Our class started on Monday, we spent the day doing administration paperwork, backgoud interviews and DOT physical. We where handed study guids which onsisted of a list of questions from the CDL writen and the correct answer for each question. Tuesday and Wednesday was nothing but taking and grading practice tests. There was some brief discussion of the questions but no real instruction. Tursday we took the CDL test at the DMV and almost everyone passed. Now this is scarrey because even though they passed they don't know the material. Before you guys started in on me, I do know, I studied the CDL manual from November until I came to the school.
The next day, Thursday, we moved out to the trucks. Now this is the first time most of these people have ben close enough to a truck to touch it. Everything is by the numbers on a closed corse, straight backing, parallel parking, 45% angle backing. Next day around the corse with some up and down shifting and then out on the street. Now this is good for learing basic truck manuveurs and everyone needs to do it but the down side is whenever someone asked a question of the instructor 80% of the time the instructor answered "Your trainer will teach you that, we are only interested in you passing the CDL test".
From what I have heard from many, many people, is that a lot of the instructors only have 6 months to a year of experience themselves. They are realy only interested in the extra money and could care less if the student realy learns. Now I know there are trainers out there that realy like teaching and want their students to do well but I am hearing that that is the exception not the rule.
Answer:
Another observation I have from this school is the attitude that many of the students start with.
There is the student that comes to class thinking he/she knows everything because they have had relatives in the trucking business way back when and they have heard it all. They have the mind set that they will get through the class so they can get in their own truck and do it "Their way" reguardless.
There is the student who is deperate, they in thier 30's with a family at home but have never held a job for more than a few months. They have the idea that they can get on the road, make $50,000 the first year and all will be right in the universe. These are also the ones that are already making plans for all the goodies they will "Have" to get for the truck. The TV, DVD player, Sattilite syste, Big radio, and the list goes on. They are often times the guy or gal that wants to be home every weekend.
We have the student that is in the process of rebuilding their life, have a realistic expectation of what the job is and has set goals. The problem with a lot of these types (NOT ALL) is that they haven't realy gotten over the past problems/dependencies they had and with the stress of the job will end up giving in to temptations in a few months.
You have the student that is there because it is paid for through some state agencie and will never pass the corse and get their CDL.
Then there is the older couple who's kids are grown and gone and are getting into it as something to do together, make a little money and maybe have some fun.
And don't forget the ld fart like me who is going back into the business because he never really got over the brain damage from years past and like the life style.
Answer:
A lot depends on the new driver -- their character and values. I and many others went to crap schools and trained with the usual crap training companies, but put some effort into learning the CRAFT.
1,130,000 miles accident free, no tickets, now making excellent money with a pretty good company.....and most importantly -- I LIKE and RESPECT the work. If you don't like and respect it, you won't do a very good job. Period.
It's a huge up-hill battle for newbies to conquer, to become good craftsmen and do good work. The self-motivated can pull-up some of the slack of the school/traning experience . Unfortunatey, the industry attracts mostly folks who just want to make the most money for the least effort by cutting every corner they can. ie: the "steering wheel holders" who insist "it's just a job" and therefore, not worthy of any effort beyond the minimum needed to get by....http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sect...onusWeek.php#tabs

Answer:
I drive for the money. I also drive the very best I can so I can make the most money possible. It is my job and how I support my family so alot depends on it. But like anyone with even a little intelligence I attempt to do the least amount of work for the most amount of money. Working smarter and not harder makes alot of sense.

Answer:

Unfortunately, many use this philosophy to cut corners. They don't keep their equipment clean, don't sweep out empty trailers someone else will have to use, don't repair tires they know someone else will have to deal with, don't replace lights if they don't think they're going to get caught, don't pay for a shower if they don't have a fuel credit, don't choke their tires in a dock if no one's going to notice, don't perform pre-trips since they're "only paid for the miles"...the list is endless, and we see it all the time.
Not saying you're this bad Stuffs. But when someone proclaims their work ethic is to do the least amount of work for the most money, these folks are the first that come to mind. And frankly, when you say you don't like driving truck, there are no roads you enjoy driving, and it's just a means to a paychek with no enjoyment, pride or interest in the craft -- you don't sound like somene who does a very good job.http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sect...onusWeek.php#tabs

Answer:
Hmmmm...interesting....went from career to craft. It's a job that requires minimal intelligence
or skill. Time for a reality check of where you live.
Answer:
I don't think Shuffler understands the difference between a home and a truck.
I'll try to get a couple things straight.

Most Importantly, I never "choke my tires" or any chickens.
That's what the Blue Beacon is for.

I don't sweep out empty trailers. If you want your trailer clean you better get busy.

I don't repair tires, The shop does it.
I try never to replace lights.
I've had a TA or Flying J change out several lights for me. On more than one occasion. Or I make a quick swing by the shop on my way home, they don't mind. It's good when you work for a company that doesn't expect their drivers to do free work.
I will never pay for a shower.
I never save shower coupons. I will start to save them and sell them to you if you like.

I pretrip my truck everyday. You just have to figure out the trip I'm pretripping for. It's to dark and cold at 5am so I prefere doing it while I'm being unloaded a little later in the day. It is done everyday even if it doesn't need it.

When compared to being at home with my family or doing some hobby stuff driving sucks. But then I don't live in a truck and I have a family to enjoy.
I love the road home.
I drive the same roads everyday, not much to enjoy. This is Texas and it's flat. I did see about 12 dead cows piled up the other day. I learned later there's a disposal service ranchers use. That was exciting. I also honk when I see a flock of birds sitting next to the road. The snow drives them there because Texas is flat and they have no where to sit and I hate hitting them.
Same truck, same trailer, same shipper and same customers day after day. I'm glad I don't have to worry about all the crap some of these dwellers take pride in doing. Work smarter and not harder is the best advice anyone could ever give. That will give you the time to be with your familiy and friends and allow you to earn a better living. Trucking is a job plane and simple and it will always be a job. By doing the best job you can at whatever it is your doing you will earn more and work less. It's real simple actually.
Your turn Shuffler. Lets hear more about the work harder not smarter program.
Yes it is and especially so when you work for some of the larger companies. All they want you to do is shutup and drive and try not to wreck stuff on the way.

Answer:

You can certainly "get by" being pretty stupid and incompetant most of the time. I don't blame them for trying to pull others down to their level -- the good ones made them look bad. What I don't understand is why they don't move on with their life, instead of forever coming back to seek some queer revenge against those who are at peace with the lifestyle, and perform the craft with dignified excellence. They should get a life, instead of spending so much time preaching contempt for truckers.http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sect...onusWeek.php#tabs

Answer:
Hmmmm, nothing it seems. That's normal. I'll bet Shuffler hasn't figured out yet that alot of people make alot more money and have alot more free time than he does. Living in a truck or like shuffler recruiting truck drivers isn't the only things life has to offer.
I'm staying tuned for the next episode of "work harder not smarter".