Soccer moms

[ATeam]

Skid pad training? dang-thats a new one on me and I've with Fedex 12 years. did I miss something?

In eight years with FDCC, Diane and I never heard of skid pad training either. They told us about it at Landstar Express America orientation and encouraged us to attend. I do not recall the particulars but Landstar either pays for the training or helps with the cost. We plan to attend when we get to the area.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Wonder if there would be an insurance lowering effect by attending one of these sessions? That would make it even more attractive for a carrier to sponsor such an event.

 

[leezaback]

I decision drive every second behind the wheel-my mind is exhausted at the end of the shift-after years of driving most of us learn and antisipate what others around might do-most important-leave yourself an OUT. But I agree-never hurts to sharpen one's skills

 

[Camper]

The best rule of thumb is to proceed as if nobody else sees you. To assume otherwise is inviting trouble.

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[cheri1122]

In eight years with FDCC, Diane and I never heard of skid pad training either. They told us about it at Landstar Express America orientation and encouraged us to attend. I do not recall the particulars but Landstar either pays for the training or helps with the cost. We plan to attend when we get to the area.

Well, good luck - I've been trying to get to Mi for 3 years for it! [I also have the number for one in Pa].
I didn't say FedEx offered it, [don't think it's something a carrier would have onsite - though they might work out a discount for their drivers to attend], I said FedEx has something like a Safety Rodeo: good natured competition in various skill categories. I think it's something more carriers could do to reinforce the skills and the importance of handling the truck correctly, emergency or not.

 

[Dakota]

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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You can help yourself right off my property LOL

 

[Dakota]

Wonder if there would be an insurance lowering effect by attending one of these sessions? That would make it even more attractive for a carrier to sponsor such an event.

Most carriers teach the Smith System

 

[CharlesD]

Regulation hasn't done much to get the idiot four wheeler drivers off the road. Education does more than regulation ever will.

Hope you don't mind me fixing that.

 

[Dakota]

Regulation hasn't done much to get the white four wheel vans off the road. Education does more than regulation ever will.

Hope you don't mind me fixing that.

Fixed it further

 

[mcavoy33]

I just did a google search of skid pad training and saw claims that on the whole, it is more dangerous because it give more people over confidence and caused more accidents than it prevented.

It's too hard to dig deeper into the research on my phone.

 

[ATeam]

I said FedEx has something like a Safety Rodeo: good natured competition in various skill categories. I think it's something more carriers could do to reinforce the skills and the importance of handling the truck correctly, emergency or not.

Landstar takes a different approach. Instead of hosting a good natured competition with a handful of voluntary participants, they require all BCOs (contractors) to attend CABS (Continued Awareness of Business and Safety) training every two years and they pay you to do it.

At LEAM, there is normally a six-month waiting period before new BCOs can attend. They waved that for Diane and me because we were taking other training at the same place on the same weekend. Upon course completion $500 was credited to our account, $250 each for Diane and me.

CABS is further described by Landstar BCO Dale here in his This is Trucking blog.

(I know nothing about Dale or his blog, just discovered it this moring when I was looking for online info about CABS to share.)

 

[Dakota]

I just did a google search of skid pad training and saw claims that on the whole, it is more dangerous because it give more people over confidence and caused more accidents than it prevented.

It's too hard to dig deeper into the research on my phone.

I think anyone who drives a 4x4, or awd is more dangerous...it gives them a false sense of security, if the road is icy unless you have spikes you are going to slip.
count how many suvs and trucks end up in the ditch!!!

 

[greg334]

Do it yourself,Leezaback. Michigan Center for Decision Driving, at Eaton's proving grounds in Marshall, MI. $100 for a full day. Very worth the money.

Thanks for posting this info, I wasn't sure if they still had it and was going to post the info but forgot to.

Michigan Center for Decision Driving at Michigan Trucking Association

The price is $50 for any Michigan driver and $200 for any out of state driver. Maybe LS has a special rate agreement with them for BCOs and other companies should see about arranging a discount for out of state contractors.

I've been through the Smith system, I haven't had the MCDD stuff yet and going to go through the National Safety Council Professional Truck Driver course soon to meet another requirement - LS should require all BCOs to go there.

I can't comment on CABS class other than many carriers miss the opportunity to give their contractors the tools to be successful, CABS gives a step up for those who attend.

 

[cheri1122]

I think anyone who drives a 4x4, or awd is more dangerous...it gives them a false sense of security, if the road is icy unless you have spikes you are going to slip.
count how many suvs and trucks end up in the ditch!!!

They just keep forgetting that they can't STOP any faster...
When I learned to drive [in Ohio], we took our cars to a big snowy parking lot and spun them out on purpose - besides being fun, it took the panic factor out of an unexpected loss of traction so we could focus on regaining control. I hoped skid pad training would be something like that for a truck.

 

[Dakota]

They just keep forgetting that they can't STOP any faster...
When I learned to drive [in Ohio], we took our cars to a big snowy parking lot and spun them out on purpose - besides being fun, it took the panic factor out of an unexpected loss of traction so we could focus on regaining control. I hoped skid pad training would be something like that for a truck.

true, no amount of traction control, awd, four wheel drive is going to stop you faster, it only allows you to get moving faster!!!

 

[moose]

I just did a google search of skid pad training and saw claims that on the whole, it is more dangerous because it give more people over confidence and caused more accidents than it prevented.

There is no chance in hell, that there's any real data to support that claim.
while i cannot speak for any other skid pad training beside the one i received. i think that there's a misunderstanding of what skid pad training is all about.
its have 4 parts.
the 1st class is the SMITH system, and is the base for the rest.
2- the class in which we learned how to recognize road hazard and how to avoid them.
3- the skid pad control challenge, which teaches how to safely control an out of control rig.
4 - obstacles avoidance, in which we practiced avoiding unexpected 'popups'. ('wet' and dry).
overall that 2 day training is the most important part of my CDL training, and saved my life, and others, many times over.

 

[usafk9]

Mine was only one day, Moose, and I suspect it was equal to your second day.

As a native Western New Yorker, Cheri, we did the same in driver's ed.

At the skid pad, as my wife and I each have our class A's, we got to jackknife a tractor and semi-trailer and recover from it. We had a great surface to do it on, as it was watered down the night before, we had 4" of fresh snow, and the temp was -6. VERY slick. We also learned "chop steering" around sudden obstacles. All exercises were done at 15 mph, which seemed extremely fast at the time.

I'll tell anyone I can about the training. Extremely valuable. Bring extra drawers, though. There's a new level of excitement when you look out your window, and your trailer is swinging past you.

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[ATeam]

There is no chance in hell, that there's any real data to support that claim.
while i cannot speak for any other skid pad training beside the one i received. i think that there's a misunderstanding of what skid pad training is all about.
its have 4 parts.
the 1st class is the SMITH system, and is the base for the rest.
2- the class in which we learned how to recognize road hazard and how to avoid them.
3- the skid pad control challenge, which teaches how to safely control an out of control rig.
4 - obstacles avoidance, in which we practiced avoiding unexpected 'popups'. ('wet' and dry).
overall that 2 day training is the most important part of my CDL training, and saved my life, and others, many times over.

Where did you take your two days of training and when?

 

[moose]

2002, Chippewa falls community collage.

 

[Camper]

Most carriers teach the Smith System

16 years later, those five words remained embedded in my head..


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