I Got "let Go" From My New Paving Job For Doing A Pre Trip...

So I was in training as a Paver driver, my first job as a driver. I was hella happy and REALLY looking forward to learning all of the skills needed to do the job. This company has many different types of trucks, and I was looking forward to learning how to drive them all.

After 2 days of free driving, I felt I was ready to go out on my own. My boss told me to take a truck out and go free driving again, and when I got back, I would start my transfer training.

I got the key from the conex, went, and did a pre-trip. Then, during my pre-trip, my parking brake light was blinking at me. I didn't understand this code, so I went to ask him about it. Short answer: The passenger door was slightly open. He gets upset when I tell him I forgot to check the hydraulic fluid, and tells me pre-trips are NOT practical in the REAL WORLD of trucking because I would never get any work done if I do a pre-trip every day. I am new, and I thought he wanted this done.

I did my free driving, and I felt bad for making a mistake. SO I apologized to him for making that mistake and said I would do better.

He let me go, saying I didn't have enough "real-world experience" when he knew I was fresh out of trucking school.

Now, I am really confused... and kinda ****ed up mentally, as I dont know what I ACTUALLY did to deserve to be let go... he said after a year "check back in with me, after you get some real world experience." When I pushed, he said "it was a gut feeling he had that I wouldn't be a good fit", and "it was personal." Which I didn't understand at all.

I thought I was SUPPOSED to do a pre-trip on the trucks I drive... a pre- and post-trip ... to make sure it's safe... but clearly NOT.

So, are there other things that "are NOT practical in the REAL WORLD of trucking?" As I don't want to go through this again... I was so excited about the possibilities of trucking and all the things I would learn... but idk...

There is alot here for sure. The nature of the trucking industry varies greatly.

The job you had is a high demand job. Those trucks have to be onsite when needed. They are often fast paced because of that demand. That is why the owner decided to get someone more experienced. Also that was why he left the door open in a year or so for you to try again.

His real world statement isn’t all that suprising to me. There are tons of variable scenarios too that. Maybe he has mechanics that stay on top of those trucks every week while they are parked on the weekend. If so he just expects drivers to do a quick walk around too make sure nothing is obvious and roll.

You were not wrong for doing a pretrip at all. Espically being brand new and new to that equipment.

I drive the same truck everyday. I know this thing inside and out. Do I do a by the book pretrip everyday. No. I have a routine. I always check things over, but not by the book. It takes about the amount of time it takes for me to drink my first cup of coffee. When I’m off I do a very indepth inspection at the house. But that is with me having the same truck for many years. My trailers I do the same with. But I only have 2 and I’ve had them a long time.

Apply everywhere and stick with it and someone will give you a real shot.

Bummer. As PJ said, there are a lot of dynamics in the real world. A great many of us may not do a pre and post trip exactly by the book, but we have our routines that we do. Just as PJ, coming back from hometime, I do a very thorough pre trip. I also, do a solid post trip and make a list of anything I want to get while I'm out.

Your recent experience highlights why we suggest going OTR to start at one of the larger companies that train. You get the time to develop habits and experience the real world in manageable chunks. They are also far more tolerant of hiccups and mistakes.