Rookie Who Can’t Stand Otr Training

Hey Naj,

Forget about the company or the trainers or your experiences so far and let's focus on you for a moment. What is it you really want out of trucking? Why did you want a career in trucking? If you could snap your fingers and do anything you wanted in trucking right now, what would it be?

I'm concerned that if you're so easily disillusioned then you really didn't know what you were getting into or you really didn't want to be there in the first place.

So what goals did you have when you decided to become a truck driver?

If I were to have a trainer, I don't want some arrogant guy to holler in my ear like an army drill sergeant. I want a patient and understanding trainer. The idea of having to bunk with a trainer in the cab seems a little yucky. A complete lack of privacy in the sleeping area. I want to be a truck driver, not a monk.

Training is only temporary. Push through and you'll see how great this career is

"Howard" says:

The idea of having to bunk with a trainer in the cab seems a little yucky.

why? This trainer is opening up their home on wheels to help teach you how to handle a rig. It isnt ideal but it's a necessary step in becoming a safe driver. Most companies run training as a team so you'll be sleeping in the bottom bunk (with your sleeping bag) while your trainer drives and vice versa. If you're both sleeping you'll likely be in the top bunk. It's not like you're going to be spooning with your trainer. There are much more "yucky" things about trucking than sleeping in a separate bed than your trainer. Picture a 100 degree day in a truck stop parking lot. The aroma of urine is all over because a driver doesnt want to walk inside so he urinates in the lot or pours a bottle of pee onto the ground. There are also drivers that poop in plastic bags and throw them on the ground.

If I were to have a trainer, I don't want some arrogant guy to holler in my ear like an army drill sergeant. I want a patient and understanding trainer. The idea of having to bunk with a trainer in the cab seems a little yucky. A complete lack of privacy in the sleeping area. I want to be a truck driver, not a monk.

Maybe you'll find a company that'll put you up in a motel each night for a couple months.

I want to be a truck driver

Howard, that's actually a profound declaration. We have seen literally thousands of people say that and then give up and quit during the training.

The reason I say it's profound is because very few who say it realize what they are saying. They say it, but they don't mean it.

I said it one day, and I meant it. I had a lot of trouble getting started. I got rejected so many times it was embarrassing. I honestly marvel at the people I see come in here who have their first choice in trucking companies accept them and they go through the orientation and training process and start their career with seeming ease.

I also feel the pain and rejection that others share with us here as they struggle to get started. We've had plenty of those also. Some people seem to hit brick walls unexpectedly. Sometimes it's their own fault, but mostly it's just the common struggles associated with getting this career started.

I was one of those who couldn't seem to catch a break. Everytime I turned around there was some unexpected issue causing me trouble. Starting a trucking career takes a great deal of Commitment.

It appears that commitment gets thrown out by many folks who don't care for the way truck driver training is done. You've got to get a bigger focus. You need to have goals that don't get pushed aside by a few temporary problematic issues that don't sit well with you. One month with a trainer, no matter how uncomfortable, is nothing compared to years of enjoyment on the open road. Success at trucking never comes to shortsighted people.

Make a plan. Have a goal. Take the necessary steps to get there. When people are sick they may take medications that taste terrible or cause them some other issues. They persist in the treatment because being cured is their goal. Get focused on success and realize the realities of how you get there. I had a lousy trainer. Today I have a rewarding career. I took the steps to get here. I had goals (I still set goals). I made them happen.

Success at trucking is a series of choices. Many people fail because they don't understand that principle. They get themselves to a certain point where they have to make a choice to proceed under somewhat difficult circumstances and they blow it. They quit because they weren't prepared to make the right choice. They weren't inspired. They were just wanting to go with the flow as long as the flow was comfortable. It will never come that easy. Determination and tenacity will be required. Settle it now and you'll be able to reach your goals.

Success at anything in life is a series of choices, not just trucking, but especially trucking.

I want to be a truck driver

Howard, that's actually a profound declaration. We have seen literally thousands of people say that and then give up and quit during the training.

The reason I say it's profound is because very few who say it realize what they are saying. They say it, but they don't mean it.

I said it one day, and I meant it. I had a lot of trouble getting started. I got rejected so many times it was embarrassing. I honestly marvel at the people I see come in here who have their first choice in trucking companies accept them and they go through the orientation and training process and start their career with seeming ease.

