Common sense and not being a total freaking idiot counts for much more than some of those truckers with 20 years experience.

 

I agree that there are consequences to our actions, but I am not sure that I agree about the training aspect. I received my commercial license without having formal training and have logged several million safe miles. It is better to have someone who can help you with the basics, or have experience driving a straight truck first, but neither those or a formal training program are insurance that you will not be involved in an accident. It seems that most accidents I see involving big trucks also have the big training carriers in the middle of things. If someone is conscientious and careful, they could probably get their CDL without going through a formal training program. Finding a job is another thing. :wink:

 

Sonny, your point is well taken. I was 49 when I went to Schneiders school which cost about $4000, and was probably worth three times that much. It's really too bad they don't open their schools up to outsiders, I know that other companies have tried to get them to train their drivers. I think this could really help the industry if they would step up and do it. I looked into some of the "train for the test" cdl schools and they cost more.

Schneiders schools are very comprehensive with an large emphasis on defensive driving and safety. If you are not proficient in something, they do not send you out, they just keep working until you either get it or you go home. If one of their drivers is involved in an accident after that training, then it goes back to "carelessness", not lack of training or experience.

I realize it's just a start, but not a start from scratch......

Having said that, I've been driving since I was a kid, all kinds of trucks and trailers and raced cars semi professionally, and driving a truck has pulled on all that experience, at times, plus the professional training I received, so I agree Sonny, you just can't get someone a CDL and put them on the road.

jonboy

 

Sonny. You think Steve put the public at risk b/c he didn't go to a company and ride in a trainers truck? That is pretty freakn funny. With those trainers that do drugs and have driven all of 3 months? Or those who work both the logbooks and the trainee never drives? There is mostly only versions of those at the companys, from what I understand, with some exceptions. I can't imagine what would warrant putting so much stock in the trainee programs that the govt makes happen for those companies.

Note all the following that those drivers don't usually have -

Steve had his own equipment to keep safe besides himself. That could cause him to be careful for sure, as he loves his truck.

He had 25 more years life experience, that included driving stuff over the road, than any new company driver that was younger (thus stupider with decisions.)

He took his cdl training seriously and had personal lessons. Most of those kid drivers are simply there to pass and get the paper.

Put the public at risk? Let's leave that concern to the state that licensed him.

 

so I agree Sonny, you just can't get someone a CDL and put them on the road.

jonboy[/quote]


The DMV says you can. Personally, I think the test is too easy.

 

He put the public at risk and lived to tell about it
a) no flatbed training http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...ly_one_la.html
b) his insistance on running unfamiliar Rocky Mt roads in the dead of winter with 0 winter experience
and directly into a predicted monster storm
He had to find out by trial and error how his new rig would handle in snow covered road
How would you like to be stopped at a light on that day?

c) his air lines were brittle and snapped in his hands
they could have broken at any tight turn
and then no brakes in the Rockies
he is one lucky guy

 

well he would have constant braking then...remember they go into emergency pop-out when no pressure, a fun proceedure ill tell yeah :-p

Well quess Ill be in a similar boat when I buy a flatbed tho....at least im running around to all the flatbed haulers now asking questions though :-)

Quess the public will have to duck though once one of my loads springs apart like a broken jack-in-the box.

Well quess then ill be missing dry van......where I just closed the doors....man Im willing to chain n strap my old mother to that flatbed though if it will get me a better rate.

Probably lots of e-mails to Steve though about load securing questions....n God help me if I have to tarp :-p

 

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...ly_one_la.html

 

Woo-woo ....welcome to Pepes big steel bar sale....for $5 run across the freeway n you keep as many as you can p/u

Hmmm tho....anyone heard from Steve lately, that aint your is it?

 

Yup, still here and doing fine. Heading up to Vermont in an hour or so to get a Rigmaster installed on my truck. Need some heat or A/C when I crash during rush hour waiting for DOT to show up ya know.

Watch out everyone. I'll be on the road in another week. No experience, no accredited driving school, no flatbed experience. Crazed person in Red truck takes to Americas highways.....News story all 11.