I've been giving some thought as to how much a rookie can actually be taught in 6 weeks with a trainer. I've heard from a few guys that have been driving for more than 5 years and they say they still learn new things with time. So, my question is, "How much can a driver really learn in 6 weeks?" What are some of the tasks that a rookie should be competent in when training is finished? What do you experienced drivers feel are some of the priority tasks that need to be focused on?

Jim

 

Well let's put it this way. After 6 weeks of driver's education how much did your teenager know about driving a car? A new truckdriver can successfully start the truck, put in gear, on a good day can find the rest of the gears, and can roll it down the highway. It takes a year or two to refine your skills, and your probably still learning things after ten years.

 

I heard many Ole Timers on the CB say this, "The Day you think you know everything, Park the Truck, for your about to Crash." You should be learning everyday your out on the Road. Also heard the same one say your not a Professional Driver till you park the Truck for good.

 

I think that it would partly depend on the trainer. You could learn alot more in six weeks from someone who really wants you to learn and do your best than you can from somebody who just wants the extra hours in your logbook i.e. "team training". Six weeks is a long time if you are motivated to learn. Will you learn everything? NO! Will you get a good start? Yes.

 

Your goal during the six weeks is to be able to safely drive the truck from point A to point B. You should know:

1. How to shift properly. Yes, you will still grind it sometimes, but you should be improving. (Also, ask your trainer how to float the gears.)
2. Trip planning. (Map reading and scheduling your day.)
3. Backing into docks and at truck-stops. (You won't be perfect, but you should be safe. Pull ups and getting out to look is OK!!!)
4. How to use the Qualcomm.
5. How to process your paperwork. (manifest, Transflo, TripPak) Get Paid!!!
6. How and when to slide your tandems and 5Th wheel.
7. Fueling procedures and authorized locations.

 

In 6 weeks you hopefully go from "Blissfully Ignorant", or you do not know what you do not know . to Knowingly Ignorant. Success in my opinion is when Your trainer is able to safely demonstrate enough things that you say to yourself "there is sooo much I do not know " and you ask a lot of questions seeking the right answers before you do something stupid. "I am not sure how to back into this tough situation but I know this is dangerious and I need to seek help."

Once your survive 6 - 12 months without hitting anything ... the confidently ignorant state sets in. You are pretty confident about what you do not know, and your day starts to be routine with challenges rather than a challenge everyday seeking a routine. You observe things around you -- learning something new everyday. You now are no longer seeking answers but you are looking for the right questions.

Then there are the types that post things like "I run California on the I5 every day at 65 MPH and I have never got a ticket" with rolling eyes emoticons. These people have reached the arrogantly ignorant stage. It is very hard to distinguish between Blissfully ignorant and Arrogantly ignorant. Usually some fundamental knowledge is there with arrogantly ignorant but the effect is the same -- these are dangerous people which learning can not take place. It is where the saying "if you stop learning and you think you know everything .. it is time to park the truck .."

BTW) While you are on your 6 week adventure .. there are 4 levels of learning.

1. Appreciation. -- You can see that the task is important.
2. Understanding -- You see how the task works and how it applies to you.
3. Duplication - You are able to do the task
4. Extension -- You are able to apply the task to a new concept.

In tutoring Math, (for those that have been following my adventures I have volenteered to tutor) I find that some students hit stage #2 and say "I got it!" but when they take the exam they fail -- often blaming me for their plight. The problem was that they stopped their learning process at Understanding and stopped practicing different problems using the concepts, thinking "I understand this ..." and of course are unable to duplicate the task on an exam.

My fulfillment comes when a student takes a concept and applies it in an entirely different light. Then you really have learned and completed the cycle.

The same holds true for trucking. You can do the 45 degree Dock, which involves many fundamentals of backing but now you have to duplicate this task in many different environments that use the fundamentals but with different flavors. Practice Practice Practice

Best of luck sir ..

 

Well I train 8 week students for Crete, and I have to say a student only adds the frame onto the foundation that was laid when they came to truck driving school. The schools puts down the foundation, and the trainers build the frame ontop of that. As far as finishing the house, that is an on going experience. I still learn new things. In 6 weeks a student should be able to proficiently shift. They should not get lost in the gear pattern, be able to make smooth downshifts, know when to upshift/downshift. They should have a GENERAL understanding of backing. Backing is one of the hardest skills to teach and learn. Backing comes with lots and lots of practice. They should be able to back and take 3-5 pull-ups if necessary. It shouldn't take them 20 min to back it into a hole. A student should be able to plan a trip from start to finish. They learn how to run a legal logbook without burning time on the clock unnecessarily. They actually learn load securment, accident reporting, OS&D. They basically learn good time management skills.

 

you can learn enough to get yourself in trouble if your not careful you always learn something every day out on the road the day you think you know everything is the day to quit

 

I think I know everything, therefore I'm ready to quit, but I don't know how to do that. Well, I guess I don't know everything after all. :roll:

 

I found out a long time ago, that to progress in life's situations, these simple rules will get you through those situations. It's the basic tools needed to develop into a sucsessful, happy and long term way of life.