TNT Question

Is it normal for tnt to suck the spirit of trucking out of you? I feel like im just constantly nonstop getting on my trainers nerves. Im tryig my hardest nd everything. Sighs i know he means well, and i know hes a decent guy, i wonder if me getting him agrivated so much if im really cut out for trucking sometimes... now i know why they say tnt will take people chew them uo and spit them out if not careful....

I guess what im asking is will things be better when im on my own?

Training sucks and it is hard. Going solo is so much easier!! You are almost done hang in there

Reaper, I know the feeling. I'm only 11k into my TNT. Yes I have felt the same way, and probably still will over the next 4 weeks. But as Rainy said it will get better. Fir instance you won't have your trainer barking at you, or complaining your doing it wrong according to them, or giving you the look of disappointment. If you mess up then it is on you and you alone to do that to yourself.

Sometimes what seems like the worst trainer can turn out to be the best in the long run. Have you tried talking with your trainer to see if you really are getting on his nerves? If you feel you need a little extra help with something, make sure you discuss that with your trainer. Good luck.

Reaper...what is the Spirit of Trucking for you? You said training has sucked that out of you. If that were true then you have given way too much power to your trainer. You do not have long to go...do your job to the best of your ability and try to maintain focus and a positive attitude. Your career is not that far off. Don't lose sight of that...

Stay the course. You have dealt with worse and prevailed. Remember that.

My first trainer and I are still friends today, but my last two weeks on his truck, not so much! I honestly wanted to punch him in the mouth. I knew most of the frustration was on my part and he really was looking out for my best interest, but still. Sometimes I would look at him and imagine his teeth flying.

Hang in there, solo is way more fun! You will still get into a mess every now and then, but it's so much more fun getting out of those jams without some breathing down your neck.

Yeah i asked him if i was getting on his nerves, he said i wasnt and he would let me know. And the thrill of trucking was for me able to see the sights, discover new places, and enjoy myself out there. Right now zince week 2 of tnt (its been 6 weeks out so far) ive been nonstop night shift only. My mentality went from enjoying the sights and relaxing (not too much but enough that it doesnt take a crowbar to pry me off the wheel from being uptight), all the way to counting down how many minutes till i stop for another cup of joe. I enjoyed night shift at first and honestly i think id enjoy it more if i wasnt stuck looking out into black and i had scenery to look at. Even if it was the same state and the same area, better than black.

Reaper that's all well and good, but this is a job. Sometimes the job will require you to night drive and sometimes it won't. You need to come to the realization that you will not always be operating in or during optimal conditions.

No i understand night driving will happen in trucking. I accept that. But i feel like ive been banished from the light until i upgrade. (Effectively thats what he told me) I havr no issues with doing night shift, just having to do it 2 months no stopping to get even one day shift break gets a bit tiresome.

Hang in there Man!

One of the problems with that TNT method at Prime is that not only are you learning by doing, but you are also serving your trainer's needs by helping them turn more miles with the truck.

Now before anyone wants to complain about that reality, you have to realize that it gives the trainee the opportunity to practice operating in a solo fashion, but also gives him/her the crutch of being able to wake the trainer if needed for some assistance.

Unfortunately the trainee usually ends up on the graveyard shift.

It won't be long Reaper, and you'll be on your own - master of your own destiny - maybe even wishing you had that crutch to rely on sleeping peacefully back there in the sleeper.

Remember that roller coaster of emotions we talked about? You're still on it, and it may even get worse once you're solo! If you can keep control of your mind and emotions you will have conquered this thing.

Ride it out and it will get better - we all know this to be true because we've all been right where you are.