During a training program, what type of truck driving will I be doing with a mentor?
 

Sleeper, dedicated, regional, etc? With the mentor, will I get the same free time as I would driving solo?

depends on your trainer and what company you are working for driver

a pos

The general idea behind training is to get you into the swing of doing the job on your own. Managing time is one of the things. Even driving solo, actual free time can get to be a luxury. But, training should be geared to your logbook and your hours. First, you are told how to do it safely and legally, then you get hints and suggestions to improve your performance as a driver, and finally, you are observed to make sure you learned all you can.

I'm guessing your question came up because of the other thread where training became an issue. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it's the company, and your trainer that will determine your free time. For that reason, it would be very much to your own benefit to research the company and find out what they allow and don't allow during training.

That being said, it does not mean you get to do the trainer's laundry, while the trainer sleeps or sits in the driver's lounge. Yes, I've heard of that too.

What to expect.....

Expect to start out driving maybe 1-3 hours a day for a few days. By the end of the week, you should be getting closer to 5-6, and by the end of the 2nd week, be driving your full 11 hours. How much training will you get? It really all depends on the quality of mentor you get.

Me, for example, my first mentor had me on the truck for 14 days. He was home 4 times for 6 days, and i only received 8 paid training days, and only two backs. I used the QualComm, but not nearly enough. First mentor loved to pass the blame. We had a load from missouri to CA, and because i had gone 4 days without a shower or 10 days without laundry, i needed to do both. I asked to get off his truck at the terminal (a terminal he would pass heade to CA anyways), and he agreed. He then blamed me for losing the load because when i got off the truck, they pulled the load. (that wasnt the case). I got a new mentor in 48 hours, and it was totally different. First mentor was strictly 'over the road'. 2nd mentor was running Wal-Mart dedicated. Both were O/Os. I had 6 backs by the end of the first day driving with him. I had used the QualComm 5x as much by the end of that same day as i did with previous mentor.

You should be being taught the things needed to support the driver, logbook, q-comm, BOL paperwork, turning in your logs to get paid, etc., all the while driving the truck for a few hours here and there. By mid-week, you should be slowly doing it all on your own. Driving, route planning, paperwork, etc. By the start of the last week or two, you should be totally operating the truck on your own, as if it were your own. By this time, as long as your mentor feels comfortable with your skill, you will pretty much be running the truck as a team. You drive while he sleeps, and you sleep when he drives. The truck almost never stops.

NOW, if you feel you are not getting the proper training you WANT or NEED, it is your job to go to your DM and request a new mentor. They have got to give you one, provided you give them a good enough excuse as to why you're requesting a new one. It is about being taught the right way, it is not being a gopher for your mentor. You dont buy him a thing, you don't do his laundry, you aren't his little bitch. But you also have to stand up for yourself, and speak up.

If going with swift expect to get a trainer with less than 4 seasons uder his belt who does'nt drive unless the sun is shining and the roads and weather are beautifull ...and does not know how to chain.

When I trained I firmly stated my laundry to be done every Sunday without fail ...And above all else my students are to sit when they pee I don't wanna catch-em standing when they pee ...

If going to take any advice from anybody on here, are you going to listen to someone who just LOVES to be a hater, rather than be open minded? Both my mentors had been driving for 5+ years. And NEITHER were solar drivers.

Man, i bet you get a hard on, being a dick.

Ever consider there might be a few on here actually interested in the exchange of information, rather than just being stupid? I bet you'd be on of those drivers who'd jump on the CB to help someone back, being an 'eye' from across the lot, and back him/her into another truck, just for a laugh. Or screwing with someone's 5th wheel or air-lines. I hope i'm coming out from the fuel desk and catch someone f--kin with my truck. i'll first get a picture of it with my cell, and THEN ill Judge Wapper their azz....THEN i'll turn in their truck and trailer into their company.

Nah no spotting swift anymore... last time I helped a swift mentor back I told him to get under the trailer ,and then he blamed me for his crushed foot after he jumped out the cab forgetting to set his breaks and got under the trailer only to get his foot run over.

Not only did you help a swift driver back, you helped a swift MENTOR back......ok.....and i helped a CPA with his taxes last year.

And I helped a swift driver straighten out and remove the yellow paint from his volvo's bumper last year...while he was parked on top of a CPA and his car .

like i said.....easier to be a dick than someone who actually cares about his profession.


Robert, you can clearly see who will help you here, and who just wants to blow smoke.

Can you even confidently pull through park a bobtail and get it straight between the yellow lines yet ?

Have you EVER seen me drive a truck? Since you have not, do not question my abilities. If i can pull thru a fuel island, i know i can park a truck, bobtail or not.

