Truck drivers are an independent bunch and independent owner-operators are even more so. Staying abreast of all the new products, regulations, techniques, procedures, etc… is a lot more challenging when you’re on your own. We don’t have access to the training resources like company drivers or even some leased drivers have. Don't despair, there are great programs available for giving owner-operators leverage in this respect. I am a member of
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and
National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) and I encourage all owner-operators to check them out. These associations are great for general help, but I will give you some tips on how to obtain informal specialized training.
I’ve found that when I need some help or training, I’ll ask a fellow owner-operator to train me. For instance, when I bought my car hauler trailer, I had no experience with a trailer that complex before. I went from a 3 car trailer with no moving parts to a 9 car trailer with 24 hydraulic cylinders and a LOT of moving parts! An experienced driver, new to auto transport would undergo 4-6 weeks of formal training on loading/unloading and securement at their company before being released. I didn't’t have access to anything like that so I did the next best thing, I hired an instructor myself. I hired the owner-operator who sold me the trailer. He rode with me down to the rail yard and we loaded my first load together. It happened to be a new load of Chryslers valued over $200,000 so no pressure! I paid him half of what the load paid and he worked with me very slowly and carefully to just teach me the basics. After that, I was on my own. Don’t get me wrong, I received a lot of help from other drivers at auto auctions and such. I’d simply go ask them to spot me as I backed a car on or ask their opinion on the correct way to put the puzzle of a rolling parking lot together. Every time I sought assistance, I was helped.
Recently, I decided to obtain training on how to secure heavy equipment as I'm considering expanding my company's versatility. I researched on line and found very few companies that provide heavy equipment securement training. The training was extremely expensive and the training centers weren't't located near my home so a lot of traveling would've been involved. I decided to pursue another approach and visited my local heavy equipment dealer. I asked the owner if he would allow one of his employees to train me and that I would gladly pay for his time. If that individual was paid $30 per hour, it would've been a tremendous savings over the formal school. Surprisingly, the owner didn't charge me and the training was free!
Owner-operators are entrepeneurs and if you want to catch our attention, money is still the best way. And frankly, I'd rather learn from someone who's currently still in the trenches of whatever business I'm trying to learn. Wherever the rubber hits the road, is where I want to be! Ever Forward.