The three T's of the big rigs

  • Published
  • By Amy Ausley
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Air Force civil engineer community has developed a tractor trailer "train the trainer" program, known as 3T, to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, military and civilian alike. The program is an 80-hour, total force course with the goal of improving the skill and knowledge of designated tractor trailer trainers at the unit level. It will also prepare military members for life outside of the service.

The Military Commercial Driver's License Act of 2012 allows states to accept a military operator's license, along with approval from a commander, to issue former military members a commercial driver's license. The Air Force wants to be sure its tractor trailer training is as close to that of professional training as possible.

"We're trying to make sure we're teaching to the same standards that the civilian drivers are actually receiving," said Master Sgt. Alexes Abrams, 3T trainer at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. "We want to make sure we have proficient drivers out there."

3T training sites are located at Dobbins and Indiantown Gap Air National Guard Base, Pa. The program teaches pre-trip inspection steps, shifting proficiency and backing maneuvers and provides valuable over-the-road driving experience.

One of the highlights of the program is a new computer simulator located at Dobbins. It allows students who have never been behind the wheel of a big rig to take a test drive before hitting the road. It also allows the instructor to change road conditions between rain, snow or fog, and switch between day and night driving.

The biggest takeaway from the simulator is learning certain techniques before getting into the actual truck, said Master Sgt. Antonio Acevedo, a 3T trainer at Dobbins.

"(Drivers) improve reaction time in certain defensive scenarios and learn techniques for parallel parking, backing up into a dock and turning, all of the skills required for positioning the trailer," said Acevedo

An online course is also available and is designed to give trainees the basic knowledge of becoming a big rig operator. Various online lessons allow the trainee to perform operator inspections and learn safe operation techniques and preventive maintenance steps for the various tractors and trailers within the Air Force inventory. It also teaches proper operator maintenance procedures of the tractor trailer using Technical Orders and Commercial Driving manuals. A performance test is given at the end of the course.

Chief Master Sgt. Trevor Shattuck, Career Field Manager at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Det. 1, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., is one of the driving forces behind the 3T course. He saw a need for more extensive tractor trailer training in the Air Force after attending a civilian course. With the 3T program in place, Shattuck said he believes Airmen will be on the same level as their civilian counterparts.

"When we put our Airmen outside the gate in garrison they will be safe operators," said Shattuck. "The people around them on the surface streets can feel confident that the guy driving the truck behind, beside or in front of them knows what he's doing."

For information on the 3T program and how to enroll, contact the AFCEC Reach-Back Center at 888-232-3721 or AFCEC.RBC@us.af.mil.

You can also go to
&list=UUWNNtRicYQ3cqZHyNhQ53Vg to view a video about the 3T program.