On the Job Training for Truck Drivers
On-the-job training, for both old and new drivers, provides the knowledge to deal with the many situations that arise in their profession. Extensive training is needed in order to prevent accidents. The more training a driver receives, the safer they will generally perform. Trainers provide drivers with the necessary tools to enable safe driving careers.
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Purpose
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The purpose of on-the-job training is to equip truck drivers with the ability to drive large vehicles safely. This includes backing the vehicle, driving at higher speeds, vehicle maintenance and knowledge of how long it takes to stop their vehicle. Some drivers learn to back a truck within a short time period; however, others need weeks to master the different backing techniques. Companies that hire new drivers have trainers. These trainers instruct new drivers for a period of time to make sure they are proficient enough to handle driving on their own.
Significance
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Companies who focus on safety earn more money in the long run, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They don't lose necessary cash when their drivers drive safe. If a truck driver gets into a major accident, it can cost the company a huge amount of funds due to raised insurance premiums, attorney fees and more. The company's image will suffer if they have a record of driver accidents.
Continuous safety training for drivers is one thing a company can do to improve on-the-road relations. Some companies have safety meetings at different times during the year in order to keep their drivers up to date on new standards.
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Companies
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Certain companies such as Star Transportation and CRST Van Expedited offer training for new drivers. They also have tuition reimbursement that, after a certain amount of time, pays off the cost of attending school. Drivers must receive training in order to get hired by a company. At the end of the training period, they will receive their Commercial Vehicle Driver's License (CDL). The license is an indicator that the driver knows the basic steps it takes to operate a commercial vehicle. Once hired, they go out with a trainer whose job is to help the new employee polish what they learned during school.
Benefits
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There are numerous reasons why training is important. Drivers will learn, both in school and while driving with a trainer, that they have to take scheduled breaks and maintain logs of how their time is spent. They enter their information in what is most commonly known as a "log book" in the truck driving industry. Drivers can drive for 11 solid hours. After the 11 hours, they must stay off duty for 10 hours straight. Drivers can't work past 14 hours, including time spent loading and unloading their freight. The Department of Transportation enforces this particular rule to prevent accidents due to fatigue.
Considerations
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While drivers are out with a trainer, they typically earn less than those who have finished training. At Star Transportation, for example, drivers bring home 13 cents per mile. This amount averages out to $195 per week if the driver drives 1,500 miles. Training lasts from four to six weeks. After a driver has completed training, their earnings go up to around 30 cents per mile. Most of the recurring safety training is held at a company's home terminal, though there are times when a driver can watch videos during downtime.
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References
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- Photo Credit trucks on highway image by palms from Fotolia.com
