Truck Driving Trainers And Instructors, What They Do And Don't Know

Sad to hear about the trainer, but it happens sometimes. My suggestion would be a change of trainers, but use tact and grace. A good trainer is so important during those first weeks especially. You can get what you need without rocking the boat too badly, though. Think of a way to tactfully request a different trainer and I may be wrong about this, but if he's training you on wrong information he has probably trained others like that and will train more like that in the future too. Lucky for you, you were savvy and knew better, but what about the next student? What if he (or she) believes these things and has a bad accident as a result? I think the company would like to know, but like you pointed out you don't want to come across as a newbie know-it-all or a problem student so you need to find a way to accomplish what needs to be accomplished tactfully. My tact skills aren't so hot or I'd offer some suggestions as to how, but I'm sure others here are more refined in diplomacy and can help. Hang in there and at the end of the day just do it right. Like everyone said, it's your life (and others you share the road with) and your license.

I would consider writing some of this stuff down and wait until you go solo and report it to the company. But definitely wait until you're solo! You want to let the company know their trainer has no idea what he's talking about but you don't want to put your own career in jeopardy doing so.

I don't understand how a company lets someone become a trainer when they don't even know the basics like that. Sad indeed.

I don't understand how a company lets someone become a trainer when they don't even know the basics like that. Sad indeed.

It's not only sad, it's freakin scary!

From everything I have read most schools are set up to get a new driver through quickly with enough training to get their CDL. so new drivers rely heavily on the trainers for further education. Can you imagine someone new to trucking, that has not had the benefit of the information on Trucking Truth, getting put with some of the trainers out there?

Scary indeed.

Woody

I don't understand how a company lets someone become a trainer when they don't even know the basics like that. Sad indeed.

It's not only sad, it's freakin scary!

From everything I have read most schools are set up to get a new driver through quickly with enough training to get their CDL. so new drivers rely heavily on the trainers for further education. Can you imagine someone new to trucking, that has not had the benefit of the information on Trucking Truth, getting put with some of the trainers out there?

Scary indeed.

Woody

While I do agree with you. I also pity the fool who comes into a complex industry without doing their research beforehand. It's no ones fault but their own for not doing any research and just coming into it. I don't feel too much sympathy for them because it's their fault for being so stupid and naive. I just hope no one gets hurt.

Good point.

Brett has really touched on something very important. WAIT, until you are solo for a while before you go to anyone with this. You have notes, so keep them.

You don't wan to rock the boat right from the get go. Give it some time. Focus on you right now. You may step to the new guys that he is training and give them a heads up. But, be careful with that too. You never want to come off as a know it all or a "snitch". Believe me this is a cut throat business and their is more politics involved than most see.

Think about what you have said in other post. The most important was how TT has helped you. Let the new trainee know about us here. We welcome all new drivers and are here to help. You can do the company a great service by sending trainees here and it will help you later down the road when you are ready and the time is right to let someone know about this trainer. CYA. But more important is to look at what YOU can do in the best possible way to help you fellow drivers.

This is a great post and a insurmountable amount of information given. Thanks for taking the time to let everyone know just what has been going on.

THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

I have a fantastic trainer. I could not have prayed for a better one.

However there are many horror stories. Even guys that I went to school with have had some pretty bad ones.

One guy had a trainer that brough "lot lizzards" on the truck while they were on the road. He even borrowed money from his trainee from time to time.

Just hope for the best. Listen to what they are telling you and take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes you might need a whole salt shacker. LOL

And as far as the 34 hour restart. You are correct. You do have to have 2 periods between 1am-5am.

And trucking companies have to keep up with the charts they put up. If they have the wrong information posted they will be held at fault if something goes wrong. But don't take posters as the law. Read your FMCSA rules for yourself.

Now that 34 goes to a 36 if you are going into or are in Canada.

Rules there are a bit different. But that you can find out if you ever plan on going there.

No one is perfect. And mostly the company is at fault. There are some companies that allow drivers to be trainers only after 2 weeks on the road. My company requires 3 months. A new driver is still learning themselves after 3 months.

Now the driver that said he has 10 years driving. I have my serious doubts on that. When he doesn't even understand the basic concept of how to go down a steep hill.

That is a bad rookie mistake.

It was said in class and I have read it on here.

You can go down a hill too slow a million times in your life. You will only go down too fast once.

Keep it safe out here. Joe S

Joe, really glad to hear you got a good trainer!

Joe, really glad to hear you got a good trainer!

I hope and pray that when the time comes, I get a good trainer. First impressions are the lasting ones and I sure don't want to learn something wrong, especially if it is potentially deadly.

The things that I am looking for in a trainer is on top of the basics of everything, efficiency tips. You can do something correctly, and then you can not only do it correctly, but also more efficiently. I am sure as time goes on, you learn on your own how to be more efficient in the things you do from day to day.

Believes I have put a lot of thought into this Nd quite frankly is exactly why I started this thread here I have a diary as well as general dates as to when it all happened. I have read enough over these past several months to know not to go blabbing about my experiences to everybody. I don't want to ruin my reputation before I ever get out of the box. Here is the beauty of it all... During my last days with my trainer he mentioned how I should have been taking notes alll this time on his wonderful advice. I actUally agreed with him and invited him to go over everything we had covered during my trainer while I recorded it on my iPhone He actually agreed and we covered everything and I have all his misconceptions recorded and in his own voice and his own words !!! Now if I can figure out how to get it I to the right hands and at the right time Any suggestions would be geetly appreciated. In other news I at the terminal now upgrading to my A seat. I have passed my sims and skills test and should be given the keys to my truck I. The next few days Just in time for my birthday!! It's been a wild ride but I have made it through to the other side. And a large portion of credit goes to TT for preparing me for all possible scenarios. As an aside they had a camera floating Round asking folks how they heard about the company I drive for and I gave TT a nice plug. I hope it shows up on their FB page

Thank you one and all for your guidance and support and thank you Brett for this wonderful site

Peace