Comments By Mike C.

Thanks Brett

I think some things to you guys with experiance are also like speaking Chinese to a FNG like me.

I do not wish for team driving.

I'm sure it's fine for many but not for me.

I'm supposed to have (hopefully) more choices beginning tomorrow (Monday).

We'll see what comes .

I did actually have an immediate solo placement upon graduation however it was a week of orientation then solo with no trainer which I also did not want. I had actually posted my concerns re that on the forum .

Thanks for the reply

Just before getting my CDL I admitted I'm a Newbe, an FNG, Stupid and would ask stupid questions. All are still correct except now I have my CDL. The more I try to learn about the trade the less I seem to know. So, with ya'lls patience, I'll continue to show my stupidity.

Prior to earning my CDL I learned about solo and team driving. Prior to graduating I did get a call from a company that only wanted teams, no solo. Repeating that I know nothing, team did not appeal to me. Still does' not.

BUT................................

As I wander thru the wilderness seeking employment it's taking the appearance that companies seem to be partial to team vs solo. Thats how it appears to me.

I'm an older guy. Living in a box with someone I dont know for prolonged periods of time does' not appeal to me a whole lot. I want to have a trainer period for maybe a month or so. I need that and I'm Ok with it. But, signing on with a company signing an agreement having to do with team driving I'm uncomfortable with.

Am I being unreasonable? Is team driving the way of the future as has been said to me? Do others have the same negativity as me regarding living with someone else (unknown person) for prolonged periods?

I have plenty more stupid questions to follow this one .

Thanks for your patience

Brand new CDL No experiance I dont want to Team Drive I want a company that offers training for a few weeks or so. I live south of Tampa which excludes some companies because out of their hiring area.

Where do I go to look for a driving job?

Bobcat Yeah, I worried about leaving before orientation was complete.

I have no experiance. About 100 miles +/- under my belt total and with instructors and the state test examiner. Three times total behind the wheel and maybe 45 minutes or so each time for I believe less than 100 miles total miles driven. The company I was hired by offered no trainer time at all. I was not comfortable with my total lack of experiance being issued a truck after about a week or so orientation, and I'm on my own.

Yes, I did have concern for my leaving but my decision was the correct one.

How it reflects on my DAC is, well, what it is. My decision was the right decision.

Got my CDL a few weeks ago. I have no experiance at all. I was hired out of school by a company I chose not to stay with. I left the company during my first week of orientation . The school I graduated from is looking for a new company for me but I wonder if I can do the same thing by myself also? I've been told that applying to companies can look bad on your D,A.C. report Is that true? The way I understood it is that it was like unto applying for credit and each application reduced your credit score so to speak.

I'm tempted to reach out to companies and look on my own but I'm afraid it will have a bad effect on my D.A.C.

Sorry if I ask dumb questions but I want to learn.

Thanks everyone for the ongoing input. My laptop rolled boxcars, had to get a new one, and have been MIA a few days because of that.

Ok, I signed a "Voluntary Withdrawal" and left the maybe employment on Thursday. Tampa Driving School out of their Tenn. location is finding me employment. Because of the holiday I guess it'll be this week before they're able to do the calling. I am totally satisfied with Tampa Driving School.

Yes, it would sure appear that not providing any kind of "mentor", "OJT", "Traiiner" , (whatever label you wish) is not real common however not all that uncommon either. If I stayed aboard and passed the testing, I'd have a truck by tomorrow (Monday), maybe Tuesday. I'm 100% convinced that my choice to leave the company was the correct choice.

I'm in total agreement with the comments as to not a real good idea to be solo in a truck with maybe 100 miles or so under my belt. Also, there was to me a very complicated "lease" that I think I was supposed to enter into.

Don, At the school we had to learn all the coupling components and identify all of them. However, no, never actually coupled or uncoupled. First I coupled and uncoupled was at my brief "employment" and I believe that was last Wednesday

I made it very clear to two instructors, the lady that's HR, and to the guy in charge that I was very uncomfortable without a trainer and really didn't feel I was ready to solo. They made it clear that they once did offer trainers but discontinued that about a year or so ago. They made it clear that they did not offer trainers.

My choice to leave was the correct choice .

Cwc

I'm clueless as to what is or is not the norm or sometimes and seldom, or never, or often.

Cwc I just dont know thus I asked.

Now, my previous and longtime profession I began in 1964....actually might have been 1963 They threw me out of the Army from the Naval Hospital in South Philly and told me that they had no need for damaged goods and to hit the road, and off I went.

After a good many years I learned some stuff here and there and was pretty well versed on the subject of the employment I ended up with.

