Comments on: Enduring The Rookie Treatment In Trucking http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking Helping Those Who Are Considering A Career In The Truck Driving Industry Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:54:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brett Aquila http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1275 Brett Aquila Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:19:05 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1275 Hey, we love having you here and we're glad you enjoy the site! Indeed the rookie treatment can be quite rough. I think it's a huge shock that CDL training is so incredibly stressful. You wouldn't think it is, but it is. I think the schools and trucking companies make this far worse than it needs to be, but that's how it's always been. I went to school in '93 and was #1 in my class right from the start - but it was still quite stressful for me, as good as I was doing. Keep on pushin forward - you'll get to where you'd like to be soon enough. You obviously have a great perspective on things - that alone is 90% of what it takes to get there. Hey, we love having you here and we’re glad you enjoy the site!

Indeed the rookie treatment can be quite rough. I think it’s a huge shock that CDL training is so incredibly stressful. You wouldn’t think it is, but it is. I think the schools and trucking companies make this far worse than it needs to be, but that’s how it’s always been. I went to school in ‘93 and was #1 in my class right from the start – but it was still quite stressful for me, as good as I was doing.

Keep on pushin forward – you’ll get to where you’d like to be soon enough. You obviously have a great perspective on things – that alone is 90% of what it takes to get there.

]]> By: Sonny Countryman http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1255 Sonny Countryman Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:35:16 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1255 Brett, I gotta hand it to you...you certainly seem to know your stuff, and thanks for providing us all with a forum where we can blow of steam, or even pass on kudos to those we may have found helpful and supportive during our rookie times. Like many posts I've read here, I too made the career-change decision to truck driving late on in my life. The economy just doesn't seem to support factory workers ( particularly those over 50) very well anymore. I did my research, shopped around, and finally settled on a school that provided everything I felt necessary...160 hours, accreditable certification, and even placement. Now I've lived long enough and rounded enough corners to realize that entry-level personnel are the bottom of the totem and usually have to toe some pretty stringent lines. However, never have I seen this so evident as in orientation to a major trucking company. I'm well aware that when it comes to the safe operation and control of a commercial motor vehicle, even at my age I'm still a rookie. But I do believe that my life experiance should count for something. For instance, I expect I'm apt to be far more cautious on the highway than a much younger driver, as well as carrying around the common sense my years has afforded me. I was just as frightened and nervous as everyone else the day we started our orientation. But when one of the yard instructors took it upon himself to scream and yell at my face what I was expected to do, I felt it was time I drew that proverbial line in the sand. I pulled him aside from the group and calmly explained to him that my hearing was just fine and asked him if he would use the same tone to explain these maneuvers to someone like his Dad for instance. He must have got my point. He apologized, I accepted and we moved on from there. I'll be the first to admit there were important things this man had to teach me and I respected his experience, but at the same time I felt he should have also respected mine. I also realize he was only one instructor of many and not all have that "in-your-face attitude...but it is out there. Anyway, I went on to graduate from yet another "refresher" course (the second for as many companies). Due to medical issues, however,I have yet to feel that experience of driving my own rig to deliver the load. Hopefully, one day I will. Being a rookie and being treated like a rookie doesn't really bother me. It's being the ill-treated rookie that gets my goat, and from what I've been reading it seems to be happening more and more. Perhaps it is the influx of student drivers all these schools are putting out, or the more stringent regulations being imposed on companies and drivers, or perhaps even a combination of both. Either way, one of the first things the rookie driver needs to contend with is the fact that he/she will start out on the bottom of the totem. The sooner you can get your mind-set around that, the better you'll do and the faster that first year of "rookieship" will pass. Once again, thanks for a great site and the chance to spout off a bit. Brett, I gotta hand it to you…you certainly seem to know your stuff, and thanks for providing us all with a forum where we can blow of steam, or even pass on kudos to those we may have found helpful and supportive during our rookie times.
Like many posts I’ve read here, I too made the career-change decision to truck driving late on in my life. The economy just doesn’t seem to support factory workers ( particularly those over 50) very well anymore.
I did my research, shopped around, and finally settled on a school that provided everything I felt necessary…160 hours, accreditable certification, and even placement.
Now I’ve lived long enough and rounded enough corners to realize that entry-level personnel are the bottom of the totem and usually have to toe some pretty stringent lines. However, never have I seen this so evident as in orientation to a major trucking company.
I’m well aware that when it comes to the safe operation and control of a commercial motor vehicle, even at my age I’m still a rookie. But I do believe that my life experiance should count for something. For instance, I expect I’m apt to be far more cautious on the highway than a much younger driver, as well as carrying around the common sense my years has afforded me.
I was just as frightened and nervous as everyone else the day we started our orientation. But when one of the yard instructors took it upon himself to scream and yell at my face what I was expected to do, I felt it was time I drew that proverbial line in the sand.
I pulled him aside from the group and calmly explained to him that my hearing was just fine and asked him if he would use the same tone to explain these maneuvers to someone like his Dad for instance. He must have got my point. He apologized, I accepted and we moved on from there.
I’ll be the first to admit there were important things this man had to teach me and I respected his experience, but at the same time I felt he should have also respected mine. I also realize he was only one instructor of many and not all have that “in-your-face attitude…but it is out there.
Anyway, I went on to graduate from yet another “refresher” course (the second for as many companies). Due to medical issues, however,I have yet to feel that experience of driving my own rig to deliver the load. Hopefully, one day I will. Being a rookie and being treated like a rookie doesn’t really bother me.
It’s being the ill-treated rookie that gets my goat, and from what I’ve been reading it seems to be happening more and more. Perhaps it is the influx of student drivers all these schools are putting out, or the more stringent regulations being imposed on companies and drivers, or perhaps even a combination of both. Either way, one of the first things the rookie driver needs to contend with is the fact that he/she will start out on the bottom of the totem. The sooner you can get your mind-set around that, the better you’ll do and the faster that first year of “rookieship” will pass.
Once again, thanks for a great site and the chance to spout off a bit.

