Comments By Kerry L.

I attempted to reply earlier, nice long rambling post. Might have possibly ruffled some feathers. Of course it didnt send. Short version. I applaud Kerry for his resilience. He is venting here so as not to let it cloud his vision. I would bet his trainer is learning from him as well in regards to hos and trip planning but is to proud to admit it. Group you seem a little harsh in your comments. Once again kudos to Kerry for rolling with it. Rambling as usual. Keep it hammer down and you will be running solo. Two hours into my first run I pulled over and almost puked. I felt like I was sitting outside the principals office knowing a paddling was coming. Good job man. Your positive attitude will prevail, you are well on the road to becoming a trucker not a steering wheel holder who blames everyone else for problems that may arise. God bless!

Thank you for the support. I think sometimes people here get used to the typical complaining (me having been labeled as such) that they don't realize that sometimes people are just venting. I am doing really well in training. My trainer hasn't had a lot of experience and has never been taught about running recaps and how to work his clock because he doesn't aspire to run that way. I think he has convinced himself that he has to do a 34-hour reset because he ultimately really wants to do a 34-hour reset every few days. Am I wrong for recognizing that my trainer has problems with trip planning and finding entrances to shippers? No. I would be wrong for thinking his way is the proper way to go about it (his way being completely different from what experienced drivers on here have shared about trip planning) and not seeking to do better. What kind of training diary do I have if I am not sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of my training experience? I have been honest in sharing my own mistakes. I really haven't had any major mistakes yet, partly because I spent so much time reading posts on here from experienced drivers. Also, the areas where I need the most work, my trainer is quite strong in these.

My training diary is going to be an open book for others to get a real idea of what training in trucking is like. The harsh reality is that trainers are human and being human are full of flaws. Part of being full of flaws is that even professionals can be not quite as good at one aspect of their jobs. So I was really critical that my trainer doesn't really spend time doing trip planning and it results in him having problems making pickup and delivery appointments. As I think about it, how is that wrong to make note of it? You know what? It taught me something because it showed me just how important trip planning is. Since my trainer wasn't doing it -- even from the very first trip when I wasn't able to drive yet -- I took it upon myself to do the trip planning. I was critical of my trainer being married to his GPS. Isn't that something that experienced drivers have told us newbies to avoid? Rainey, you said that for your first two years you didn't even have a GPS. Truthfully, my trainer could have gotten me in a real serious situation by forcing me to follow the GPS when he hadn't personally verified the entire route. Yes, it is my trainer's truck, but who gets the ticket if I go down a road that is restricted, even if the GPS indicates taking that route? It's my CDL. If my trainer were intentional in going a certain way to teach me something that I need to learn, by all means, I won't question it. He has done that by telling me to disregard the GPS and go a different way. When we are going somewhere that he either hasn't been or doesn't remember when he was last there and wants to just wing it, I am going to trip plan the route myself and find the safest route to take. I am giving other trainees the heads up that if they happen to be in that kind of situation to be assertive and look out for their own CDL.

Please, continue sharing your thoughts regarding my training diary. Just understand that what I have been sharing will not change. Now, I can use a bit more humility, but I won't accept the idea that my trainer is a million-miler (he doesn't have that much experience) with an excellent on-time record, and great training track record. When I point out the issues I am having in learning this business, the truth of how well my trainer is doing will be presented with it. I am sorry if this offends trainers out there. Unfortunately, not all of them are as well-rounded as you are, Rainey. Truthfully, I would love to be able to have you as a trainer, Rainey. There would be no stone unturned in what I would be learning in a truck with you.

I understood you as well, Kerry! Excellent diary; hope all is well. You can 'chat me up' anytime! I know, you're focused on training, as you should be...good sir.

Canaan ~ Have YOU made any decisions, yet? Tom's company is ALWAYS hiring in Ohio, if you don't want to go OTR, just have to get your CDL on your own. DML really IS a great Ohio company tho, too ~ I'll vouch for that!

