Guys? I Think My Trainer Is A SUPER TRUCKER!!!!

So update on the situation. Before talking with dispatch i had a discussion with him. I adressed my concerns in a professional and serious manner. He apologized and understands my concern. He said he realized he was breaking policy and he is going through a lot at home but that is no excuse. Guys im still talking to dispatch but it is handled.

That is good to here, have you had the chance to practice and study the safe start/brake test for when you test? I think that is a requirement in all states right?

I believe im doing the safe start on every start up... not sure though. Oh and he called in the clearance light as well. So that is in the process as well.

Reaper, Read this and Memorize it:

Here is the 4 point brake check test procedure as follows: Step 1. Put your seat belt on. Step 2. Safe start vehicle (brakes set and vehicle in neutral), and build up air to operating pressure if needed. Step 3. Select first gear, with wheel chocks down, Turn engine off and ignition switch back to the on position (but don't start the truck), release parking brakes, static test for leaks (check for air loss without applying any brakes) no more than 2 psi straight truck or 3 psi combination vehicle in 1 min. Step 4. Press and hold foot pedal, ( 90 psi ) pedal pressure check that no more than 3 psi straight truck or 4 psi combination vehicle loss in your air pressure in 1 min (60 sec). Step 5. Pump down the brake pedal to check that the air warning??? light/devise come on by 60 psi. Step 6. After that. continue to pump down the brake pedal, check that the tractor protection valve pops out by 20 psi. which will apply tractor parking brake. Step 7. Then put truck in neutral and start vehicle, we want to see how fast it takes for the air pressure to build back up. Check that air builds from??? 85 psi to 100 psi in under 45 seconds, and then continue to build air till air governor blows at approx 125-130 psi the air gauge will stop building pressure at this point. Step 8. Continue with the brake check , release tractor brake, pull against trailer brake (Trolley brake). Step 9. Set tractor brake, release trailer brake place truck in first gear and slightly release clutch to test tractor parking brakes. Step 10. Release parking brakes, pull forward 5 mph hands above (but not touching) steering wheel apply foot brake, check for brakes pulling to left or right. Step 11. Drive forward again 5 mph apply trailer hand valve (Trolley Brake Handle ) to test trailer service brakes. Step 12. Set parking brakes build to system to operating pressure prior to driving away.

A few thoughts:

--A marker light is really not that big of a deal. Yeah, you need to get it fixed but it's not an out of service violation or anything serious. I think it's a little silly he wants to wait to get to Springfield to fix it but you'd be out of bounds to outright refuse to drive the truck because of a marker light.

--I agree with G Town about the eating while driving. Not a good idea. I know you've probably done it a million times in your car and so have I (it's not a good idea even in a car), but a truck is a whole different animal and you're not even used to driving one yet. Not trying to pick on you, just would hate to see you make a stupid but costly mistake.

--My first trainer did the same thing with my logs. If you didn't bring it up in your conversation with him, make sure you address that with him. He can't be messing around with your logs like that. He's not even supposed to know your code to log you in as the active driver.

--I agree with the others about the importance of doing your own pretrip and logging it yourself. Nothing more to add there.

In training it's really tough to find that balance between complacency and paranoia. Your trainer isn't going to do things perectly, but you (and everyone who goes through training) has to develop the good sense to know what to put up with and what to insist be done correctly. In other words, choose your battles.

Good luck Reaper. Make safety your priority and everything else will fall into place.

A few thoughts:

--A marker light is really not that big of a deal. Yeah, you need to get it fixed but it's not an out of service violation or anything serious. I think it's a little silly he wants to wait to get to Springfield to fix it but you'd be out of bounds to outright refuse to drive the truck because of a marker light.

--I agree with G Town about the eating while driving. Not a good idea. I know you've probably done it a million times in your car and so have I (it's not a good idea even in a car), but a truck is a whole different animal and you're not even used to driving one yet. Not trying to pick on you, just would hate to see you make a stupid but costly mistake.

--My first trainer did the same thing with my logs. If you didn't bring it up in your conversation with him, make sure you address that with him. He can't be messing around with your logs like that. He's not even supposed to know your code to log you in as the active driver.

--I agree with the others about the importance of doing your own pretrip and logging it yourself. Nothing more to add there.

In training it's really tough to find that balance between complacency and paranoia. Your trainer isn't going to do things perectly, but you (and everyone who goes through training) has to develop the good sense to know what to put up with and what to insist be done correctly. In other words, choose your battles.

Good luck Reaper. Make safety your priority and everything else will fall into place.

I typed this up throughout my shift and there have been a few new comments since I started, so sorry if some of it is irrelevant at this point.

Just reminder every DOT inspection counts and sticks to your record for up to 5 years, so please do your pre trip and remember every inspection gets reported to the DOT even when done by a police officer. you can go on this website : www.safersys.org and enter any DOT number and you can see all the inspection that the company that you entered has been through.

If i didnt eat while driving i wouldnt be eating.... and i do what i can for pretripping before i get rushed back to the drivers seat. Everything has been documented and been taken care of as to informing the proper people. I make sure i get to the tires and axles at the very least. I just hope my tnt will give me better instruction.....

since day 1 ive been using my entire 11 hour and trying to fight a cold at the same time its been playing hell trying to get used to everything....

And i wasnt trying to be cute, ive been doing what ive been instructed to by the inhouse instructors to properly do on the road as best i can. Im doing everything i possibly can do that ive been instructed to do thats right and proper.

"They" instructed you to eat while driving? I guarantee Prime's safety department would have a huge issue with that...

Your number one job is safety.

and i do what i can for pretripping before i get rushed back to the drivers seat.

Do not allow him to rush you. Look him in the eye and say, "I am going to do a complete Pre-Trip before my Driving Duty Starts. It's your choice if you do one before yours." That's it. Any faulty equipment found by a DOT inspection while you are driving will be on you. The DOT officer is not going to buy the excuse, "He is my Trainer and won't let me do one." Stand your ground Reaper!

Thanks guys for the concern and tips and advice. I even made note of the 5 year stick for the violation thanks for the tip!

So little update to the results of the conversation Currently in springfield, truck is getting looked at quite a bit tonight. Marker light changed, side fairing got shattered from high winds earlier, and our quallcom decided it didnt like the mlunting bracket so it jumped off the bracket on a bumpy road.

Im now changing my own logs and status.

Since im gonna be in spring field till i test im going to do what ive always planned and always prettip and post trip everytime every day from this point on.

As i wait on laundry i have my pretrip packet im studying.

I feel much more confident in myself about doing what is right and standing up for morals but also not being the guy who does absolutely nothing because everything is wrong with the world. I think i found a balance and my trainer seems pleased with how im performing.

There are some really good pre trip videos by a Prime driver actually. I believe Prime Driver Jacob. Search those up also and watch those. They helped me a lot during my PSD training phase especially with the parts and where they are located. He also does it word for word just like the PTI packet they give you in orientation.