Making New Drivers comfortable
Posted by ForgottonTNT@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I decided to become a CDL instructor and examiner for my company's sponsored CDL program. I train a variety of people: complete beginners on 40- to 62-foot buses (Class B passengers), and mechanics on heavy wreckers (Class A no restrictions )who just need their license to move vehicles around the city.
I’ve been having great success with most of my students, but I struggle with one specific issue: dealing with people who are genuinely afraid of driving. It's hard for me to relate because I never experienced that fear when I first started behind the wheel. For those of you who were terrified of driving at first, what strategies helped you get over it?
humpthedog@reddit
Tell them to get out. They have no business as professionals.
MountainGoat1017@reddit
Scared of trucks and scared of driving can be different. It’s understandable that a truck is intimidating. You’ll respect it. Learning brings confidence and you’ll become more comfortable as time goes on. But scared of driving is potentially a red flag to not drive CDL. You’ll miss things easily if you’re always nervous. And being scared means you’ll probably panic in an emergency situation instead of calculating options. That might be, as someone else said here, a tough conversation about the career choices they’ve made.
mrmeanah@reddit
I went to this school in Massachusetts called North East technical institute. The instructors were such assholes. That was 20 years ago and I tend to think it was some military boot camp style training but I hated it. Nothing like driving on the tobin, being screamed at to switch lanes and go faster..... Good for you if your being patient. I imagine that's a scary job lol .
Maleficent-Yam-5196@reddit
Ok my opinion is that if someone is afraid of driving has no business driving a commercial vehicle. Sometimes that’s a conversation you might need to have with the individual and find out WHY they are pursuing a CDL in the first place. I became a professional driver because I LOVE driving, it’s the main reason I am able to handle the stress and insanity that comes with it, if I was afraid of it I would have quit long ago. It’s not for everyone and that’s ok.
polarjunkie@reddit
I partly disagree. You should have some reservations, especially when you're new. People not afraid at all end up forgetting to check their trailer
MedievalMatt91@reddit
There’s a difference between fear and apprehension.
What I experienced my first time driving a car and then later a semi was apprehension.
Fear is a state of fight or flight and you do not want to be in that state with 80,000 pounds under your control.
Apprehension is a state of extreme caution and focus and is how you should be starting anything new.
GroundbreakingSir386@reddit
This. All the people at my CDL school who were afraid failed typically theses people had their schooling paid for by the employer or their parents or government funding and I never saw them succeed.
ForgottonTNT@reddit (OP)
Yeah I feel that bc they just waste everyone’s time and effort
ForgottonTNT@reddit (OP)
Yea; I really wish the company fully understood the safety risks we encounter every day. I simply do not feel safe riding with students who are paralyzed by a fear of driving. I’ve had numerous close calls where a student panicked, oversteered, and nearly hit a wall. It is a massive hazard, and it makes me wish we had access to a real driving simulator to help them build confidence first.
tvieno@reddit
I understand that some people need to face their fears but operating a vehicle that weighs many many tons is not the place to do it. The motoring public should not be used as a testing ground for someone overcoming their driving anxiety.
If a person is genuinely afraid of driving, I would suggest they consider another career path.
East_Indication_7816@reddit
Tell them being afraid is normal . It’s overconfidence that causes accident . Being afraid means you are focused and know the risk . But like riding a bicycle you will gain the skill and in 3 months doing it daily it will be nothing and chill . I just listen to podcasts and music all day while on adaptive cruise . I actually had Minor accidents when my CDL went past 6 months because of overconfidence not because of fear
Ports_Of_Los_Angeles@reddit
Driving is not for everyone. That is why you are a professional driver. When I got my CDL I asked my wife to get one too, and we could "live the dream, driving teams." It never happened. I still drive myself.