Welp... What The Hell

So my training is only 14 days long right?

Now after this I gotta pass a backing test (45 degree backing) and then a road test.

It's so stupid. All I do is drive these stupid loads to their stupid places. We never actually get time to practice because I'm literally running my hours down to minutes every day! And the loads are paced stupid fast so it's not like (God forbid get a chance to eat anything)

And the instructor is like "i showed you how to do it".. like wtf. Sure lemme just pull that outta my ass and just do it.

Am I just retarded? And theres so much **** I still dont know.

But I'm supposed to be in my own truck in a few weeks? Is this normal?

This **** is such a joke.

Lukas, the biggest thing that kills new rookie's truck driving aspirations is their false expectations. Every time we hear from you I think that you are on the verge of quitting, and every time it is over your expectations. An extremely high percentage of new drivers quit during their first three months. Why is that? That is the steepest learning curve of your trucking career.

It's so stupid. All I do is drive these stupid loads to their stupid places. We never actually get time to practice because I'm literally running my hours down to minutes every day!

That means you are practicing all day everyday. That is the way you have to approach this. You are doing on the job training, and there is a lot you can be learning each day. I've been out here for many years, and I am still learning everyday. You are going to get yourself into some really crazy situations as a rookie driver. I’ve talked with a lot of people who’ve done this, and we all know how it’s going to play out. This is when reality starts dawning on us. Feeling as though we’ve been abandoned, we are suddenly tasked with handling these responsibilities all alone. You are on your own then. There's only so much that can be done for you in training. It’s showtime now, and the spotlight is on you. It’s time to put up or shut up. The performance has begun!

There are ten thousand different scenarios you will get yourself into out here. There is no way this can all be covered in training. The training is designed to give you a chance to bail early. Those who give up easily can do so in training while still maintaining their sanity. Those who make the choice to endure, and avoid believing “this is no way to teach someone to drive a truck,” are the ones who eventually get exposed to all the little nuances that contribute to their success as a new driver.

Can you survive your first three months? Yes you can! Many have done it before you. There’s absolutely no reason you can’t make this work. Be prepared for a multitude of challenges. When you first go solo, you will entertain thoughts of quitting with each new difficulty. There were a few times during my first three months when I would have given anything to have my stupid trainer back with me. It was that trying. I was green and confused, and you will be too. Your lack of confidence is going to strike you like a serpent at times. There will be days you feel so clumsy and stupid it will be nothing short of embarrassing. Get over it. You are a rookie!

The only thing I see that you have going for you is grit. It seems like you have some of that, and it may be the very thing that keeps you in the game. Hang tight brother - you can do this!

It's funny and somewhat telling that you find literally every part of this job to be stupid yet there you are, still in the truck doing stupid stuff, driving stupid loads for stupid people, ranting stupidly and I mean a stupid amount of ranting, still finding everyone and everything to be stupid and doing all of this while being stupid hungry. That's so stupid. And then theres the stupid backing and stupid road test after all that. How stupid they are for wanting you to prove to them that you're not stupid prior to handing you the keys to a $150,000 truck...so stupid. See how you sound man? Knock it off, man up and do what you have to do or freaking quit. I have a feeling this is not the job for you. I know we are here to encourage newbies and help them out but damn man, its always the same from you. Theres an old saying, when you keep having trouble with everyone else and every situation is bad, chances are its not everyone and everything else...it's you. You need to do some serious soul searching and decide if this is the career for you. You're on the hook for school anyways so why be miserable the entire time you do it. At the very least change your attitude and personality...yours stinks. Just imagine a new trainee being stuck on the truck with you for 2-3 weeks of training....pure hell.

My training was only two weeks as well. Normally its 3 to 4 depending on the company, some longer. Now on my 5th week solo. Settle down. Its not the end of the world. Youll get plenty of time to practice backing when youre solo. Just dont hit anything in the meantime. Some days you will be the best damn parking guru on the planet. Other days you wont even be able to pull forward into a spot thats 40 feet wide and no one next to you without making it a 3 ring circus and have 15 pull ups.

Ton of resources here. You sound young by the things that you write and the way your write them. Not chastising you, just saying things will be just fine if you calm down and let them.

Lukas, I think you post when you're tired and stressed. That is the time to relax and sleep. Just get through the training and move to the next step. It will get easier.

Each company trains a little different. You chose the company with the fastest pace and with many levels to go through.

Good luck.

Training sucks, youre first few weeks after you upgrade will be a living hell, youre first few months will after that will suck but it gets better if you just stick with it. I know things are overwhelming at first I never got to learn how to back a 53 foot trailer before I upgraded my trainer only let me back a few times in to easy spots so I was terrified of backing and I'm still not great at it. It seems like you need to slow down and change you're attitude, if I did it you can do it.

Training sucks, youre first few weeks after you upgrade will be a living hell, youre first few months will after that will suck but it gets better if you just stick with it. I know things are overwhelming at first I never got to learn how to back a 53 foot trailer before I upgraded my trainer only let me back a few times in to easy spots so I was terrified of backing and I'm still not great at it. It seems like you need to slow down and change you're attitude, if I did it you can do it.

Great advice, Zach; especially from you, who's been there!

Good shout out, man.

Hope all is well with YOU!

~ Anne ~

Don’t feel bad Lukas, I’m stupid too. So stupid that I’ve bought a new house, a couple cars, winter toys, things that go bang, have great health insurance, retirement and take home 80k a year after taxes. That’s how stupid it is.

As a few have mentioned, relax. The learning curve is intense and it’s meant to wash out those who can’t cut it. If you think training is tough, wait until you’re expected to do this all on your own, efficiently and without anyone holding your hand.

Training sucks, youre first few weeks after you upgrade will be a living hell, youre first few months will after that will suck but it gets better if you just stick with it. I know things are overwhelming at first I never got to learn how to back a 53 foot trailer before I upgraded my trainer only let me back a few times in to easy spots so I was terrified of backing and I'm still not great at it. It seems like you need to slow down and change you're attitude, if I did it you can do it.

Good to hear from you. Hope all is well at the new gig.

Guess what.... Prime has one of the longest training programs and even after 6 months in a trainers truck I in hear the same fears and frustrations when they upgrade. However, I stress things on training others dont so my students deal with less aggravation when solo buy they still have too make those decisions on their own and hope they are right.

Good luck