Am I rude? Overly idealistic? Form your own opinion but do not fail to notice that there are a great many people out there who claim to know a lot about trucking -- and who proceed to advise others -- yet they have never done it themselves. I find this scary.
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I started this whole exchange with this email:
----- Original Message ----- From: Newbiedriver Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 Subject: I Cannot Believe This...
No disrespect intended, but do you know just how bad this sounds: "Companies hire from schools with 3 or 4 week programs...why train longer than necessary?" Sorry, just had to say it. Just because companies hire from them doesn't mean they are worth anything.
-----Original Message----- From: mbonds@infoporium.com Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 To: Newbiedriver Subject: Re: I Cannot Believe This...
I was a truck driver recruiter for 5 years and I know for a fact that those 12-16 week programs are unnecessarily long. And I know that while companies will tolerate some less than perfect training, they will not keep hiring from schools that don't do their jobs. 4 weeks is probably the average for training.
----- Original Message ----- From: Newbiedriver Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 Subject: RE: I Cannot Believe This...
12-16 weeks is at the far end of the spectrum. There is a hell of a difference between 16 weeks and 4 weeks. Give me a break... There can't even be a comparison. You have been a recruiter. Have you been a driver?
<<"And I know that while companies will tolerate some less than perfect training, they will not keep hiring from schools that don't do their jobs.">> OH YES THEY WILL. Look at Prime. Check them out in Safersys and A1...
Because 4 weeks is the average does not mean it should be the average. This industry has enough problems without people buying into things simply because they have thus far been acceptable. I have no mind to begin some email discussion on the merits of 4 week programs... I simply want to bring issues to the attention of people so that they might be changed in the future. I hate to see trainees given bad advice and I hate to see it when people steer them towards it.
http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/CDLMills.htm
-----Original Message----- From: mbonds@infoporium.com Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 To: Newbiedriver Subject: Re: I Cannot Believe This...
No, just a recruiter. But I know that many of the schools, including the shorter ones, use the state DMV to test. That helps prevent the 'rubber stamping' of CDL's. Your reaction is the only one I have had in about 4-5 years of having the site up. That's why I wrote back.
----- Original Message ----- From: Newbiedriver Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 Subject: RE: I Cannot Believe This...
No offense... but wow, aren't you paying attention? What is it like to live in a cave?
Why do you feel comfortable advising people if you've never been a driver, nor been through a school? Rubber stamping of CDL's is a major problem in the industry. Third party testers, corrupt DOT officials, it is all over!!!
That's too bad that I am the only one to react to the information in 4-5 years... That is probably for the same reason I put up my website. No one else gave enough of a damn to do anything. Call me a woman on a mission, or whatever else you would like, but I urge you to take a stronger look at the carriers you may associate yourself with and how you could be playing into the whole sad, ugly game.
I found good info on your site as well so it really is too bad that the only reference I am currently making to your site from mine is on the CDL Mill article page... I'm sure we won't be friends when and if you read that, but I believe in what I am doing and will continue. Heck, this email correspondence might not be a bad basis for a future article.
----- Original Message ----- From: mbonds@infoporium.com Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 To: Newbiedriver Subject: Re: I Cannot Believe This...
Well, we will agree to disagree on this issue. But since the ATA has used material from the site, I feel pretty secure in what I am present folks. If there were no post-school training from the companies your comments would be on the mark. But since there is, a program longer than 4 weeks is making more of a professional student than a driver. Have a good weekend.
I believe this person to be blind and ignorant (in the true sense of the word) about the issue, yet he feels comfortable in a position to advise others. He is not the only one out there like this!!!!! Be careful what you believe! Although I try to be accurate and honest, I encourage you to double check everything - even this web site - to get the best information that you possibly can.
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