LOOOOOONG Overdue Update

At the root of most of the problems faced with training drivers is the fact that a corporation has to do it while remaining profitable. If companies were free to spend all the time and money and resources they wanted to train drivers then things would be completely different.

For instance, the Federal Govt could mandate that CDL training be a minimum of 960 hours (6 months at 40 hours per week) with a certain number of hours behind the wheel. Then the program would be long enough that students could get financial aid backed by the Govt to pay for the training and the training could be done at a relaxed pace in a safer environment over a 6 month period.

But that's not the situation we have unfortunately. I wish we did to be honest.

But the training has to be done by a company that has to remain in business and they're also paying for student's training up front. So the company is really spending a ton of money to train new drivers. They're in a really tough spot.

But without a doubt we could make a huge difference by making sure there are high quality trainers out there that are being monitored and held accountable while at the same time making sure the student clearly understands what is expected of them and is also being held accountable for their end of the bargain.

And we haven't even touched on this yet but if you guys think training is stressful as a student you should see what it's like to be the one doing the training! As a new driver no one knows how awful they are or how little they know. Wait until you get a couple of years under your belt and look back on all of this. You're going to be amazed that anyone survives their first year on the road knowing as little as they did. Unfortunately the trainers have to trust their lives and often times the success of their businesses to a student driver who has no Earthly idea what they're doing. It makes me throw up a little in my mouth just thinking about it.

So not only do we have to make sure that trainers are willing and able to handle students fairly, but we have to help students understand how insane the idea is of an experienced veteran trusting their life to a rookie driver. It's a horrifying proposition. The stress a trainer feels is probably 5 times what a student endures.

We have a series of articles that were really well written by a guy who tried being a trainer one time and swore he'd never put himself through that again. Some of these articles are to help the student learn, some help the student understand how to deal with trainers, and some give you the perspective from the trainer himself. They're really well done:

The Trainer's Viewpoint

So naturally as recent students it's quite difficult to understand how much preparation the students also need and how many of the problems lie with the students themselves but trust me when I say we need to work on preparing and monitoring the students and much as we do the trainers.

And one other point - how about mandating inward-facing cameras for all training trucks? I think that would go a long way toward alleviating the poor behaviors we're seeing from both students and trainers. People act a lot differently when they know it's all on camera. I think it would go a long way toward protecting everyone.

I think inward facing camera's on training trucks would be a great idea. Also some kind of personality test would help not just with having suitable characters as trainers but also suitable drivers.

I think inward facing camera's on training trucks would be a great idea. Also some kind of personality test would help not just with having suitable characters as trainers but also suitable drivers.

Maybe maybe not. I don't play well with others cause I'm a control freak hahhaha... but u need to be a control freak as a driver. And that in itself might be an issue. You have one control freak training and dictating to another control freakwhere and when to do things hahahah

Brett . There is a great article on here that truly got me through the training....it basically said to tear training like boot camp. It's temporary.

That is hard to swallow when you are on a truck with someone who constantly tells you that it's their decision when and if you upgrade. Or that every mistake is just another example of why you won't make it. Consideri ng rhe bonuses these trainers get when you upgrade you would think they would want you to stay on their truck til the end and upgrade.

Also the FM get bonuses for the students (at least when they test for cdl) so you would think the FM would put more pressure on the trainer to make it work.

Way to go! I'm about halfway through my TNT miles and should upgrade by the end of September! Did they give you an automatic?

Congrats! I'm sure you will do good and love being out on the road solo. Keep up the great work.

Wow MM, you've got quite the fan club! Good for you. And your truck? It does look sharp!

Okay folks raise your hands and ask yourself how many of you had to wait for a trainer because their wasn't enough to go around. In theory you all make a lot of sense. The problem I see is their are just not enough qualified trainers to handle all the students that are flooding the industry. The high turnover and lack of instructors to handle the revolving door is incredible. Companies are continually trying to find instructors to handle all the students coming in. The issue I see is companies are having a hard time vetting drivers that have the right temperament, driving and managerial skills necessary to train safe drivers. Everything Brett mentioned about tracking instructors Prime is already doing. Every student rates their training and trainers during and after their training. They also evaluate the performance of the lease operators business and driving record to make sure they are above the standards. The only issue I see is many companies may reject third party evaluations simply for legal concerns. Anything serious happens during training that may opens the door to litagation, so having them air out grievances on this type of platform will ultimately be used against them in court. I doubt that these large companies legal depts. would approve of such a system. Keeping it in house won't expose them like this could.

