Once again, the debate of driver training has hit the surface after a certain truck was running 5 mph in a 75 mph zone while the trainer was fast asleep in the bunk. This resulted in the tragic death of a driver.
Some say there is no need for change and current conditions are fine. I beg to differ on this.
Trucking expert Tim Brady has suggested the following:
TruckersU.com My recommendation for restructuring Truck Driver Training. The first step to improving highway safety from the trucking side of the issue is: 6 months classroom and trucking course with at least 240 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
6 ...months with a qualified "licensed" driver trainer (5 years 500,000 miles driving experience with no accidents and no more than 3 points on their CDL DMV report plus completing a course and exam to be a "Licensed" Driver Trainer). The driver trainer must always be in the right seat awake, observing and instructing the trainee. Under no circumstances can a driver trainer be in the sleeper while the trainee is driving.
At the end of the six months with the driver trainer the apprentice trucker must be able to blind side back a truck to a dock in under 5 minutes plus other on the road and tight quarter skills and be accident and ticket free to get their CDL.
I agree on this aspect.
Far too many companies have ran drivers through what I consider a driver mill. Forcing new drivers in to lease trucks while they're barely making ends meet financially. They then dangle this trainer title in front of their face. They take it for the money, and run the training period like a team instead of actually training. The trainer has little to no experience to top it off.
I, myself, will admit I went through the school of hard knocks of driving. I also spent a few years riding shotgun as a lumper for a line haul driver before I began driving. I jumped at any chance I could get to practice backing at the agents, while keeping an eye and ear open so I could learn as much as I could. I was fortunate enough to have had veteran drivers take me in and give me the help and guidance needed to become a good driver. On the flip side, you can take a driver, put them through the best school and training company, and if they don't have an open minded approach, they will learn nothing.
I believe some are just not cut out to be a professional driver. I know this is a harsh reality. Yet, the same can be said about the trainers who are willing to have the patience and to take the extra time to properly train drivers. The trainee is not an extra log book, extra money, or a team driver.
I feel a driver who has respect for himself, his company, his truck, and this industry period, and who keeps an open mind should be some of the characteristics looked at when properly evaluating trainer material.
It takes devotion, dedication, open mindedness, and a gypsy soul to appreciate this lifestyle. This lifestyle is not for everyone.
Just like in the education field, we have some great trainers, some okay trainers, and some poor trainers who are training for the almighty dollar and not to educate.
While on this subject, I saw one trainer say that this would not be cost efficient. It would cost the companies more money for experienced trainers, cause less trainers, and cause a driver shortage. I say to this, how do put a price tag on the lives it would save? I would much rather see quality in driver training rather than quality. Safe practices would save the company a lot of money in the long run. When you figure wrecked equipment costs, cargo claims, the price of paying for the fatality; which is cheaper? The biggest issue is safer training practices cause safer roadways and people arriving alive, which is priceless.
Do I truly believe that we will ever find the solution to the driver training program? Probably not, but upping the standards of being a trainer and ending the practices of the six month or two year lease operator/purchaser from being a trainer is a damn good start. Stopping the process of operating a training truck as a team is a step in the right direction. Hold the big companies accountable for forcing trainers to run team (I'm sure the CEO would learn if facing manslaughter charges) would be a huge step in the right direction.
In summary, I believe, a good structured program and a well-qualified driver trainer with a student that has dedication and open mindedness to learn, we would have a better driver being trained out here.
I stand behind Tim Brady and Trucker's Voice in having people write and call Ray LaHood to get the training and schooling facilities regulated. I'm not for more regulations, but this is needed highly.
Ray LaHood
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
United we stand, divided we fall.
Some say there is no need for change and current conditions are fine. I beg to differ on this.
Trucking expert Tim Brady has suggested the following:
TruckersU.com My recommendation for restructuring Truck Driver Training. The first step to improving highway safety from the trucking side of the issue is: 6 months classroom and trucking course with at least 240 hours of behind the wheel instruction.
6 ...months with a qualified "licensed" driver trainer (5 years 500,000 miles driving experience with no accidents and no more than 3 points on their CDL DMV report plus completing a course and exam to be a "Licensed" Driver Trainer). The driver trainer must always be in the right seat awake, observing and instructing the trainee. Under no circumstances can a driver trainer be in the sleeper while the trainee is driving.
At the end of the six months with the driver trainer the apprentice trucker must be able to blind side back a truck to a dock in under 5 minutes plus other on the road and tight quarter skills and be accident and ticket free to get their CDL.
I agree on this aspect.
Far too many companies have ran drivers through what I consider a driver mill. Forcing new drivers in to lease trucks while they're barely making ends meet financially. They then dangle this trainer title in front of their face. They take it for the money, and run the training period like a team instead of actually training. The trainer has little to no experience to top it off.
I, myself, will admit I went through the school of hard knocks of driving. I also spent a few years riding shotgun as a lumper for a line haul driver before I began driving. I jumped at any chance I could get to practice backing at the agents, while keeping an eye and ear open so I could learn as much as I could. I was fortunate enough to have had veteran drivers take me in and give me the help and guidance needed to become a good driver. On the flip side, you can take a driver, put them through the best school and training company, and if they don't have an open minded approach, they will learn nothing.
I believe some are just not cut out to be a professional driver. I know this is a harsh reality. Yet, the same can be said about the trainers who are willing to have the patience and to take the extra time to properly train drivers. The trainee is not an extra log book, extra money, or a team driver.
I feel a driver who has respect for himself, his company, his truck, and this industry period, and who keeps an open mind should be some of the characteristics looked at when properly evaluating trainer material.
It takes devotion, dedication, open mindedness, and a gypsy soul to appreciate this lifestyle. This lifestyle is not for everyone.
Just like in the education field, we have some great trainers, some okay trainers, and some poor trainers who are training for the almighty dollar and not to educate.
While on this subject, I saw one trainer say that this would not be cost efficient. It would cost the companies more money for experienced trainers, cause less trainers, and cause a driver shortage. I say to this, how do put a price tag on the lives it would save? I would much rather see quality in driver training rather than quality. Safe practices would save the company a lot of money in the long run. When you figure wrecked equipment costs, cargo claims, the price of paying for the fatality; which is cheaper? The biggest issue is safer training practices cause safer roadways and people arriving alive, which is priceless.
Do I truly believe that we will ever find the solution to the driver training program? Probably not, but upping the standards of being a trainer and ending the practices of the six month or two year lease operator/purchaser from being a trainer is a damn good start. Stopping the process of operating a training truck as a team is a step in the right direction. Hold the big companies accountable for forcing trainers to run team (I'm sure the CEO would learn if facing manslaughter charges) would be a huge step in the right direction.
In summary, I believe, a good structured program and a well-qualified driver trainer with a student that has dedication and open mindedness to learn, we would have a better driver being trained out here.
I stand behind Tim Brady and Trucker's Voice in having people write and call Ray LaHood to get the training and schooling facilities regulated. I'm not for more regulations, but this is needed highly.
Ray LaHood
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
United we stand, divided we fall.
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