I also feel the pain and rejection that others share with us here as they struggle to get started. We've had plenty of those also. Some people seem to hit brick walls unexpectedly. Sometimes it's their own fault, but mostly it's just the common struggles associated with getting this career started.

I was one of those who couldn't seem to catch a break. Everytime I turned around there was some unexpected issue causing me trouble. Starting a trucking career takes a great deal of Commitment.

It appears that commitment gets thrown out by many folks who don't care for the way truck driver training is done. You've got to get a bigger focus. You need to have goals that don't get pushed aside by a few temporary problematic issues that don't sit well with you. One month with a trainer, no matter how uncomfortable, is nothing compared to years of enjoyment on the open road. Success at trucking never comes to shortsighted people.

Make a plan. Have a goal. Take the necessary steps to get there. When people are sick they may take medications that taste terrible or cause them some other issues. They persist in the treatment because being cured is their goal. Get focused on success and realize the realities of how you get there. I had a lousy trainer. Today I have a rewarding career. I took the steps to get here. I had goals (I still set goals). I made them happen.

Success at trucking is a series of choices. Many people fail because they don't understand that principle. They get themselves to a certain point where they have to make a choice to proceed under somewhat difficult circumstances and they blow it. They quit because they weren't prepared to make the right choice. They weren't inspired. They were just wanting to go with the flow as long as the flow was comfortable. It will never come that easy. Determination and tenacity will be required. Settle it now and you'll be able to reach your goals.

I want to be a truck driver

Howard, that's actually a profound declaration. We have seen literally thousands of people say that and then give up and quit during the training.

The reason I say it's profound is because very few who say it realize what they are saying. They say it, but they don't mean it.

I said it one day, and I meant it. I had a lot of trouble getting started. I got rejected so many times it was embarrassing. I honestly marvel at the people I see come in here who have their first choice in trucking companies accept them and they go through the orientation and training process and start their career with seeming ease.

I also feel the pain and rejection that others share with us here as they struggle to get started. We've had plenty of those also. Some people seem to hit brick walls unexpectedly. Sometimes it's their own fault, but mostly it's just the common struggles associated with getting this career started.

I was one of those who couldn't seem to catch a break. Everytime I turned around there was some unexpected issue causing me trouble. Starting a trucking career takes a great deal of Commitment.

It appears that commitment gets thrown out by many folks who don't care for the way truck driver training is done. You've got to get a bigger focus. You need to have goals that don't get pushed aside by a few temporary problematic issues that don't sit well with you. One month with a trainer, no matter how uncomfortable, is nothing compared to years of enjoyment on the open road. Success at trucking never comes to shortsighted people.

Make a plan. Have a goal. Take the necessary steps to get there. When people are sick they may take medications that taste terrible or cause them some other issues. They persist in the treatment because being cured is their goal. Get focused on success and realize the realities of how you get there. I had a lousy trainer. Today I have a rewarding career. I took the steps to get here. I had goals (I still set goals). I made them happen.

Success at trucking is a series of choices. Many people fail because they don't understand that principle. They get themselves to a certain point where they have to make a choice to proceed under somewhat difficult circumstances and they blow it. They quit because they weren't prepared to make the right choice. They weren't inspired. They were just wanting to go with the flow as long as the flow was comfortable. It will never come that easy. Determination and tenacity will be required. Settle it now and you'll be able to reach your goals.

Old school, funny you mentioned "comfortable". Some people get into a field and hope they can find a comfort zone and it's just smooth sailing once they find a groove and fall into it. I gather then that trucking is not something conducive for career seekers looking for "an easy chair" to go along for a long ride with hand-holding bosses' telling you everything to do and make all the decisions for you. I once heard a carpenter remark that truck drivers were "lazy". I understand it's tough WORK and not a picnic. Fair enough.

I was a soldier once, and young. I don't really think a month with a civilian trainer in the truck would be half as bad as sleeping with 60 other guys in the same open-bay barracks for eight weeks. I won't dare expect that any (bean-counting) major carrier will pay out of their own pocket for my Holiday Inn Express lodging during the company training period. I once worked for the USPS as a temp letter carrier for the holidays and a guy trained me a couple of days to drive a postal long-life delivery van. He was somewhat pushy but not impossible.

