Company Driver Orientation And Training
Topic 27956 | Page 1
There's no right answer to that. It's just the way these companies choose run their operation. If you've passed the CDL exam you've demonstrated that you know the basics to operate that vehicle. Regardless of how much training you have most of your learning is going to happen your first couple weeks solo. It's expensive to train a new driver and that may factor in why they train the way they do.
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.
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.
I'll just add to what Rob said. There's no sure fire method that works for training. There's a great deal of variables in how people learn. Schneider has one of the quickest training programs yet it seems to be very effective. Prime takes months to complete and it's also effective.
So, it may just boil down to your own perspective. Some folks don't want to spend months with a trainer while others consider it as something they feel they need. I can assure you that no company will turn you loose until they feel some level of competence has been demonstrated. Many of them will spend a little extra time on someone who is showing promise, but still needs a little more polish.
We all learn a great deal just by exposure. Trucking is best learned by doing it. The variables in weather, traffic, detours, and parking/docking scenarios are endless. Your first year is one giant learning curve. Most of us felt woefully inadequate when we were issued our first solo truck. After that first year we began to think, "Hey, I think I might be able to make a go of this!" During that first year we had a healthy dose of reality and doubt.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
Gentlemen (Rob & Old Sch) thank you very much for your perspective. I really appreciate your input.
I'm starting orientation next week. I left out a 2 month cdl driver position on my work history. My DAC is clean and I have no criminal history. Will they still find out that I did not report this?
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
Yes they will find out... and you also lied on your application which asks for ALL driving jobs over the last 10 years. The lying part is often worse than whatever mistakes you made as a new driver. If they cannot trust you.... why would they keep you?
Not a good idea.
Why did you think it wise to leave it out?
I'm starting orientation next week. I left out a 2 month cdl driver position on my work history. My DAC is clean and I have no criminal history. Will they still find out that I did not report this?
Was this the same time period when you had a preventable accident at USA?
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
My training time is about 2 weeks. I have to secure a lumber, a steel coil, and an aluminum bar load. After I do the three loads and prove I can handle the truck I'll get my own tuck. So far I've done the lumber and steel coil loads and drove the mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee. I'm hoping to get the aluminum bar load done next week so I can get out of the trainer truck.
Yes it was, but months later I checked my DAC history and nothing was shown. I tried to stick it out with CR England but with the combination of bad pay, bad company and with the world's fattest, smelliest lazy and dumbest co driver. I could not take it. I was able to get 6 months experience out of the way.
I'm starting orientation next week. I left out a 2 month cdl driver position on my work history. My DAC is clean and I have no criminal history. Will they still find out that I did not report this?
Was this the same time period when you had a preventable accident at USA?
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
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I've noticed there is a considerable variation in the type and duration of driver training offered by different companies. Some (for example Swift/Knight) offer a couple of days of orientation followed by sending you on the road with a trainer for anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months. Others (for example Schneider) do 3 weeks, first two weeks in-class and yard training then only one week on the road with a trainer. My question, therefore is this: how can one company let a driver loose after only one week while another requires 4-12 weeks? Is one doing too little training, or is the other doing too much?
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.