What Would You Add To Training Program?

I am now 1 week into a hire-train-qualify program, I was fortunate to be accepted as a unlicensed candidate in a flatbed company's training program and between the forums and feedback from my fellow student, (who is a experienced CDL-A driver) it's becoming apparent we are learning stuff that's beyond anything "most" students will ever see in a training classroom. And that's just so far. Example: my fmcsr book is 6 days old and developing dog ears. After reading many of the questions posed, what would you as a current professional add to a training setting to further the science and professionalism of trucking? Even if it meant adding the necessary time to a training school or orientation program. HOS seems to be a glaring weakness out there. Susan D'so recent CSA issue gave me a chance to dig into the 2nd edition of the jj Keller handbook, it was interesting to research the replies as they posted.

Yikes, this is way above my league. All I focus on is getting from Point A to B as safely as possible and I let all the higher up's make the big decisions since they're infinitely smarter than the driver. Right?

If I had the authority and wasn't always on the bottom of the totem pole I would change a few programs to include less team driving and more 1 on 1 coaching with trainer in the passenger seat.

Just like with so many other jobs, there's the book stuff, and then there's the "lore". The class is based on the book stuff.

The lore, on the other hand, is the little unwritten things to just learn. It's almost impossible to get lore into a book.

It sounds like your mentor is doing a good job showing you those unwritten parts of a trucker's life. Pay Attention!