Answer me this, when is the safest time to back? (hint, there is only one right answer)

and if you cannot answer this correctly, i am thru responding to your idiotic lame ass posts.

Oh... let me try........

Is it... is it... is it when it is in reverse????

(Ok... I know I am a smart :moon: but I thought I would try to lighten things up a little :))

That was cute.....WRONG.....but cute. =)

for you when lot is empty ,and you have fully checked to make sure the lot is empty ...

Hopefully your so called " Mentor / Trainer " will not get you killed or injured due to their ineptness. You will also make the " Mentor/Trainer" all the money, whilst you are lucky enough to scrape a dollar together to buy Top Ramen noodles.....

Bunch of comedians on here, That is why I keep my cb off these days. Now that these guys don't have babysitters they can be smartasses!

That and a poorly tuned cobra 25/29 or 149 gtl was not enough to speak when men were talk-n on real radios ...

Wrong guy, I have a 2yr exp 01/14/08 and an older 2yr from Werner that expires 08/15/09 and probably am in better shape than you...

Ok, I just was reading some of your other post. What made you think I was referring to you as a smartass anyways?

Is someone reading the posts to you ?...I inquire b/c your replies have questions/
accusation about content never in my posts .

I see it now, It was one you posted to. Well anyways sorry for the mixup. So go on and continue.

there fixed it now. now lets let this post get back on topic.

You know even at the brewery Swift's reputation preceedes them...for example the warehouse workers who load the trucks constantly remark on swift follies,and these are guys who don't go to truck stops or have any experience beyond what they see at the plant personally ...And almost every major carrier is constantly pulling out of here CR, Schneider ,Crete, May,Cental. CFI/CONWAY..the list goes on ,but only Swift rolls off their tongues...Why ? LOL

Oh really? well i was down at that bar on the corner from your house, and all the women, even the fat ones (oh and a couple guys) were all laughing about how tiny a penis you had, and how BIG you had to make your tiny Jeep because you were preoccupied with SIZE all the time.


Dont worry, Buckshot, his single mom will be back home soon, and will again police where he goes on the internet. Just bare with him for a few more days.

Oh...jeep....still cant answer that question CORRECTLY i posed to you earlier in the day? Safest time to back?? ........mmmmm....didnt think so.

what a shame......oh the humanity......

That's funny, Better watch it though, talk about him like that and he will try to get you banned. Gotta remember, I don't think this is a two way street. If you have over 1,000 post you can treat others like $hit. If not we have to watch ourselves.

The bar down the street from me is a gay bar ,and they always talk shit about the straight folk in town...Now just why were you in there talking about mens dicks ?

wll they aint on ch 19 in md, i can barely get a response on a radio check.

Well, I would'nt know...Like I said I keep my radio off. Besides that is being a smartass not to give someone a radio check. When I do ask for on it is always a stupid comment or like you said, nothing at all.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I really don't know the answer to your question but if it's safe, but not the safest time, would you recomend backing in anyway or waiting for the safest time? I ask because I hook and break 4 sets of doubles and back around 10 times a night (yes in the dark) so I'm curious if I'm taking unnecessary risks. :confused::confused::confused: Please share with us all you can about your backing experiences. We learn something new everyday.

Admt it Snowman...your just being facetious! So...Go ahead....give the Rookie a hard time! It'll be good for you!

Well since tiny jeep 11s knows all this time he is just pretending to be a truck driver, because not one post i've seen recently has lent anybody any good information, ill give you the answer.

The best time to back? Answer? NEVER. It is NEVER a good time to back. Backing is the most time when drivers hit things.

Now what you'll hear i bet, is that how swift drivers cant back, and this is your typical responce or mindset for someone who cannot back. HARDLY the case. If a driver tell you to your face, if they see spots open in a truck stop where you can pull thru, you arent a true trucker unless you can whip the truck in front, and slam that truck in that spot backing up. That is a stupid trucker. When you have 3-4 spots you can 'pull thru'? and you choose to back it in? No....that is a 'super trucker'. It is those same guys who go 70-75mph on the interstate, then wonder why a friend of theirs going 63-65mph makes $1000 more a month than they do.

Who me? LOL! Just watching and learning!:popcorn:

snowman..lets be honest here. we all know that you got some union flunky to hook and break your sets. hey, i been wondering. where do you drive to and from and what times? been wondering if i ever pass you going 70-75 mph and can;t figure out why you make 1000 more a week than i do...haha.

I am that union flunky! We're not like Yellow. We hook our own sets.

I'll pm you on the rest of the boring details.

Wait... Backing is never good?? HEY!! HOW AM I GOING TO PUT MY TRAILER IN THE DOCK KEV??

Kev again your insight is awesome.. please man don't leave us again..