Be safe, y'all!

~ Anne ~

DML is most definitely a good company to start out at, be in the middle of one's career at, and finish off into retirement at. The approach to training is very good. The company allows drivers to drive how they want. There is no micromanaging. Drivers work as much or as little as they want. There is everything from 3500+ mile/week drivers to 1500 mile/week drivers. The company is perfectly happy with both types of drivers and anything un between because they recognize that each driver is at a different point in his/her career, has different goals, and different priorities. My trainer averages 2000 mile/week, and he is happy with that because that's where he is at in his career. My trainer is basically retired and choosing to work.

I'm by no means a driver, yet.. (one day) but I personally think that your trainer may actually be doing a good job, it seems to me like it's kind of like a reverse training. He may want to see what you know and understand, and if you can utilize said understanding and knowledge in real world situations, and is effectively playing dumb so you "teach" him. At least that's my understanding from what you have posted so far.

Safe travels! -Canaan

I have thought about this and it definitely seems like this is what he is doing at times. His lack of understanding HOS is what has me believing that he just doesn't know what he is doing SOMETIMES. While I was driving, we were discussing the 34-hour reset provision. I made a comment about some drivers who stay for months at a time not doing a reset and running off recaps. He said that at the end of 70 hours you have to do a reset. I explained how a person can run 8 to 9 hours every single day and never have to do a 34-hour reset. He said that eventually recaps will run out. I tried explaining that at midnight every day you get hours back from the time logged 9 days before the day just completed. My trainer told me that he has never gotten any more hours back other that what he had left the previous day. Basically, he thinks that a driver has a bank of 70 on-duty hours and once that is used up, a reset is mandatory. While that is technically true, he is not grasping that the 8 days are rolling. He said that he understands this, but his commentary says that he doesn't get it. Every 8 days, if not sooner, he does a reset.

I definitely agree that my trainer is training me well. I am not so sure if I didn't understand HOS or how to trip plan that he would be training me well. But, my driving has gotten pretty good, as evidenced by some of the areas that I have had to drive without an accident/incident. My backing is steadily improving. I have only my trainer to thank for that because he is the one correcting me and giving me pointers.

I think i miscalculated in my statement here. I was wrong. It is 7 days before the day just completed. Monday to Monday is an 8-day block. 24:00 rolls around to become Tuesday and 7 days before Monday is Monday. So, on Tuesday, the prior Monday's On-Duty hours become available on 70-hour total. Sorry about the confusion I may have caused.

Spent the night at Cabela's in Scarborough, Maine. I set my alarm to wake up early and trainer was already out of the truck and probably enjoying Cabela's. I took a walk down to Dunkin' Donuts to get a breakfast sandwich and coffee. Dunkin' Donuts at this location was drive-thru only. Thankfully it was attached to a gas station. I settled for a cheeseburger and an energy drink. The cheeseburger was demolished on the walk back to the truck. Energy drink enjoyed inside the warm confines of the truck.

Conducted trip plan, then chit-chatted with trainer. Once 10-hour break was complete, pre-trip was performed. Then it was on the road. Drove From Scarborough, Maine to Wareham, Mass. via I-95 to I-93 straight through the heart of Boston. I very much enjoyed the experience of driving through the tunnel in Boston. It was a great experience. Arrived at the shipper in Wareham, Mass and got loaded. Drove from there to rest area off I-80 near Loganton, PA. Drove I-195 to I-95 to I-287 to I-80. 11 hours driven, all miles driven by trainee. Total drive hours completed: 40+.

Thanks to all who are offering feedback and asking questions.

Years ago another driver.... (Hmm hmm you know who you are lol) called me saying "My trainer sucks, he is late had an accident and.never plans anything."

I said... "Uh huh. Uh huh.. What have your learned?"

He replied "nothing in just told you how bad he is. Should I get a new trainer?"

I said "you learned to GOAL when backing or you will hit something... You learned to arrive early... And you learned to fill out and accident report and best part os that it wasnt yours."

