Students-check Your Attitude!

Since I’ve left my CDL training and been on the road getting my training miles I’ve kept in touch with several instructors I’ve met and I gotta say- Damn! The things I hear about some of their students!

Refusing to drive. Yes, there was a student who literally told his instructor he wasn’t going to drive that day. Another student said they weren’t going to be on the pad and would rather “study in their room”. I’ve even heard students argue with their instructor on how to do something as it relates to driving.

The only thing I would say to these students is where do you get the balls? What makes you think you have any say in this? You are there to learn so you better get out there and learn! Raining? Get out there. Cold? Get out there. Homesick? Get out there!

If you’re a current student or are thinking of going to a company sponsored school- I’ve got a simple piece of advice. Be enthusiastic about being there! Do everything! Once your instructor shows you something like connecting a trailer- that is now your job for the rest of the time you’re there. Your job as a student is to learn everything you can. Your instructor should just look at you and say get the truck ready and know that you can do it without them looking over your shoulder.

Learn everything in school and learn even more while doing your training miles because before you know it, and if you last long enough, you’ll be on your own. You will be in your own truck with all the responsibilities and pressures that go along with it. And guess what? There won’t be a trainer looking over your shoulder then!

In short- drop the attitude. You aren’t entitled to anything but effective and proper training. You don’t get to dictate the terms or parameters of the training. Remember, you came to them. Not a single trucking company will cold call someone and beg them to come to their training. In fact hiring has slowed down so much that they aren’t going to beg you to stay and will send you home. Let me repeat that- they WILL send you home. There’s 100 people waiting to get in so you and your attitude won’t be missed.

One more thing- the CDL part of your training is the east part. Once you hit the road for your miles the training wheels come off. Everything is now in real time at full game speed with soooo much more to learn.

Awesome post, Etch. I love it!

We were raised in very different times. People today do not have anywhere near the strength, courage, resilience, or pride our society used to have. Everyone knows this is true about young people, but what fascinates me is how changing societal norms affects all age groups.

Throughout the past few years, I was floored by the way people in older generations completely abandoned their experiences, values, and beliefs. They suddenly forget everything they had learned and did an about-face.

• People who always worked hard saw that others were getting a free ride from stimulus checks, and suddenly they wanted a free ride too!
• People who used to take great care of themselves physically ballooned in weight and quit eating right or exercising.
• People who grew up in an era that always knew the government couldn't be trusted suddenly turned on anyone who didn't blindly follow government mandates
• People who once knew that open debates and free speech are critical to a functioning society suddenly decided that censoring or canceling anyone who didn't agree with them was a good idea!
• People raised to believe that strength, courage, and resiliency were necessary traits and worthy of pride suddenly decided that victimhood was a virtue! They went from "sticks and stones" to "I'm being attacked! I'm being repressed!"
• People who always took pride in who they were, especially if they stood out or were unique in some way, were suddenly ashamed to be different and cowered in fear when told they should be ashamed of themselves for speaking honestly or were called "hateful extremists" if they didn't go along with the government narrative.

Our society has reached a new low in modern times regarding personal character. All of the old-school traits were abandoned and forgotten.

Etch, I love everything you said, and I agree wholeheartedly. New students should be humble and grateful for the opportunity. They should take tremendous pride in putting in their best effort. They should listen closely, ask a lot of questions, and stay the course when things get tough.

I don't know if our society will continue to move in the wrong direction, but I can assure you that hard-working, strong, resilient people like myself and many others in this community will have an easy time of it in the future due to a lack of competition.

How many people nowadays are going to put in a tremendous effort? How many will take major risks? How many take pride in being the best? How many wake up in the morning fiercely determined to outwork everyone?

Very few.

Folks, getting ahead in trucking is very likely if you handle the basics well. Be humble and kind, work hard, listen closely, and stick it out when things get tough. If you can do those things consistently you'll have a great shot at this career.

GREAT post(s)! Sums everything up perfectly.

Good job, Etch-A-Sketch

Attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude.

Five Star post and thread. Thank you Etch.

Great post Etch! I just completed CDL school in late October. I was the oldest in the class (Late 50's). Boy did I get some free entertainment from the "youngsters". This nation is in trouble if the new way is contagious!

Great post. TwiztedBigD put out a YouTube video on this topic. His student got sent home partially for refusing to drive.

I agree completly and great post. I personally trace the root of the problem to kids not being made to take responsibility for their actions as they grew up, and no we have several generations that grew up and are now parents, furthering the cycle.

I just finished my degree I started 17 years ago and sat in a classroom with this younger generation. Half claimed they had autism and the other quarter sat there playing with these pop boards or fidgit toys because they had anxiety. I have dealt with clients who have "real" mental disabilities and I didnt find 2 who fit the category. I told some of the kids how awful it is to tell your child they are disabled from the start and how it will effect their self esteem throughout life. IMHO I just think alot of these parents claim disability because they get an extra check every month. Its really disgusting

I didn't have a very positive outlook on the future of our society. But listening to Dan Bongino's more recent podcasts, I realized that betting long on America is always a safe bet despite the fact that mental health is at an all time low and no one wants to work these days.

I look at it as an opportunity. Who is going to get the job? A dedicated prospect willing to learn? Or some entitled basement dweller that needs their a-hole powdered every hour on the hour by their boss?

As far as where they get the balls, I think a combination of poor parenting, social media, and false sense of entitlement has ruined this generation. We are definitely at the "easy times make weak people" part of the cycle.