By assisting with driving duties, a truck driver trainee rides along with a trainer and learns the rules of the road firsthand. When necessary, the truck driver trainee also helps to load and unload the contents of the trailer at the dock. The truck driver trainee is also responsible for paperwork and map reading, and in many cases, the trainer will allow the trainee to speak with the dispatcher and secure new loads and delivery destinations. Other routine tasks, such as filling up the gas tank, inspecting the tires, and servicing the brakes, are frequently delegated to the trainee.
Truck drivers go through a training process that starts with classroom lessons and ends with actual driving. The truck driver trainee is assigned to a driving partner after completing driver’s training, or driver’s school, as it is also known. This partner is responsible for providing the driver trainee with the necessary knowledge and skills to operate the truck safely. During the trainee’s time as a truck driver, the trainee is responsible for the majority of the difficult and unpleasant tasks that come with driving a truck. This can include everything from routine truck and trailer maintenance to driving in congested areas and backing into tight docks and parking spaces.
Putting on snow chains is one of the most difficult tasks for some trainees. Snow chains are large sections of metal chain that encircle the semi-tractor or truck’s drive tires. Chains are used to improve traction in snow and ice and are frequently required law on certain sections of road, particularly in mountainous areas. When a truck with a trainer and a truck driver trainee encounters a situation that necessitates the use of snow chains, the trainee is usually given the task of attaching the chains to the truck tires. For a novice driver, this can be a very wet and cold experience, as the chains are often difficult to get properly positioned on the tires.
When the current load has been delivered, the truck driver trainee must also speak with a dispatcher and arrange for the transportation of a new load. In some cases, the truck driver trainee is also required to unload the trailer or assist another worker in doing so. This frequently occurs when the load is not placed on pallets when loaded, when fragile merchandise is present, or when the receiver lacks a dock and the truck is unloaded in an alley or on the side of the road.