First Week Experience

Sunday April 5th, 2020. My trainer and I rolled out of IL with a load of utility truck beds bound for Ohio. I didn't drive much that day as I was paying attention and "learning the ropes." Arrived at the receiver after-hours and parked for the night. I was exhausted from sitting and the random stench of cigarette smoke. The trainer doesn't smoke in the truck, he "opens a window."

Monday April 6th, 2020. We arose at 6:30 am and prepared for the receiver to open at 8:00. Once we rolled in they unloaded us quickly and we gathered the metal buckles to return to Knapheide. Off we went to Follansbee WV to load two steel coils. I got to drive most of the way. Arrived at Nippon to get the coils. I was tasked to back into the building. It was a 45 back - which wasn't a skill I practiced very much. After my second pull up my trainer got ****ed and took over, since I was "holding up everyone else in the area." The other drivers who were waiting, both of them, said I was doing okay and we have to start somewhere. I helped secure one chain to each coil so we could get to the securement area. We added two more chains to each coil and started tarping. I didn't know the nomenclature of each securement piece or how to use them, which brought out yet more anger. After we finished the securement we scaled and got the paperwork and left. I drove until nightfall and let the trainer drive most of the night.

Tuesday April 7th, 2020. Arrived at the receiver of the coils. Kansas City, Kansas. This time all I had to do was drive into the building and remove the securements. Easy enough. When we finished we started the 180 mile or so trip back to Illinois. When we got back to Illinois we returned the empty trailer back to our yard and picked up a loaded trailer bound for North Carolina. I was told to be back at 0300 Wednesday April 8th, 2020.

Wednesday April 8th, 2020. Arrived in North Carolina in the late evening and settled in for the night. I drove most of the way after 9 am.

Thursday April 9th, 2020. Unloaded at the first stop in North Carolina and proceeded to go to our second stop - receive a max load of special lumber for Pella Windows & Doors. I made the back to the door okay. Not good enough but okay. Used one pull up to get straighter. And no, I didn't know how to use the ratchets or the cheater bar either, which drew more anger and cursing. It was hot as you-know-what tarping that lumber load. Off we went, I drove from the lumber yard to the outskirts of Nashville, TN. Down the mountains and hills we went. And no, I wasn't taught the engine brake controls fully on that Mack Anthem. I knew how to use it, but had no idea there was a button on the end of the control arm. More anger, more cursing. I let the trainer drive from Nashville to West Central IL. I left for home at 4:30 am, instructed to be back at 0300 Monday to deliver the lumber to Pella Iowa, since they are closed Easter weekend.

Friday April 10th, 2020. I don't want to go back.

What did you mean by, “I don’t want to go back?”

Dean,

I am not a driver yet, so I can’t tell you that I have been through this.

What I can say is after reading many training diaries, is there are really two options:

1. Request a new trainer, which may delay you getting you own vehicle.

2. Suck it up, learn what you can and ignore what can. This is only the beginning of your journey, and you worked your ass off to get here. Don’t let some idiot stop you from your goal.

Good luck, and wishing you the best either way.

What did you mean by, “I don’t want to go back?”

I rue my decision not to go to Schneider and do dedicated.

Dean,

I am not a driver yet, so I can’t tell you that I have been through this.

What I can say is after reading many training diaries, is there are really two options:

1. Request a new trainer, which may delay you getting you own vehicle.

2. Suck it up, learn what you can and ignore what can. This is only the beginning of your journey, and you worked your ass off to get here. Don’t let some idiot stop you from your goal.

Good luck, and wishing you the best either way.

Thanks for the ideas. All the trainers smoke. I can suck it up - I was an active duty Marine. I'm doing my best not to react with my mouth or limbs, but it's hard.

Dean,

I am not a driver yet, so I can’t tell you that I have been through this.

What I can say is after reading many training diaries, is there are really two options:

1. Request a new trainer, which may delay you getting you own vehicle.

2. Suck it up, learn what you can and ignore what can. This is only the beginning of your journey, and you worked your ass off to get here. Don’t let some idiot stop you from your goal.

Good luck, and wishing you the best either way.

Thanks for the ideas. All the trainers smoke. I can suck it up - I was an active duty Marine. I'm doing my best not to react with my mouth or limbs, but it's hard.

Since you are a former marine ( and thank you for your service) you chose the toughest branch to go through. I am former Navy myself, and I have a huge amount of respect for marines, y’all had it much tougher. Neither of us had it as easy as the flower pickers in the air farce though.

Good luck.

Sounds like the typical driver trainer so I’d try my best to get through it or get on a different truck. Whatever you do don’t let anyone stop you from getting the job you already worked so hard to get. This is the part trainees never expect. Do you rise up quit or break your neck and do the work. Stand up speak with your chest, your dream is now reality can you survive the test.