Trainer In Need Of Insight

Hey all I have started training for my company I have had around 6 or 7 students all caught on and have upgraded to first seat drivers. A week ago I got a student that just doesn't seem to catch anything. I have tried to show him things like backing. He can do a straight back just fine however when I have him try to setup for a 45 or a 90 he has no concept of what the trailer is doing or which way to turn the wheel over a week practice for 7 hours one day and then a minimum of at least an hour a day and still just as bad as day 1. I hate to say it but I have no idea how to handle this student any thoughts anyone

Hmm...do they have their CDL? If not, doesn't your company have them learn backing before going OTR with a trainer?

That's what baffles me he has a cdl and no clue how to back I asked him how he passed the exam and he said they tested him at the school

I might be tempted to go and buy a toy truck and have him use it... Everyone seems to suggest students try this anyhow.

Hmm to see how the truck is going to act I will try this thanks.

I've had this issue with students too. I'm not sure what you've done so far in your practice. But one thing that has helped my students has been making them get out to look with me.

I'm obviously outside already, then I have them join me at the back. Have them look at the situation and talk me through their next couple moves. Depending on the situation even if they give me the wrong set of moves I'll let them do them anyway.

No matter if they gave me the right set of moves or wrong set, I'll pull them back out pretty quick to see the results of their actions. It takes more than one time of doing this, but you should gradually start to see improvement.

I absolutely sucked at backing when I was done with training but I'm happy to say that all of my students have been better at backing than I was atvthr end of training.

Hope it helps!

Hmm to see how the truck is going to act I will try this thanks.

It's either that or make sure you have a set of comfy shoes😂

But some people learn differently than others.. And a remote control truck seems pretty abstract and readily available at most truckstops...

However nice and flat payment that it can be used on is generally not available at most truckstops.

I might be tempted to go and buy a toy truck and have him use it... Everyone seems to suggest students try this anyhow.

I don't know if this works or not, but it can't hurt. I can tell you this though, when I was in CDL school, another student and I went to a local truck stop, bought some toy trucks and actually mimicked trucks as they were backing in. Don't know how he's doing now, but we both passed our test and I'm not afraid of any backing situation. Obviously, some are "challenging" but that's what makes this job fun.

Hey y'all it is not just backing he has no idea of how to trip plan. Doesn't understand the 11 hour or 14 hour clocks no concept of logs. Could not find Cali in the atlas. If I don't tell him to stop for the 30 min break he would not every day the same thing. It is like he goes to bed at night and the next day is day one all over again

Do you have a push broom on your truck? Student can hold the end of the handle against his waist, broom out "the back". (Be sure the broom brush is upside down so you don't wreck the broom)

Student can try backing around corners, etc. For added incentive, make him do this outside while the temperature is below freezing and do it till he gets it right.