This Gig May Not Be For Everyone

First let me say that I find this site an asset to new drivers and wannabes. Kudos to Brett and his crew for sharing their insight.

Ok, I understand positive reinforcement and guiding with a gentle hand. Mistakes bring doubts and a good coach alleviates those doubts and employs corrective measures to assure success. But, how many mistakes does it take until someone says, "Enough!" and persues another career path?

Today was the last day of the refresher course that I attended. Tons of backing practice followed by some roadwork. Yesterday was my first time behind the wheel of a tractor trailer going down the road 19 years. I had the HMFIC instructor in the cab with me. He scored my run as a 51/55 points. Not too shabby for so much rust. He gave me some pointers on how to improve.

Today, I went out again with two students and probably the most toughest instructor anyone has ever met. This guy watched you like a hawk and ordered your every movement and if you didn't do what he said at that exact moment his corrections were stern. I understand his approach; he wants things done his way and it was the right way.. operating an 18 wheeler is dangerous business.

Soooo, I sat in the converted sleeper with another student while another student that already had 8 hours in the captains chair at the helm. The student driver put the truck in reverse without disengaging the parking brakes. The truck began jumping wildly. The instructor stood outside and flipped out. Soon, the instructor came into the cab and acknowledged that maybe yelling won't get the point across but the student at the wheel has 8 hours of previous in cab instruction and should know better.

We don't even get out of the school parking lot without the driver grinding the gears. We get out onto the road and it's clear that this student doesn't know the shift pattern: can't find the gears and and habitually missing the splitter. I swear to be true that the instructor told this person at least 15 times about the splitter-- 5 to 6, 6 to 5 .. and the worst offense--- and trying to take off from a stop in 8th gear. The instructor, by this time has lost all patience.. lost his cool 10 mis-splits ago. He's at the point where he is tired of constantly reminding the driver what, how, and when to shift. He's tired of telling the driver not to roll back from stops, rolling over curbs, and that darn splitter!

So, here we are, about 20 minutes into the drivers turn, sitting at a red light.. the light turns green... the driver dumps the clutch and stomps on the accelerator. ... the tractor trailer violently rocks forward about 7 times... throwing me up out of my seat into the air back into the seat back up in the air etc etc etc. The instructor has just about dumped a gold baby in his pants. I'm sitting in the sleeper feeling that familiar warm pain in my back from the last motor vehicle wreck I was in. I know I'm going to be laid up in the coming days. D $##&**@!!!! I'm supposed to be at Swift next week... this is all I need!

The instructor chastised the student (and rightfully so!!) but allowed them to continue. More misshifts and more of forgetting about the splitter.

How many times will it take to sink in? I bet never. My back is toast now (I'm on the heating pad as I type this). Finally, the instructor has the student pull over to change drivers. The young guy sitting next to me was up next. He did a pretty good job with only making a few mistakes.

Next, I got my turn. I had a blast and remembered what the HMFIC told me yesterday. On a 55 point scale I earned a 53... better than the 51 from yesterday. I pulled into the school yard and we broke for lunch.

After lunch we went back on the road in the same rotation. First driver making the exact same mistakes over and over and over again. Seriously? How hard is it to remember to put the splitter back down when you stop? It's one switch in one direction! The instructor realizes that this person just cannot grasp this very simple operation.. even after multiple corrections!! The instructor doesn't even get mad anymore and just laughs.

The young guy gets his turn and scores a 50. Then I get my swing and I nailed the run with a perfect 55/55.

My point of this whole rant isn't to brag or gloat but this first student .... wow... unteachable. I admire his tenacity but there are some people that are just not cut out for it..

I tell you what, we had a couple guys in my class that has problems like this. One guy to be honest wasn't really at fault. Every time he tried to get seat time something came up like a truck problem or weather. The other two guys still couldn't even do a straight line back while the rest of us were on alley dock. The lead instructor ended up convincing the guys they should move to getting their class b licenses first. It was a pretty good decision for them. I think it's this way with most classes.

Don't be to harsh. Even after being out here going on 17 years I forget the brakes every once in a while but I don't stall the truck. I save the stalling for taking off in the wrong gear. Lol.

Seriously happens to all of us. No one is immune from the newbie mistakes.

I have been a trainer. And seriously after 8 hours of seat time with zero improvement someone needs to speak up and tell him it's time to go. Even the most patient of trainers have their limits.