You can learn from the mistakes of others.

As for "what would he have done if I wasnt there?"

Guess what... He has been driving longer than you have been on the truck. It probably happens often.... He would have figured it out. You being there made it more convenient. Learn from his mistakes instead of constantly griping about how you know.more than him. I guarantee you in a couple months you will be posting about how being solo is so much harder than you thought.

Several of my students told me "you made it looked so easy!"

Good luck

Hey Rainey, please understand that I recognize that I am learning a hell of a lot from my trainer. What he isn't teaching me, he is allowing me to see that I have the resources to figure it out myself. I like the fact that he is having me do everything so that once I am solo, I am not lost like I haven't done it myself before. He really treats me driving like he is just there to prevent any huge mistakes. I like it this way. His necessary criticisms are growing further apart and less intense, and his compliments are growing closer together and more expressive.

I just don't understand how a trainer can be tasked with training who doesn't understand how recaps work and doesn't understand how to do a complete trip plan.

You are absolutely right that I am going to have those "oh s**t" moments when I realize that things were a bit was easier when in the truck with a trainer. Hopefully nothing serious happens, but I have no doubt that the learning curve will come with moments that are difficult to handle. This is not an easy industry and it is not forgiving.

Thank you for the perspective that you bring. Your comments are always appreciated.

Hey Kerry, I was over on I-84 in Connecticut at a TA last Monday. There really are no truck stops on that road lol. There are barely any in that region period. Got my first taste of snow driving that day also.

What trucker GPS are you using on your phone? I think that might come in handy. Glad to hear your out on the road getting miles in. Drive safe.

That Monday, I was in Willard, OH. Yeah, I had to learn the hard way that once you get into NE, fueling options and truck stops in general become extremely sparse. I loved driving up there because every state in which I have driven has been the first time I have been in that state. I use an app called Hammer.

Thank you so much and I definitely stay safe. You also stay safe out there. Oh, close to 40 hours driven so far. I am hitting 9+ hours every day now. I will probably get close to that again tomorrow and then back at the Willard terminal. My trainer is going home on Thursday, so he will have a load going to Maryland. I am hoping to catch something heading down toward Dallas.

He is teaching you, you just aren't aware of it. Stop and think for a minute. This gent has been driving a long time, he's obviously been employed and knows how to get where he needs to go.

He's making you look at different routes, making you think more. As Kersey said, he probably had vey good reasons for taking you down more complicated routes, in fact what better Time to go through tough places than with your trainer on board.

What I don't know is, are you asking questions? I would have been asking how every device on the truck works, how to negotiate hills, weather, road conditions. What's the history of the Jake, why does it work? When should I not use it?

My trainer didn't volunteer information, I got it because I politely asked....all day and night. Your trainer has been doing this longer than you have. Are you watching him when he drives? How's he negotiating things? How does he use the controls, where's he look when he's backing, does he use reference points in turns, ask.

And on the eating thing...are you wanting to do a regular sit down breakfast every morning? I'd say no, and hell no. This is a job, not a vacation. That would burn up way too much clock. A quick healthy breakfast, and time to work.

Davy, he hasn't really been driving all that long. About 18 months, total. That is much longer than I since I have not driven at all solo. He really isn't doing it that well because he has had a couple of incidents and he has had issues with getting to pickups and deliveries on time.

I ask questions constantly. We have excellent dialogue while driving. He will tell me what he expects and if I don't understand, I ask him to explain it again. I ask him questions about what to do in various scenarios, how to operate anything and everything. Sometimes he won't give a straight answer because he has picked up that I will typically figure it out on my own. That's sort of his approach and I really appreciate it because it gets me out of the comfort zine of always having a trainer there. Real soon, I will be the only one in the truck, and I will have to be my best resource. My trainer drove the first day because I didn't have a login yet for the ELD. After that I have basically driven until the load is delivered or I am out of hours. When my trainer has had to drive, I am in the seat watching him and asking questions. The only exception to this was one time after I had driven out my hours and had been sitting next to him for a while. He told me to go ahead and get some sleep.

