On The Fence About Staying, Maybe Not For Me?

So while I like the driving itself, and don't mind traveling, I'm really feeling disenchanted with this whole TNT thing.

I feel like I'm just a body in the seat sometimes with my trainer, and I don't feel like I'm actually learning anything. Mostly, I just get sent to 'do' stuff I don't know how to do and then get embarrassed because receivers, etc are asking questions I should, but don't know the answers to. I don't feel like my trainer is doing any sort of job of training me. For example, for pad time before my test, I asked other trainers for help because I couldnt 'get it' with his technique. I spent till midnight with one, and then 7-11 the next morning with a different one.

For my road test, we took a pad truck out a few laps (because our truck is automatic) then the night before took it out one more time with a trailer. I had maybe 2 hours of shifting practice between psd and the few days at the pad.

I am confused about the logs (am I REALLY supposed to take my 32 minute break waiting in line at the receiver, fueling, while stuck in traffic?) is it really necessary to forbid bathroom stops because 'it waste's time?' During my shift it's not uncommon to have to wait 6-7 hours to use the restroom, and if I happen to miss the trainers break to use it, I'm looking at 12+ hours.

I guess I just feel like the general attitude is 'figure it out'. I feel like I'm set up for failure a lot because I don't know the answers to the questions I didn't know I was supposed to ask.

If I'm just being whiny, it is what it is and my expectations were not aligned with where they should have been. At this point though, I give it another week, maybe? I feel awful that I put so much on the line for this and it really just isn't working out.

At this point though, I give it another week, maybe? I feel awful that I put so much on the line for this and it really just isn't working out.

What do you mean it isn't working out? You're out there doing it. It is working out.

You've come this far so it's clear that you're capable of doing this. You certainly shouldn't quit now!

Those of us who have done this know exactly what you're going through and I'm telling you that you'd be crazy for quitting. Why would you work so long and so hard for something and get this close to reaching the good part and then quit? That's like running a marathon but quitting 3 miles from the finish line.

Maybe someday you'll decide trucking isn't for you, and that would be perfectly fine. But this is not that day. You have to find it within yourself to push through these tough times and make it through. You have to run solo for a few months at least and then see how you feel. Tons of people have said that the training phase was in fact the toughest time of their entire career. You don't have control of the truck, or the decision making process, or any alone time in your own space. Once you get through this and go out on your own, everything will change.

Where is Rainy at? We need her in on this. She had a gruelling time during training and she could certainly help.

To give something everything you've got but still come up short because you're simply not capable of doing it is still something to be proud of. But that's not the situation you're in. You're talking about quitting on yourself because it's hard, even though you have already proven you can do this. That would be a real shame. You really owe yourself more than that. You don't have to drive a truck the rest of your life, or even the rest of this year. But you can't quit now.

I have the word "Courage" tattooed across the top of my back because it takes a ton of courage to build a great life for yourself. Trucking is almost certainly not the culmination of your life, but it can be a powerful stepping stone to bigger and better things and it can be an amazing experience that helps shape your character and your perspective on life.

Hang in there and keep doing this one day at a time. Surely you can get through one more day? And tomorrow you'll be able to get through one more day again.

Buttercup, I completely agree with Brett. You will be doing yourself a huge favor by sticking it out.

I have complete empathy with you. I had a terrible trainer myself. There were several times I either wanted to burst into tears, or either slit his throat open! It was hard to determine which was the stronger desire.

It sounds like you ended up with a lease operator judging by your comments about wasting time to go to the bathroom. If you can hang in there I say that's best. If not, you can request a different trainer. Sometimes just being with a different trainer can make a world of difference.

We can certainly help you with understanding your logs, or you can work on it by following this link...

Learn The Logbook Rules (HOS)

Keep checking in with us and we will give you help, support, and encouragement. Trust me, we all went through the same roller coaster of emotions that you are experiencing. We understand.

When you are solo you will be able to stop when you want as long as you can make your delivery on time. You can't judge Trucking on the training part. My trainer was terrible! If I was forced to team drive with him for anything past the training time I would have refused. But solo driving is a whole different experience that I really enjoy.

You have to experience the solo driving part to truly judge if you like Trucking.

