Any OTR Trucking Companies Without Trainers?

I heard Watkins Shephard trucking does not have trainers. I understand they put you through an 8 week boot camp and hand you the keys to a truck.

Am I wrong?

I do not want a trainer and would rather learn to drive on my own. I am strong-headed and just prefer to learn on my own. I don't want to be put in a cab with a trainer for a 4-6 weeks. I will go nuts.

Anyone know about truck companies of not having trainers?

Hi TW, I start orientation with Watkins Shepard in Conover N.C. on April 14th. They have a 10 day training program that I hear is very intense. If you successfully complete the training they issue you a truck. I'll have more information when I get started.

T.W., I understand your concerns. But there are simply things you cannot learn on your own out there without the trainer.

I felt the same way. My youthful 21 year old arrogance was telling me that I didn't need a trainer. I chose my company primarily because their training session is the shortest from most other companies. But believe me when I tell you, if they handed me keys to a truck I would have killed someone or myself.

You learn how to do real world trip planning with a trainer, how to legalize yourself for specific states, and a whole list of things you don't know yet and won't know without the supervision of an experienced driver.

Its my honest opinion that it is just simply too dangerous to not require a student to go through a trainer. This is a job where a small mistake can kill. And if you're out on the road you can't afford to learn everything by mistakes.

Please don't take my tone wrongfully. I respect your question, I even thought the same for myself back when I was in your position. But spending time with a trainer is the best way to go. It really is. The average training session is only a month - mine was 3 1/2 weeks. Its not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things when you think about it and it'll benefit you tremendously.

I really hated being with a trainer and worst of all my trainer was terrible. But tell yourself that its only temporary and tackle it head-on.

But I highly discourage taking any other alternative.

Best of luck to you champ!

I was feeling the same way of thinking I don't need a trainer. I am ready to solo this! Then I got caught in an ice storm and was like, "please let me stay with you another week" to the trainer. I was with at the time.

I heard Watkins Shephard trucking does not have trainers. I understand they put you through an 8 week boot camp and hand you the keys to a truck.

Am I wrong?

I do not want a trainer and would rather learn to drive on my own. I am strong-headed and just prefer to learn on my own. I don't want to be put in a cab with a trainer for a 4-6 weeks. I will go nuts.

Anyone know about truck companies of not having trainers?

Like you, I am not thrilled about spending several weeks with a trainer. For me it's because the quarters are so close. That's quite a bit of time to spend with someone you don't really know all that well. However, I know that going with a trainer will be how I learn the ins and outs of driving a truck, and the goal is to become a professional driver with the skills and know how to be the best driver I can be. That's more important to me than a few possibly awkward weeks with someone I barely know. Personally, I'd be concerned about a company willing to turn over 80,000 lbs. without having someone who is experienced go with new drivers. However it works out for you, I wish you the best. Let us know how it goes. :)

There are some companies that don't have trainers, but they usually don't take students straight out of school. They are looking for drivers with one or two years experience.

Dave

I do not want a trainer and would rather learn to drive on my own. I don't want to be put in a cab with a trainer for a 4-6 weeks. I will go nuts.

You have no idea what you're talking about I'm afraid. Fortunately nobody in the industry is going to let you do that to yourself, and more importantly to the minivans full of children you'll be surrounded by all day, every day out there.

You really think you have what it takes to guess your way down a 12 mile long 8% grade on snowy roads in an 80,000 pound building on wheels without burning up the brakes or going off a cliff???

You really think you're just going to cruise into downtown Chicago during a massive thunderstorm at 7:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, negotiate your way through the maze of tight streets, low bridges, and restricted routes, and safely make it to your destination on time with no help and no experience?

There are places in this country I don't want to go even though I've already been there numerous times and I have 15 years of safe driving under my belt. But hey, if you think you have it in you....

I am strong-headed and just prefer to learn on my own.

That's the exact same quality a lot of people had that wound up with a one way bus ticket home after day 3 of their training.

Listen....I don't care what you've ever done, how smart you are, or how fiercely independent you may be. One of the most important things you have to know to be successful in this industry is your limitations. When you have consistently done something successfully at a high level you can tout your abilities to the world. Until you've parked that 70 foot long, 13.6 foot high, 80,000 pound building on wheels safely and successfully on the docks, time and time again, after negotiating snow storms, Chicago traffic, the Rocky Mountains, the desert heat, wind storms, and the endless stream of reckless drivers out there you haven't done anything. And I can promise you that the people responsible for training and hiring in this industry aren't going to give you the opportunity if you're not going to be humble and listen to the instructions of those who have been there.

The #1 reason people fail in this industry is because of false expectations. They think it's easier than it is. They think they know more than they do. They think they've "been there, done that" and don't need anyone's help. Anyone can learn to shift, steer, and back up a truck. No big deal. In fact, most people can learn to get pretty darn good at it too. But the turnover in this industry is 100% partly because a steady stream of people come into it with the wrong attitude and expectations.

If you want to get your career off to a successful start, approach it as you would the Army. Expect a lot of extreme ups and downs, listen to what you're being taught, do what you're told, and take it one day at a time. Don't make judgments, don't make assumptions. Just listen, learn, and have a great attitude. If you'll do that, you'll be fine. If you go into it with the attitude you have right now this industry will chew you up and spit you out. Myself and the other experienced drivers on here have watched this happen for many, many years. Don't let it happen to you.

Brett, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Dave

Don't see any one learning proper backing with out a trainer.

After that rant you got me feeling scared and wanting to go back to team driving again!