Guy doesn't know what a spark plug is

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Jeff3126

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I've been taking a truck driving program for the past few weeks when last week a new guy joined us. He seriously has no idea what a spark plug is, or what any other engine related engine part is for that matter. Says he has a learning disability but it's just a pc way of saying he is dumb. I would help him out but I don't have the patience and I doubt he will come out of this class with his cdl.

I've been wanting to take him aside and tell him, "buddy, you REALLY need to find a different profession". I'll let the instructor do that though.
 
There is a chapter out of the book explaining the difference between gasoline and diesel engines. He was stumped on a multiple choice question, "In a gasoline internal combustion engine, the fuel/air mixture is ignited by..." omfg
 
I've given up on helping people. People like that are like the guys that go to car shows and say they have a friend/uncle/cousin/barber/taxidermist that has a civic/vette/mustang/viper/lambo that is faster. You just nod and walk away.
 
Quote:
Says he has a learning disability but it's just a pc way of saying he is dumb.


With such a masterful diagnosis I'm surprised you're not a psychologist instead of a wanna be driver. Your kind,thoughtful, and patient attitude
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towards helping him would be of no benefit to that individual.
 
So? The guy hasn't been around engines and doesn't yet know how they work. Given the nature of the truck driving profession that certainly shouldn't exclude him from becoming a professional driver.

Believe it or not, there are some people to whom it's not important, or they simply haven't been exposed to it in a meaningful way.

I could say the same thing about someone who doesn't know what a SQL table value function is or how to write one, or doesn't know any of the components of Oracle. But I wouldn't, and since you really don't know the guys background, neither should you.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff3126
Says he has a learning disability but it's just a pc way of saying he is dumb.


lol.gif


Seriously bro, the dude is in the class to get a job to drive a truck. he probably thinks he just turns the key and drive on the road and that's all he needs to do.
 
Why are you so worried about him?

If you want to help him, do so. If not, don't.

If he doesn't want real help from you, then don't sweat it.

But if you started a thread to laugh at a guy, wow. I learned a LONG time ago, no matter how smart I am, there will be people smarter, and I can't really control that.

In fact, this wouldn't be a BITOG control thread example would it?
wink.gif


http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...;gonew=1#UNREAD
 
Give the guy credit for wanting to better himself by attending truck driving school and don't be so harsh on him cause he doesn't know what a spark plug is.
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Why does a HD diesel truck driver need to know what a spark plug is? WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS THREAD?


I can see why someone operating a large, expensive piece of specialized equipment should be at least a little mechanically inclined.

We have drivers at work who operate medium duty rental trucks. Daily inspections of the truck are part of the job. While they don't have to check under the hood, they do need to know how much wear is okay on a tire, spot obvious damage, etc. Some of the trucks are cantankerous, so it helps to have someone operating them who isn't mechanically clueless.

Mechanical knowledge doesn't really matter if you're just talking about driving a Honda Civic 5 miles to and from work. Someone in that situation can get away with not knowing what a spark plug is. On a truck that may cost upwards of $100,000, they probably should have at least a vague idea of how things work. If the truck's oil pressure light comes on, is this guy going to know what to do, or is he going to cause $10,000 in damage that could have been avoided?
 
Don't assume that he is stupid just because you know something he does not.. That is like me going for PT and asking you something you don't know, have no interest in.... if you don't know it, then by your own definition you are DUMB...may not be the case. Different strokes for different folks.. we all were not born with the knowledge, thus the idea behind education..
Dusty
(DISCLAIMER: I'm just proving my point of different strokes is all... I am not calling people on this forum "Dumb" it was just my example )
 
The guy may or may not be smart enough even to be a good truck driver, but a race car driver doesn't have to have knowledgable of auto mechanics and a computer operate doesn't have to be an IT networking or programming guy.
 
I don't see why it matters as long as he is a good safe driver who works hard and follow what the training requires him to do in the job, and get the license he needed.

Just because he doesn't know what is a spark plug and how diesel and gasoline engine works doesn't means he couldn't drive it.

I'm sure there's quite a few things under the hood your own car that you have no idea how they work.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff3126
I've been taking a truck driving program for the past few weeks when last week a new guy joined us. He seriously has no idea what a spark plug is, or what any other engine related engine part is for that matter. Says he has a learning disability but it's just a pc way of saying he is dumb. I would help him out but I don't have the patience and I doubt he will come out of this class with his cdl.

I've been wanting to take him aside and tell him, "buddy, you REALLY need to find a different profession". I'll let the instructor do that though.


I'm a Psychology Minor, so I actually take offense at the "learning disability" comment. Some people genuinely have difficulty learning. Whether it's difficulty encoding the information they are taking in, ADD, or something, it does exist. And it is rude to say "that just means he's dumb".
 
Hey, as long as he doesn't pee in my car's cowl, he's alright!

OT:I would rarely criticize someone for taking the initiative to gather more skills.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
If the truck's oil pressure light comes on, is this guy going to know what to do, or is he going to cause $10,000 in damage that could have been avoided?


Some commercial trucks, if the oil pressure is too low or it overheats, will start beeping at you and then shut the engine down.

Just what you need when you're paying peanuts to your drivers who probably wouldn't care about destroying one of your trucks.
 
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