While I was in the army I would have a sergeant in the shotgun seat constantly yell at me to slow down or pick up full speed before hitting a long up grade so the truck wouldn't bog down. I would be told not to ride the clutch and rather use the brake to slow on down grades instead of trying to double clutch for a downshift which I found troublesome on military vehicles with crude 5-spd. manual transmissions. The toughest military driving was tactical field blackout night driving without headlights and sometimes with night vision goggles. The NCO would constantly tell me to tighten up on the bumper of the vehicle ahead of me in the convoy if I fell to far behind or back off if I got too close. It's easy to get disoriented in very dim light and depth perception was a challenge. The army trucks had those dim white double "cat-eye" rear markers to estimate following distance. When the two light marks appeared as one you were farther back: when the markers appeared distinctly as two lights with a gap in between, you were closer.

Is the company trainer going to be like a DMV examiner telling you to turn left, turn right, slow down, make a lane change, etc?

Todd asks

Is the company trainer going to be like a DMV examiner telling you to turn left, turn right, slow down, make a lane change, etc?

Howard, you may have a trainer that does that but so what? Most of your time will be on the interstate but when you hit local roads I'd like my trainer helping me. You need to remember if you miss a turn you may end up driving 10 miles or more to find a place you can get turned around. You're focusing on the wrong things. Either jump into this or don't. You seem to be trying to create an excuse to justify not making the leap. Truck driving is not for everyone, but you seem to be focusing way too hard on what training is like. Old School and Kearsey (among many others) had bad experiences with their trainers. They haven't allowed that to define how their career turns out. Both of these moderators are a couple of the many drivers here making great money by being top tier drivers. While truck driving isnt a walk in the park once you're experienced enough you wont be so stressed out trying to trip plan or know where youre parking for the night.

Let's take this one step at a time. Read through Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving and see if it interests you. If it does, Apply For Paid CDL Training and see if anybody is willing to give you a shot.

Todd asks

OMIGOSH... Rob, to be 20 years younger (your age) or 'more on my toes' .. dang, just dang. You are GOOD. One of my top 5 posters on here, and ..yeah.. DANG.

Guess I didn't need that iced tea anyway. Keyboard needed it more. ;)

KUDOS. Award of the day, Rob~!! (IMHO, anyway!)

Sorry for the hijack, O/P. On 'that' note, my husband 'trained' me a few moons back, and I don't advise THAT for anyone. I'll go with the 'yucky' trainer when my last eagle flies the nest..this year (I hope!) and I get my hearing issues worked out.

Best wishes, all~!! Anne :)

I have no anxiety as far as a trainer goes, I can get along with anyone and learn from a calm instruction method, drill sergeant or anything in between. You have to adapt and overcome in every aspect of life, this is no different. OTR training is only a month or so, focus on learning and get through it. I know thats what I’m gonna do no matter what type of trainer I get. Chances are, the tougher the trainer, the better the training. Don’t ever get in your own way when trying to achieve your goals

I have a dilemma because I’ve graduated cd school this pass October. I’ve started with prime but the training process has Been tough especially being a woman . The 1st trainer I had was so rude to me and I dealt with him for 2 weeks and then had to wait at a terminal for 2 weeks for another trainer and my 2nd trainer quit because we got stuck in California for a few days due to a snow storm. So I’ve been home contemplating on if I should quit because I really hate otr all over the states and I would like to find something where I can go home every week. I know that it’ll be harder to get but I want to be happy and I’ve been miserable dealing with this training process especially dealing with trainers who are so tactless and mean. I don’t want to hate what I do just for the money and experience. I also don’t know what the next trainer will be like and I will take another chance going out with another person knowing I already have a bad experience with the trainers so I’m kind of over it. I know that I haven’t learned everything I need to know in just a few weeks of training so my only reason for going back would be cause of the money and experience. However I’ll be uncomfortable, and unhappy doing so. I don’t know if it’s worth it. Please give me some advice on what you think the beat option will be. Thanks

One thing you have to face is, you have to swallow your pride. Swallow your way of doing things. You are going to the trainers truck.

I was forcefully given a newbie ( I’m local) they told me , teach him the product. I asked them if he had experience because company requires 6 months experience. They said yes.

Turns out no. Fresh out of school. When it comes to safety, I yelled. Last thing I want is my truck reputation to be the one hitting cars and trucks ( my route is a set area)

You don’t know anything. Even if you think you know, you don’t. My trainee was stubborn but has the same disabilities like my wife so he was even easier.

As long as no sexual advances are made towards you... you have to suck it up princess. You are fortunate that not only you’ll have a trainer, you have this whole forum. And majority being Prime drivers both current and former