Opt Idle

You kinda make me feel bad Susan. I had a trainee sleep in the truck bobtail in my driveway 2 of 3 nights home. I did take him to Gatlinburg, TN with me that weekend. I gave him 2 options. Sit in a hotel in Clarksville, TN for 3 nights or spend 2 in the truck and 1 in a hotel in Gatlinburg. He chose option 2. He had never been to Gatlinburg.

Lol don't feel bad Patrick.. some companies allow it, mine doesn't. Company puts them in a hotel and they get paid but I don't. You and your wife don't argue like cats and dogs do you? Lol.. btw my trainee was a female and apparently the trainer's wife was upset about that.

My trainer told me that the trainer he had before me was with another company and they pay for the hotel, but his trainer took the hotel money and had him sleep in the truck.

My trainer told me that the trainer he had before me was with another company and they pay for the hotel, but his trainer took the hotel money and had him sleep in the truck.

That guy deserves a roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris! Then he gets fired.

I get reimbursed for my trainee's hotel room. If they take Comdata check than no money out of my wallet. My wife and I do not fight. I had him stay in the truck for 2 reasons. My wife and I had to take care of the other F word. That and we were leaving first thing in the morning. I woke him up in the morning so he could come in and take a shower and what not. He was maybe stuck in the truck for 7 hrs the first night and maybe 8 the last night. Pretty much enough time to get some sleep.

My trainer told me that the trainer he had before me was with another company and they pay for the hotel, but his trainer took the hotel money and had him sleep in the truck.

That guy deserves a roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris! Then he gets fired.

I'm not one to complain to corporate but they would be getting a call from me over that. If someone is paying for my hotel, I'm going to be staying there

Apparently we had one or more instances where a trainee went awol from a hotel (quit/went home) and the trainer had to eat the cost of the trainees hotel so the way west side handles trainee hotel rooms now, is the cash advance for the hotel goes directly on the TRAINEE'S fuel/comdata card, they draw off the advance, pay for their own room, then scan in the final hotel bill showing no balance owed, then they're not charged for that advance. Makes things much simpler and forces them to have some "skin in the game". I recommend the hotel, they make their reservation, give me the total amount needed and I have dispatch load the money on their card.

Luckily there's a great independently owned (not a chain) very near my home that's very nice, doesn't require a deposit to reserve a room, will not bill their credit or debit card or place a hold on it, unless damages are incurred, and they accept cash payment from West Side Transport trainees. Win-win for everyone involved.

It should depend upon how long this is to continue - if a trainer is on home time, then the student ought to be put in a motel. But if the situation is such that it is an opportunity to go by the house while under a load, in my view it is fine to leave the student and truck at a suitable location (nice truck stop) for a few hours while the trainer visits family or friends. When I was a student, this was done with me several times, and now that I am a trainer, I have done it with students several times.

I'm a little stunned that he's at home and you're staying in the truck. Is that a common occurrence? At my company, when I'm home (like now) my trainee is staying at a nice hotel with indoor pool, jacuzzi, fitness center, full breakfast daily, free shuttle to wherever she cares to go around town, etc. I can't imagine leaving a trainee sitting in a truck while I'm enjoying time off.