Team Driving During Training

As I continue to research company training programs, I have noticed that some programs require team driving during road training and others run just solo. My first thought is that the solo training would be the best? Is there training value in running team during training or is it just to maximize company profits?

As I continue to research company training programs, I have noticed that some programs require team driving during road training and others run just solo. My first thought is that the solo training would be the best? Is there training value in running team during training or is it just to maximize company profits?

I'm at Celadon. Here they have you do 10,000 training miles. The first 5,000 you run as solo while your trainer trains, the second 5,000 the truck is ran as a team operation. As to why I can't say, but since I'll be teaming for about 6 months after that, I'm glad for a sneak preview.

Is there training value in running team during training or is it just to maximize company profits?

Dave, there is definite value in running as a team while training. The way most of these companies do this is to run for two weeks as a solo truck, this way you are driving but your mentor is right there watching and giving you tips along the way. After that they will run two weeks as a team. What this does is it gives you (the rookie driver) a chance to experience what it is like to be running his own truck with his own decisions, but you have the advantage of having your mentor right there in the sleeper only one desperate plea for help away from you. It may surprise you how often you will need to wake them up, and then you will realize the value of running as a team during that time

There really are so many things to get a grip on during that training time, but the most vital thing is to get your combination of confidence and competence up to some level that will allow you to perform on your own out there. That time period of running as a team can do wonders for that or it may very well indicate to the trainer that you are not ready for the big time just yet. There is almost always a method behind the seeming madness of this whole training thing. It's not just set up so the company can make more money off of you. They are trying to make a competent rookie driver out of you, in the end that is what will be most profitable to them.

Old School has the full explanation. Even when your CDL card is still warm from the laminator, you are not ready to go hook up a load and deliver/back in across the street. A mentor or instructor is exactly that: someone to help a wet-behind-the-ears newbie get polished up in his/her new job.

As for company profits, I joked with my mentor, saying I was his "slave labor" since the company was paying me, but I drove miles for him. The company profits include having good drivers on the road. In training, they are investing (spending money) in you, because they'd rather have good drivers on the road than have drivers who can't back into a dock without running into the trailer next to them.

Is there training value in running team during training or is it just to maximize company profits?

Dave, there is definite value in running as a team while training. The way most of these companies do this is to run for two weeks as a solo truck, this way you are driving but your mentor is right there watching and giving you tips along the way. After that they will run two weeks as a team. What this does is it gives you (the rookie driver) a chance to experience what it is like to be running his own truck with his own decisions, but you have the advantage of having your mentor right there in the sleeper only one desperate plea for help away from you. It may surprise you how often you will need to wake them up, and then you will realize the value of running as a team during that time

There really are so many things to get a grip on during that training time, but the most vital thing is to get your combination of confidence and competence up to some level that will allow you to perform on your own out there. That time period of running as a team can do wonders for that or it may very well indicate to the trainer that you are not ready for the big time just yet. There is almost always a method behind the seeming madness of this whole training thing. It's not just set up so the company can make more money off of you. They are trying to make a competent rookie driver out of you, in the end that is what will be most profitable to them.

Old School, the way you explained the value of team training makes allot of sense...I hadn't thought of it that way. I read that Crete Carrier only drives solo during their training and it seemed to be a source of pride for them...that it what raised my question.

Old School has the full explanation. Even when your CDL card is still warm from the laminator, you are not ready to go hook up a load and deliver/back in across the street. A mentor or instructor is exactly that: someone to help a wet-behind-the-ears newbie get polished up in his/her new job.

As for company profits, I joked with my mentor, saying I was his "slave labor" since the company was paying me, but I drove miles for him. The company profits include having good drivers on the road. In training, they are investing (spending money) in you, because they'd rather have good drivers on the road than have drivers who can't back into a dock without running into the trailer next to them.

Thanks for the response Errol. Swift is one of the companies I'm interested in.

Is there training value in running team during training or is it just to maximize company profits?

Dave, there is definite value in running as a team while training. The way most of these companies do this is to run for two weeks as a solo truck, this way you are driving but your mentor is right there watching and giving you tips along the way. After that they will run two weeks as a team. What this does is it gives you (the rookie driver) a chance to experience what it is like to be running his own truck with his own decisions, but you have the advantage of having your mentor right there in the sleeper only one desperate plea for help away from you. It may surprise you how often you will need to wake them up, and then you will realize the value of running as a team during that time

There really are so many things to get a grip on during that training time, but the most vital thing is to get your combination of confidence and competence up to some level that will allow you to perform on your own out there. That time period of running as a team can do wonders for that or it may very well indicate to the trainer that you are not ready for the big time just yet. There is almost always a method behind the seeming madness of this whole training thing. It's not just set up so the company can make more money off of you. They are trying to make a competent rookie driver out of you, in the end that is what will be most profitable to them.

Old School, thanks again for your solid guidance regarding the value of team training. I'm sure you are busy and I appreciate your time!