The start of a new year is when many individuals think about beginning a new profession, and trucking is on their minds. But picking up a vehicle in the dead of winter? Is it a wise plan? Should you start now or wait until spring? Let’s take a closer look at why starting a trucking business in the winter is a good option.
Having a trainer with you at all times
Everyone should be at least a little bit apprehensive about the prospect of learning how to operate an 80,000-pound rig in the cold. Yet, starting in the winter has the advantage that you’ll have a trainer at your side throughout the last stage of training. You’ll be driving in tandem with a skilled driver who can let you take the wheel when the going is easy but take over if things become too tough.
Remember that you may learn a lot simply by paying attention and watching. Sitting in the passenger seat, taking advice, and allowing an experienced veteran to drive so you can see how far safer and more enjoyable is. You’ll still get to drive in the snow often but get assistance if things become too complicated.
Can I stop driving if the conditions make me uncomfortable?
Indeed, a driver may refuse to operate the vehicle if they don’t believe it is safe or lawful. Yet, without driving under challenging situations, you’ll never get used to them. There is a delicate line to walk here. For you to improve, your trainer will have to push you a bit beyond your comfort zone, but he’s in the truck with you, and doesn’t want to crash any more than you do! Even if you’re unsure whether you can manage it, he’ll want you to drive if he believes you can. No of the season, be ready to sometimes find yourself in tense and frightening circumstances. It’s simply the way training works in the trucking business.
If I’ve never driven in the snow, what then?
You could be the ideal candidate to begin driving in the winter if you have never driven in the snow. You should most likely spend some time with a skilled driver used to driving in the snow. On the one hand, it’s wonderful to begin in the spring and accumulate some experience before entering the winter. Yet, you haven’t received any winter training. Several handling strategies are unique to icy, snow-covered roads and are not applicable elsewhere. You may learn many valuable things from spending even an hour or two with someone with plenty of snow-related expertise.
The Drawbacks of Winter Training
The setting and organization of the school you attend will significantly influence how challenging the circumstances may be during the first training period. The first several weeks will be spent practicing shifting, backing up, maneuvering in confined spaces, and doing pre-trip checks on a large gravel lot. Often, just one student rides in the truck while the others wait on the sidelines. It will be an awful experience for a while if you attend school in Chicago in January and your school forces you to stand outdoors all day observing the others without special accommodations.
Also, some institutions employ outdated junkers without heat for their training vehicles. Several of the vehicles I practiced on lacked power steering altogether! So, be crucial to enquire about the state of their vehicles and the accommodations available at any institutions you’re contemplating.
Moreover, the slowest period of the year for transportation is from early spring through January. During certain months, you may not have as many kilometers to run as you would in busy seasons. I don’t believe this will be a significant concern, but many people start training without money and want to rack up some good kilometers early to start making money. The first pace of events could be a bit slower than you had anticipated, but it wouldn’t be anything major.
Conclusion
Beginning a career in trucking is usually difficult and sometimes highly stressful. For a good reason, many people are terrified of driving in the winter. Yet, there are many benefits to starting in the winter, and I don’t have an issue with new drivers receiving their CDL training in the colder months. It could be the best course of action if you have little to no expertise in driving in the snow.