During the beginning of the downturn, something around 2007 or so, it was decided our company needed a "volunteer" to be the mouth of the south for our brands Had to be someone willing to go on the forums with his actual name, not a Nome De Plume, and take the heat. Someone had to be that stupid and it was decided that I was the guy who was/is that stupid. As it turned out I was speaking for four very well known brand names, all the time, all over the world. It was to say the very least a Baptism Of Fire having to do with forums. The brands I was speaking for are very well known and I learned a whole lot about alot of good and bad stuff having to do with forums. Thus, I did not wish to come off in a bad way commenting on a company by name on a subject that I have zero, none, not a bit of understanding. I've had some real up close and personal experiance with forums and felt that if I have no knowledge of a subject, then I dont wish to be what I've experianced as a guy with zero knowledge that pontificates on a subject that he has zero knowledge of.

Thus my Maybe, kinda/sorta, employ remains un named for the reasons I try to explain from my personal experiances and with a little bit of a sense of humor.

I have no personal knowledge of any wrong doing to anyone or I wouldn't have shown up there on day one which was last Monday.

Thanks every one for your input.

Let me say that I stand by not mentioning the name of my (maybe) employer. I'm new to all this and as a FNG I dont wish to venture into unchartered water with something I have zero knowledge. I've done my own vigilance and although I dont agree with them I really dont care to appear to be throwing a stone.

I spoke to my maybe employer today about my concerns. We had a very open and candid discussion which leaves the final decision to me.

I'm wrestling some with it but leaning to looking elsewhere.

I wish to say THANK YOU for your input to all. I asked for advice and welcomed it from you guys

l

Thanks Bird and your post goes' to my concerns.

In school we used mostly std shift trucks except for the on the road whereas we used automatic trucks. We had no coupling/uncoupling training at all. We were required to point to and identify the components, ie Skid plate, King Pin, etc, but did not actually couple or uncouple.

Yesterday we were taught coupling and uncoupling using automatic trucks. Switches on the dash that I had no prior training with nor knowledge of. Lowering the truck, airbag deflation, etc. All brand new to me and when it was my turn I stumbled some For certain given some time and practice I'll get it but I'm not so sure that by Monday that'll happen at least to my comfort level.

This company is a pretty big company and up to about a year ago (as I understand it) they did have an OTR trainer. As I understand it that ended about a year ago. I've been concerned about this since I first learned of it maybe a month or so ago during my CDL schooling. Now that I'm kinda/sorta beginning my real life trucking employment I'm learning that there's alot more to driving a truck than just driving the truck. There's alot to learn and the learning has everything to do with safety and personal earnings. Much-much more than is taught at a school.

I can clearly see and understand the need for a trainer, some on the job, real instruction in the real trucking world.

I'm learning on the fly. Hindsight it's said is always 20/20 It might be that this company might not be the right choice for me. It might not satisfy my needs to be a safe and successful operator. That is not intended to be in any way critical of my sorta employer. What works for them and other drivers is all well and good but I not so sure it's the program for me.

Therefore I just dont see the need to name a company because as I do understand it, it's not exclusive to this employer. It's my inability to grasp it in a week or so that's the problem, not the trucking company per se. I have no wish to appear that I'm critical of a company by name as has been asked of me resulting in my being accused of "Playing Games" which I do find offensive.

It does' come as a surprise that some of the input I've recieved seemed surprised that the system exists at all?

Mr Curmudgeon

Thank you for the reply.

I've mentioned that I flew airplanes a long-long time ago. Over forty years ago learning to fly as compared to "driving" an airplane today is like unto comparing the stone ages vs today. Getting to a point that you might pass the requirements to solo in an airplane did not = making you a seasoned pilot. You ask questions and you continue your education.

I have over fifty years with if it begins or ends with "Boat" I've done it. All sizes and shapes and power except for sailboats. If I taught someone to handle a boat that did not make the person qualified to do anything or go anywhere with any size boat. Only time and experiance will do that and trust me, there is no such thing as an "expert" when talking about boats. There are experianced opinions but when someone tries to tell me that he or she is an "expert" I'm hesitant .

Ok, Beginning several years ago I followed up on a wish that I began having in the sixties. I've wanted to be an OTR truck driver. Who the hell knows why? When my kids asked their mother what I was doing going to a Truck Driving School at my age her response was simple : 'Your father has wanted to do that ever since I've known him" and I married her in 19 and 60 and 4. There does' not need to be a reason I'm doing this other than I want to and have wanted to for alot of years.

If I'm going to do it I wish to do it right. Many people pass the driving school that I attended in three weeks Took me six weeks because I'm a klutz but also I learn slow.

I have serious reservations about being solo pulling a 53' trailer OTR with perhaps 100 miles experiance, and being "slow" and also an admitted klutz.

When I began actively planning on doing this going back almost four years, I looked at forums to learn. This is my choice of a forum to hang out on to ask questions and learn.

Ok, I'm 75 years old, a very slow learner, and an admitted klutz. I see people 1/2 my age ( and younger) mastering backing (for example) whereas backing gave/gives me a real tough time. I see young people with great coordination picking up skills that I have a tough time with.

I want to do it right which in my opinion does' not include my being road ready solo next Monday.

So, I ask questions and listen to people with experiance and try to learn from them. It is not my intent to question my employers policies. It is however my intent to make my decisions based on what my heart tells me but with input from you experianced guys and ladies.