It really depends on where you live but you did not make a big mistake, Here's a little story:
I was a peak season employee of '07 and i was a driver helper during that peak season. I busted my butt trying to prove to management that i was perfect for the job. And i was rehired middle of january '08 and my first day as a permanent employee was at driving school. The next week i was pre-loading (unloading trucks 1236 pph average, took me awhile to get there but it was worth it). However i was also hired a day before another guy and he also went to driving school with me. He was laid off the first week after driving school since i had more seniority, but we had a guy quit, so he came back the next week and we alternated unloading trucks and pulling packages for a walmart distribution center. After awhile (34 days) i was put scanning walmart packages and he was put loading a couple trucks. about day 47 i was told me and the other guy would alternate saturday driving since another guy was tired of doing it (we have a small center), and i was told i would be driving soon. Well, may 4th, i finally started my probationary period and will be finished tuesday. Hopefully they keep me driving, i really don't mind being a tcd the pay is 23.96 an hour. I am averaging about 16 stops an hour. and i really can't seem to be "under" and i finish around 5 o'clock and then help another driver out AND get his pickups to the buiding by 7. and i know sometimes supervisors are pushy but half of them are being pressured from above, and that pressure comes from above the people above the supervisors. In the words of Jim Casey "Management should have enough work to be in just above their heads". Keep trucking, man.