]]> By: Will http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1202 Will Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:01:11 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1202 Mike, yes you have to pay your dues as a newbie, but don't forget, never let anyone walk all over you or treat you like !!@##$ because you are new. Respect is a two way street and I had to set a few drivers straight with the way they wanted to "discuss" things with me. being new, you need to learn the in and outs at a terminal,some drivers will just as soon talk down to you then to help you out, but stand up for your self. but then again, being new you need to be open to help and not display that ole timer tude with only months on ! or you will be talked to like crap. Mike, yes you have to pay your dues as a newbie, but don’t forget, never let anyone walk all over you or treat you like !!@##$ because you are new. Respect is a two way street and I had to set a few drivers straight with the way they wanted to “discuss” things with me. being new, you need to learn the in and outs at a terminal,some drivers will just as soon talk down to you then to help you out, but stand up for your self. but then again, being new you need to be open to help and not display that ole timer tude with only months on ! or you will be talked to like crap.

]]> By: Arron Lorenz http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1108 Arron Lorenz Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:03:04 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1108 I think it's tough when you're starting out any new career. Making sure you remember your training, and asking questions when you need to is they only way to get ahead! Good luck, and great article. I think it’s tough when you’re starting out any new career. Making sure you remember your training, and asking questions when you need to is they only way to get ahead! Good luck, and great article.

]]> By: Brett Aquila http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1094 Brett Aquila Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:50:47 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1094 Hi Shelly. There are some companies that have a ban on hiring any drivers that have ever had a dui, but many companies require it be older than 7 years. It will be tougher having that on your record, but certainly not impossible. Hi Shelly.

There are some companies that have a ban on hiring any drivers that have ever had a dui, but many companies require it be older than 7 years. It will be tougher having that on your record, but certainly not impossible.

]]> By: Shelly http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/admin/2009/08/enduring-the-rookie-treatment-in-trucking/comment-page-1#comment-1090 Shelly Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:46:48 +0000 http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/?p=1757#comment-1090 It has been mentioned that if you had a DUI you can forget about driving. Does that include 20 years ago??? It has been mentioned that if you had a DUI you can forget about driving. Does that include 20 years ago???

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