The best part of training is that it ends. I'll echo what the others have said in saying that training is usually the absolute worst experience in this career you will have. Shoving two strangers into a space smaller than some jail cells and hoping they get along for weeks at a time is asking a lot, getting a trainer to do a good job training can sometimes be asking a lot(especially if they're O/O as I agree it appears yours is). A lot of companies are pushing trainer recruitment, as they desperately need more, but unfortunately that gets more than just the special folks that can see things they've done a thousand times and realize they need to actually explain it, and instead gets a large number of people that look at it as just a pay bump.

If you're paying attention to what they're doing, you're going to pick things up whether you feel like you are or not. The vast majority of the learning happens right before, during, or right after the truck stops(customers, fuel, logging, etc), so be sure to pay attention during those times as most anyone can take a truck down a freeway without problems, picking up some of the truck-specific nuances along the way on their own.

But like I said, just keep in mind it does end. You almost certainly have picked up more than you feel like you have. You can do this, and the reward at the end is well worth the hell of training.

Man that reply from Brett gets you pumped up!

I could reiterate what has already been said, because it's all true. The training will end, and you will be more proud of yourself for sticking it out than you ever realized you would be. When you get handed the keys to your first solo truck, the feeling of accomplishment is almost overwhelming.

Everyone thinks about quitting during training. It is almost always more intense, more stressful, and more frustrating than anyone anticipated. But you will get through it. Just remember, when you are behind the wheel, you control that truck. Your trainer is not going to reach over and yank the wheel out of your hands while you're rolling down the road. So stick to your plan, and learn every lesson you can even when you're not being taught. You can make it!

Let the trainer know that you will literally **** your pants in their truck and that urine is going on the floor and possibly the seat. Let them know you are not kidding either. I had a trainer try to ignore my need to use the restroom. I looked him dead in the eye and told him I was going to pee right where I was sitting if I didn't get a bathroom stop. We didn't have that issue again. Mind you, we had been on the road for 6 hours and he wanted me to hold it for another 1.5 hours after I had already told him I needed to go 2 hours prior. I would have went through with it too if he had pushed me that far. You can get urinary tract infections from holding urine too long. You can permanently scar your kidneys if that urinary tract infection makes its way up to The kidneys and then you wake up with 104 degree temperature on deaths door requiring a doctor visit and strong antibiotics. Ahem, not that I would know anything about that...

As for trainers, good luck!

Technically you're on duty if being loaded, stuck in traffic etc...Do people log their breaks during this time? Absolutely they do. If I'm driving and nature calls, the truck stops and I'm going. Tell him/her it's either in the seat or in the toilet. Anytime they stop though try to make it a point to empty the bladder. Things that you have questions about ask if he doesn't want to or won't explain them ask other drivers or trainers. Post on here and ask but don't feel embarrassed because at some point every driver was at the point you are now. Don't let one bad experience take this away from you. You're really closer than you think and will soon reap the benefits of your accomplishment. Hang in there.

If you need to go, stop and have a bathroom break. If your trainer has an issue with normal stops every few hours, you need another trainer.

You have had some great advice. My $0.02. First communicate with your trainer. When you are driving, it's your butt, your life and your license in control. Once you feel the urge comming start looking for a rest stop to pull in quick to. Pull in, go off duty, take your keys and run in. When you're done, back in the truck and roll. Total time 10 to 15 minutes. Your choice. If you have to pull into a truck stop. Just pull through the fuel island and up to the yellow line. About 20 minutes from the time you pull off the interstate until you get back on. When at a shipper or receiver, go on duty loading for 15 minutes, then off duty. If it makes sence to take your 30 minute break there, so be it. In traffic, be careful about going off duty. If someone hits you while you are not moving and you're off duty at that time, guess what. When times are tuff remeber this training thing is only temporary, then it's 100% in your hands. You should have a little note book with all your load info written in. On the inside cover write, your truck number, trucks plate number and DOT number. Take that in with you every time you go into a shipper/receiver. That will have all the info you need. Your job right now is to figure it all out for yourself while you have someone there to answer your questions.

Please don't quit now. You have come to far. The rewards are wonderful. We are all here to help. Good luck.