As far as eating, I am talking about stopping to get food and bring it back to the truck. Definitely not sitting down to eat. Grab it and go. He keeps food in the truck and he has told me that any food he has I can eat. I am most appreciative of this (and tell him) because he has no obligation to do this. Sometimes I want to be able to get a Subway sandwich to eat on my 30-minute break. That type of thing. Since the issue came up the other day and he has realized that I am more than willing to work my desire to get food around fueling and bathroom breaks, it has been much better. I would say 0 issues now.

I totally agree with you in everything that you said. I wish that you guys could see my trainer and I at work. We would actually make a pretty good team because our strengths and weaknesses kind of compliment each other. I just need more experience to expose me to more situations from which to learn. All is coming with time.

Anyway, my whole gripe with my trainer (still a very good one all around) is that I don't think it's good for a trainer to be so heavily dependent upon a GPS and to have that completely lost look on his face when he doesn't know how to get to the truck entrance of a shipper/receiver. I really felt bad for him that he really didn't know what to do when he arrived at an address and the sign said to enter from another street. I heard the panic in his voice and saw the look on his face that is not the look of a trainer who knows what he is doing and is confidently showing his trainee how to be a professional. I am an encourager, so I did my job as a Dutch Maid Logistics employee and enabled my trainer to feel like we got the job done together. I cracked a joke about having to drive around, but I put the joke on me not getting directions right.

Ultimately, I am an employee the same as he and I want to get the job done. First, the job is to get me drive time in all sorts of situations, and learning all aspects of operating the truck plus the paperwork that goes with picking up loads and delivering them. Second, the job is to pick up and deliver on time. I acknowledge that which of those goes first and which goes second will vary depending on who is asked. In every job I have had, I am a team-player and this job is no different. I am doing everything to be a coachable and teachable trainee. My trainer is doing everything to be a solid trainer. We are both human, so there will be mistakes on both sides. I recognize that I probably went about voicing my criticisms about my trainer in ways that don't look favorably on me. I accept this reality and this is why I haven't pushed back on the comments made that are critical of me in this thread.

I'm by no means a driver, yet.. (one day) but I personally think that your trainer may actually be doing a good job, it seems to me like it's kind of like a reverse training. He may want to see what you know and understand, and if you can utilize said understanding and knowledge in real world situations, and is effectively playing dumb so you "teach" him. At least that's my understanding from what you have posted so far.

Safe travels! -Canaan

I have thought about this and it definitely seems like this is what he is doing at times. His lack of understanding HOS is what has me believing that he just doesn't know what he is doing SOMETIMES. While I was driving, we were discussing the 34-hour reset provision. I made a comment about some drivers who stay for months at a time not doing a reset and running off recaps. He said that at the end of 70 hours you have to do a reset. I explained how a person can run 8 to 9 hours every single day and never have to do a 34-hour reset. He said that eventually recaps will run out. I tried explaining that at midnight every day you get hours back from the time logged 9 days before the day just completed. My trainer told me that he has never gotten any more hours back other that what he had left the previous day. Basically, he thinks that a driver has a bank of 70 on-duty hours and once that is used up, a reset is mandatory. While that is technically true, he is not grasping that the 8 days are rolling. He said that he understands this, but his commentary says that he doesn't get it. Every 8 days, if not sooner, he does a reset.

I definitely agree that my trainer is training me well. I am not so sure if I didn't understand HOS or how to trip plan that he would be training me well. But, my driving has gotten pretty good, as evidenced by some of the areas that I have had to drive without an accident/incident. My backing is steadily improving. I have only my trainer to thank for that because he is the one correcting me and giving me pointers.

