New Female Truck Driver Training Question

Well, could you start with a male trainer that doesn't smoke, with the understanding that when a female non-smoking trainer becomes available, you can switch ???? That way you could have the benefit of 2 trainers, and 2 trainers knowledge....Kind of a good deal....

I would but the company that I'm waiting for doesn't allow female/male trainers. Again, I'm open to any ideas but my hands are tied regarding this particular company - which happens to be the company I WANT to work for but, need work now. Ugh, when it rains...

I'd love to have any training right now since I feel like I'm losing my new skills everyday that passes. I'm sure it'll kick right back in but, again it's the anxiety of the unknown. Ya know?

Oh, and I'd love to have a few trainers because, yes, getting two different perspectives is always a winning situation. Thanks for the response and idea :)

One positive about this experience is that I've found a niche in this business for women. They definitely need female trainers so, the opportunity screams job security to me

I know everyone's comfort lever is different but I think Starcar makes a great point. I have no practical knowledge to give because my wife and I don't start school for another month yet but we talk excitedly about the upcoming months all the time. We want to get started driving in our own (well company truck, but the one assigned to us) truck and making some money ASAP. We are going with Central Refrigerated and we know we'll be apart with seperate trainers for a month. Of course she would prefer a female trainer but she's not going to wait around if there isn't one available. We've talked about how it will be an advantage to have training from two different drivers that we can pull from once we are together. We'll take all the advice we can get! lol Anyway, love this forum and this entire sight. Thanks Brett (great name too!)and all the rest of you that take the time to help us new and soon to be new drivers! And best of luck to you too kayakngal.

Brett N, you and your wife will find a new level of togetherness, when you start teaming.....TSB and I teamed doing west coast turn arounds....the $$$ was insane...and I sure learned what it takes for a marriage in a 6 foot square to survive !!! I gotta start a thread on that experience...

Thanks Starcar. I just read your post about teaming with TSB and what it was like. Very entertaining! lol My wife and I have been married for 21 years now so although I know living together in such a confined area will definitely bring many new challenges, I think we are as prepared as we can be. We both know it's going to be difficult at times but the excitement of just getting out there and doing it really has us motivated to make it work. This sight really stresses the importance of sticking with your first company for a year and going with the flow and just taking what you can get without causing a stink. My personality is taylor made for this and my wife...well she's a redhead too so I may be doing the communicating with our dispatcher much of the time! lol We were both in the Army and actually met in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm so I know she's got it in her to make this work too. Anyway, I have asked this a couple of times but haven't really got a reply yet; What's a rough estimate of what a husband wife team can expect to get for mileage. I know there are a lot of variables but I guess I just want to make sure my expectations are reasonable. We are going to Central Refrigerated because the will cover our CDL with no up front cost and we will only be apart for about 28 days while we each do our over the road training with an experienced driver. Our two boys are 19 and 20 now so we are basically putting our stuff in storage and just living out of the truck. Except for wanting to take some "hometime" near family every now and then we really have no constraints. Send us wherever you want and we'll go kind of thing. Anyway, I was thinking 4500-6500 miles per week was reasonable to expect. (Hoping to be closer to the high end most of the time of course) Does this sound right? Thanks

My recuiter at Central said that they place you with what is available at the time. Which I don't care, I just want to drive and start getting some experience under my belt! Personally I can't afford to sit around and wait to long, or guess I should say my bills can't wait! lol

Brett, I know your question was put to Starcar, but I just wanted to say that in my opinion you've made a good choice in Central Refrigerated for a team driving situation. They've got the type of runs that lend themselves to a team operation. Just keep in mind that one of you will be sleeping while the other one is driving. - that's the way you turn the kind of miles that help you make some real money. Central can get you the miles, but most refrigerated carriers have their down sides too - things like waiting for hours in muddy parking lots just to get yourself loaded, and dealing with security guards and shipping clerks who think that truck drivers are sub-human creatures. Some of this stuff just comes with the territory, but when you are loaded and ready to roll they'll help you get the miles in if you're proving to be a safe and responsible team.

Well stated, Old School. Central is a good company, and in all the years I've been otr , I've never heard a bad word about them. That reefer freight situation is exactly why we pull a skateboard...hate that waiting, hate those muddy parking lots, hate those liein' shippers and receivers. And most of all....I hate havin' to back up to those docks. We pull up in an open area, and they toss the stuff on. We chain/strap it down, or tarp it (we get paid extra for that)..and we're on our way...gotta love flatbedin' !!!!

Thank you both for your encouraging words! Makes me feel a lot more at ease with our decision after hearing both of you saying good things about Central. Of course I've read many horror stories in just a couple short weeks about shipping and receiving nightmares. I also understand you have to wash out the reefer vans quite a bit? Never considered that. A lot of things that can put a damper on the miles. I'll be continuing to read your stuff as often as possible and thank you again for your input!

Brett, I've been a central driver for two months now and the cleaning the reefer thing really isn't so bad. Just find a Blue Beacon it takes 5 minutes. If there isn't one around I sweep the trailer myself. I seriously have a broom from 99c store and I sweep out all 53' of it. It looks great when I'm done and it only takes 15 minutes. I always find a time so that it doesn't get in the way. My last delivery spent 45 minutes preparing my bills so I just swept the trailer. Or if I arrive early ill just sweep it out real quick. Sometimes it's just too hard to find a trailer washout. Plus if its not a Blue Beacon they require a comcheck which takes out of your paycheck until you give them a receipt. So that's a smaller paycheck until the receipt gets to them. Sweeping trailer when you can't get a trailer washout is a win/win if you're not lazy.