Four Traps That New Truck Drivers Fall Into - New Article By Old School
Topic 22216 | Page 1
"After you land a job you go out with a trainer. Why? Because you still don't have a clue yet."
This is what I'm looking forward to! Any new person (including myself) would be a complete fool to not take advantage of that knowledge that's sitting there.
Another reality check article to store in my memory.
Another treasure of sage advice from Old School.
You write quite well for an illiterate truck driver 😁
Should be the Tag Line for Trucking Truth:
"There is a wealth of really bad information on the internet when it comes to the trucking career, and unfortunately most of it comes from the folks who failed at trucking." - Old School
Another reality check article to store in my memory.
I just added this to the "Trucking Truth Folder" in my favorites. We only hire drivers with 2 years experience at our company, but I still get calls everyday from drivers who just got their CDL or are looking for a company that trains. I usually become a defacto career counselor, and even though we are a smaller company (>75 trucks), I sing the praises of the "Starter Companies". We don't have a training program here, along with about 400,000 other trucking companies. We DEPEND on those bigger places to take the time, risk and money to train our future drivers.
I always send them these articles: Truck Driver Salary - a Complete Guide Terminal Rats (& the Podcast) Biggest Misconceptions in Trucking What Causes People to Fail in Trucking What it Takes to Succeed in Trucking Making the Most Money out of Your CDL The Natural Progression of a Truck Driver's Career Driver is Not Getting His Miles - Ask a Good Driver Why And now: 4 Traps That New Drivers Fall Into
Thanks again guys! I can't find them a job with us yet, but I want as many good drivers out there as possible, so I make sure to take the time to point them in the right direction.
I usually end the call with "once you find your company - stay there! At LEAST 2-3 years. If you are still unhappy at that point, even after working hard and building up the company's trust, make sure you know where you are going, and don't burn that bridge.
IDK if I ever get through to anyone, but since I don't hear back from them...I'm taking that as a "hopefully" and not "they failed"...
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
It was supposed to look like this, sorry!
I always send them these articles:
Truck Driver Salary - a Complete Guide
Terminal Rats (& the Podcast)
Biggest Misconceptions in Trucking
What Causes People to Fail in Trucking
What it Takes to Succeed in Trucking
Making the Most Money out of Your CDL
The Natural Progression of a Truck Driver's Career
Driver is Not Getting His Miles - Ask a Good Driver Why
And now: 4 Traps That New Drivers Fall Into
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
"After you land a job you go out with a trainer. Why? Because you still don't have a clue yet."
This is what I'm looking forward to! Any new person (including myself) would be a complete fool to not take advantage of that knowledge that's sitting there.
I actually requested a 2nd round of training because, after the first trainer, I STILL didn't have a clue! After the 2nd trainer, I had at least some idea of what I was doing, but still, didn't really have a clue until I actually started really doing it on my own.
When you're forced to think for yourself and make your own decisions; that's when you learn the most.
"The training is designed to give those who easily give up the chance to bail out while they still have their sanity."
I went insane a looooonnnggg time ago so training didnt bother me.
Good going OS!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Great piece Old School.
Not a bad "add" to the "link bar" so we can quickly recall and attach to Newbie replies.
Required reading for anyone in school or about to start road training.
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We have another great article from Old School that talks about some common traps that new truck drivers fall into. These traps are topics we deal with every single day here in the forum, and they're myths we're constantly trying to dispel.
Personally I have to say it's heartbreaking to watch so many people fail early on in their trucking career simply because they were misled by poor advice from the wrong people. I hope anyone considering a career in trucking or new to this career will read Old School's advice and realize that you control your own destiny out there. We say it all the time - trucking is a performance-based career. The company you choose to work for isn't going to determine whether or not you're successful in this industry, your performance will.
Four Traps That New Truck Drivers Fall Into
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.