My advice is to stop criticizing your trainer. So what if you think it is a better route? I ALWAYS take my students down US 65 with hills, twists, curves, small towns, lights and 2 lanes then across I 40 through Memphis/Nashville...over Monteagle for the downgrade, then around atlanta. And I plan it for rush hour traffic.... For them to learn.

I could cut out 100 miles but guess what? Its a learning experience and there is no point to have them drive better roads and less mountains when they need to learn it.

You will have your own truck soon enough, then you can run it your way. If you told me "I'm driving where I want when I'm driving" I would have taken you right back to the terminal.

Your arrogance and over confidence will be your down fall. Sorry... But I have seen this here before. When you get too arrogant, trucking has a way of knocking you back down... So be very careful.

You are 100% correct about my attitude. I have to keep myself humble. I would be inclined to agree regarding the routes my trainer plans, but there is no planning involved. Even when the GPS indicates that there is a problem with restricted roads on the route, he tells me to just follow the GPS. He doesn't take the time to figure out how to get into places. When I was out of hours and he had to take over, we got to a location for a drop and hook. He followed the GPS to the address, which then had a sign telling truck drivers to use the entrance on another street. He had no idea how to get there and was relying in me giving him point-by-point directions. I don't have a problem doing that because I just want to get the job done however it gets done. What would he have done if I had not been in the truck? My trainer gave no thought to pulling over somewhere to figure out how to get to the entrance. My whole point in this is that taking me to certain places to experience different kinds of driving just isn't what he is doing. I would really appreciate it if my trainer were more intentional in the way he has routes planned. We were told by the training manager during orientation to never rely entirely on the GPS, yet this is what my trainer is teaching me to do.

He is a great guy and generally a good and patient teacher. I make mistakes and he corrects me without being too critical. He also tells me when I am doing well. He has even told me that sometimes he sees me start to make a mistake, but he recognizes that I am doing what is needed to correct it. He allows me to figure things out on my own when I am correcting myself.

I will say that along with the lack of trip planning and the lack of planning in getting into shippers and receivers, I don't like the way that my trainer will start touching the GPS while driving. I think this is definitely not a good example to set for a trainee.

I have taken your comment about me being arrogant over confident to heart. Thank you.

Keeping the miles rolling... The following narrates some activities during my drive from the Southington, CT rest area to load destination of Lewiston, ME.

Got up yesterday and decided to make sure we had a plan for fueling and eating. Trainer has an attitude that we shouldn't expect to be able to eat sufficiently while out on the road. In reality, if he planned ahead, he would always have an opportunity to stop and eat. He wastes time stopping at rest areas where there isn't anything and not planning the stops ahead.

I didn't like the route that my trainer's GPS wanted us to take. It was going from I-84 to I-91 and then taking US-2 to Maine 26 to Maine 219, and I can't remember after that. Using a trucker GPS on my phone, I found a much better route that has a Pilot (where we have to go to fuel) and no crazy mountain driving. (The app I use specifically checks for restricted roads according to the size and dimensions of the vehicle provided. It also allows for avoiding tolls and a long list of other potential encounters. I also use a road atlas to verify that the route is clear of restricted roads.) I explain this and he gets upset that I should have told him that I want to stop to eat because he had other plans. He said next time I don't tell him, we will do what he wants. Hmm, I guess next time he will be driving because if I am doing the driving and the route planning, then I will stop where I want. I am only saying this because my trainer has never put any effort into route planning when he is driving.

After he realizes that I was in the right because I planned a better route, found a place to fuel, and gave myself a place to get food. So, we left at 14:30 and took I-84 to US-20 to I-495 to MA 125 to US-202. When I first got in the truck, my trainer couldn't get a simple P&D delivered on time. He forgot to calculate driving to pickup the trailer. Not even a week driving and I get this load delivered in plenty of time. Our scheduled delivery was 23:59. I got us there at 23:15. As we were leaving, trucks were lined up for about a 1/4 mile.

24 hours of driving so far. About 1200 miles driven.

Going to sleep now. Have a load to pickup at 15:30 later today in Wareham, MA.