And Im Officially A Trainer:)

Came to our yard to do trainer, training. Now Im officially ready for female students:) I know it may be challenging but I think that ill do well and my trainees will be doing a whole bunch of backing!

Congratulations RedGator! I think this is a really great idea. I often think about ways to help turn the tide in the trucking industry, and one of the ways that would be a great step in the right direction is to have some really good trainers who not only care for their trainees, but also have an appreciation and respect for the industry itself.

When we see the slovenly appearances and "poor me" attitudes of so many drivers at the truck stops we sometimes wonder how did we end up like this so quickly? So many drivers seem to not even care about their performance and certainly don't garner any respect from their peers because they obviously don't have any self respect. I hold my head up high each day and do my very best to keep my employers customers happy with the service they receive from me, and I can tell that you do the same. It becomes a personal challenge with me, and I'm the kind of person you really don't want to challenge, because I'll break my neck trying to prove myself, not necessarily to you, but more so to myself. I recognize that same tenacity for being exceptional in you.

I know your time with a trainee is limited, but if you can somehow manage to teach them more than just how to do their job, but how to do it with pride and dignity, you will indeed have my respect, and you will be contributing more than you probably realize to an industry that needs a fresh influx of new life.

Go get em girl!

Congrats Redgator. That is great news.

A few years ago, a guy that I used to work with went back into trucking after many years of being away. He had to go back to school and do his 3 weeks of training OTR. He passed on a horror story of not having one of the best trainers in the world.

I won't say the company he went with. I don't want to give them a black eye. This had nothing to do with the company. It was the trainer himself.

For the first week of training, if they would stop at a Walmart to get something. The trainer wouldn't let this guy go into the store. He made him stay in the truck. Wouldn't share his food or anything. Which, OK, it is his food. But he didn't give him a chance to get his own.

Wouldn't stop at any restaurants. Only stopped at truck stops for fuel. When fueling, the trainer would have him pump the fuel. Clean the windows. Thump the tires. Anything he could to keep him from going into the store for some food.

After fueling, they would go to a rest area to park for the night.

My friend ate out of vending machines for the first week. That is the only food he got. At the end of the week he contacted dispatch. He was told to get a taxi to a local hotel. Monday morning a new trainer picked him up on the way through with a load.

His other trainer was fired from being a trainer. The guy even thought he had lost his job. But that was something he was told. Didn't know that as fact.

Those kind of trainers are few and far between. But they do happen. They are the ones that fall through the cracks.

The guy passed, with flying colors as the saying goes, in 2 weeks. Was given a brand new truck right out of training. He had a great time driving till he passed away. I heard he had cancer.

Red, just from the little I have gotten to know you on here, I think you will be a great trainer. You seem to be a good driver. And you are very level headed.

For a woman anyway.

Don't shoot me. Just joking.

Keep it safe out there. Joe S

A very good blog to read about different types of trainers and what a newbie might go through is here:

Your Trainer Will Test You On Far More Than Just Your Driving Skills

I am not sure I could have put up with everything Old School did, but he did and it worked out great for him. We never know what is happening behind the scenes or in the mind of a trainer.

All I can say, is that I am glad I am not starting out on flat beds.

Keep it safe out there. Joe S

I think you will make a fantastic trainer !!! You figured out how it should be done early on. So now you can take that knowledge and pass it on to the new lady drivers, and make them as good as you are... Be proud, you've done a great job !!!

Did they say how often you have to train someone? Like is there a quota to train a certain number of people? Is the paid increase substantial?

That is AWESOME!!! You are Going to make a great trainer.

Congrats Redgator. I completely agree with having the trainee doing all the backing. I think that'll give them an advantage. You'll do great. Congratulations.

I think you will make a fantastic trainer !!! You figured out how it should be done early on. So now you can take that knowledge and pass it on to the new lady drivers, and make them as good as you are... Be proud, you've done a great job !!!

Thanks Star:) Im definitely going to do my best to train great truck drivers.

Did they say how often you have to train someone? Like is there a quota to train a certain number of people? Is the paid increase substantial?

No certain number just when ones available. Its $30 a day plus all miles for the truck.

That is AWESOME!!! You are Going to make a great trainer.

Thank you. Ill sure try:)

Congrats Redgator. I completely agree with having the trainee doing all the backing. I think that'll give them an advantage. You'll do great. Congratulations.

Thank you. Yes thats one thing most folks dont get enough of but my trainees will.

So you get paid 30$ a day plus the miles YOU drove plus the miles your trainee drove? That's going to be a wicked paycheck!

I really wish Central would let drivers train without forcing us to lease in order to do so. We have to lease a truck in order to become a trainer there are no company driver trainers. Very frustrating because I feel like I would love to train.

But... Congrats! I never doubted you can do it and here you are! Give us some good future drivers!