Okay folks raise your hands and ask yourself how many of you had to wait for a trainer because their wasn't enough to go around. In theory you all make a lot of sense. The problem I see is their are just not enough qualified trainers to handle all the students that are flooding the industry. The high turnover and lack of instructors to handle the revolving door is incredible. Companies are continually trying to find instructors to handle all the students coming in. The issue I see is companies are having a hard time vetting drivers that have the right temperament, driving and managerial skills necessary to train safe drivers. Everything Brett mentioned about tracking instructors Prime is already doing. Every student rates their training and trainers during and after their training. They also evaluate the performance of the lease operators business and driving record to make sure they are above the standards. The only issue I see is many companies may reject third party evaluations simply for legal concerns. Anything serious happens during training that may opens the door to litagation, so having them air out grievances on this type of platform will ultimately be used against them in court. I doubt that these large companies legal depts. would approve of such a system. Keeping it in house won't expose them like this could.

And My PSD trainer told me that Prime told him who said what about him. Soooo... imagine a student who doesn't know anyone at prime except him, and this student wants to be able to call his former trainer if issues arise. Would this student be truthful?

When I upgraded to solo no one asked..so I wrote a six page letter detailing all that happened and provided photos to back up my statements.

I appreciate trainers have a tough job. I appreciate trainers might take offense to some of our comments in this thread.... . But the outcome for both of us was that despite bad experiences we both were able to find excellent trainers (whether officially assigned or not) who helped.

I in no way referenced that I was offended by the post rainy and in fact was kept informed about Miss M's situation with her trainer by another student at the time.

I also know the ex-trainer that you are referring and was aware of the issues he/she was having with being a trainer. I think circumstances with the gender issue may have had a impact on why it may have taken them awhile to remove this driver as a trainer. Basically making sure they had enough solid evidence before they relieved them from training. Personally I think prime was a little worried about fallout afterward but I don't know as fact.

Every student fills out a questionnaire after training . I know for fact my students were called during and after training because they have told me so. Prime has never once told me what they've said. And to be honest I really don't worry about it. One of them wanted to tell me but I preferred them not. Why you slipped through the cracks I don't have a clue.

Rainy if you read some of my way older posts you will know I also had problems with my first trainer, in fact he was fired on the practice pad while I was testing out! So I don't take it personally. I have students call me for advice everyday when they go solo and I wasn't even their instructor! You have to pay it forward.

So if I sounded defensive I am sorry you thought so.

Training is a great topic. I want to offer another angle, possibly controversial. In ways similar to something many of us were required to take for previous jobs or even schooling. A preliminary aptitude-like test for student drivers. I know...gasp another test. But honestly, an inordinate amount of time is spent on medical and background, both very necessary. But little to nothing is done to determine a basic skills profile as part of the prequalification.

I haven't given much thought on the content of this or how it's administered but I strongly believe that there are certain and specific motor skills, character traits, and thought processing that every safe and successful driver has. I believe once identified, they might be measurable. Many of these elements and skills at the very basic level IMO can't be taught. Raw skill can be developed, but it can't be taught.

There has got to be a way, a somewhat standardized way of evaluating a person to see where they fit within a specific profile. To the point of being able to predict their success (and risk) based on their profile. Like I said not sure how this could be done, (and yes there might be legal issues) but I think it's possible. There has got to be a better way.

The current system is far too subjective and lacks a consistent and repeatable process that can be quantitatively evaluated. The student evaluations are ineffective unless the student themselves has a comprehensive, detailed understanding of expectations before training begins. Some do and some do not. I know, much of what we do in this forum is to do just that. And without any doubt I think has helped many people succeed. But what I am thinking of is taking it a step further.

I know I am rambling somewhat (long day) but the training issue is a huge problem. At times part of my job (and several other experienced hands I work with) is to help new drivers adjust and aclimate to the Walmart account. It's a two, sometimes three day process that has significantly reduced accidents and delivery failures. Unfortunately many of the drivers we work with come off their mentor's (trainer) truck (or even from months of OTR experience) without basic skills, scary. Others are really good. The gap is noticable and wide. Yet they all have their CDL and passed some level of road training either with Swift or another company. Puzzling.

Again it takes me back to my initial point, there are some people no matter how much instruction they receive will never grasp the basic fundamentals of this job. We see it all day long. Call me harsh and cold, but I think that has a big part in the root of the overall training problem. You cannot teach a fish to breath out of water, yet it seems like the trucking companies continue to do, just that. Are we pushing people through the system that have no real shot at success? Perhaps maybe...that's what I am getting at.

Like everyone here, trying to figure this out.

Tired, G-town out.