Trainers Deal Breakers

My Trainer has expressed (So far) three "Don't(s)

#1 Don't touch my hat, (Cowboy type)

#2 Don't ride my brakes, or I'll put you off the truck, (He's a lease operator and explained to me that a brake job costs as much as $4k)

#3. Don't adjust my mirrors up and down.

Just curious? What are drivers "Deal Breakers / No Go's / Things That Drive You Crazy?

I can understand the first two, personal property and expensive equipment. However, the third one? He told you to not adjust the mirrors? Isn’t that a safety issue? Wouldn’t he want you to be as safe as possible in his truck and lower the risk of someone running beside you?

Am I missing something?

Dan, there will probably be some who disagree with me, but...

The only deal breaker is if your trainer insists you do something blatantly unsafe or against company policy.

Here's my thinking...

If you start analyzing every little quirk about your trainer, trying to determine if it's a deal breaker or not, you'll end up with another trainer who may be three times more whacko. You'll also start trying to figure out other things about this career that are deal breakers, and you'll find a bunch of them. It's best to start right at the beginning of this business and figure out how to overcome adversity and obstacles.

Have you read our Commencement Speech yet? It has a reference in it about being a warrior out here on the road. Warriors figure out how to win. A warrior never looks at what he's facing and thinks, "Uhmmm, that looks like a deal breaker to me - I'm out."

I used to grin at my trainer and say nothing whenever he said something stupid or hateful. Like the time he told me, "You're just like all the other stupid white people I've had to train." I silently gave him my best "you're such a dumb-ass" grin. I conquered him every time he tried to get a rise out of me. By the third week he had no more tricks up his sleeve - he was defeated - I was the victor.

Don't let stupid little details like you mentioned above get under your skin. Do what you need to do to get off his truck. Learn what you can from him and move on. Trust me, your time with even a great trainer will barely scratch the surface. You will learn an unbelievable amount of things after they turn you lose in your own truck.

Hang in there, and know that you can come here and vent when needed. We will help you all we can.

You can read this too - this is a great article:

Types Of Trainers And How To Deal With Them

Thanks for the replies. I agrwe, and im not fixated too much too concerned about pet peeves and such.

I am fixated on being and becoming the BEST and SAFEST driver I personally can become, be9nf vigilant in protecting my license and driving record from the GET GO!

I find a.lot of what I hear funny to be honest.

I can maybe touch on the third. I notice it is only up and down, not in and out. The Trainer probably has the mirrors set so he can watch specific things. Also tilting a mirror down darkens it. He also may have them tilted slightly up to brighten the image in the mirror and make it easier for him to see the things he needs to from the passenger seat.

I personally do not care about the flat mirrors. Adjust them however you want. But do not touch or adjust the 4 wide angle mirrors. I have them set to give myself maximum visibility from the passenger seat.

My rules...

Don't pee into a bottle while driving my truck. I'll drive you right back to a terminal.

If you are exhausted, park for 2 hours and take a nap. i can change an appointment time or drive when my hours come back.

GOAL. If you don't, my license isn't affected, the accident goes on your DAC.

If you follow the GPS instead of the atlas and my written directions, don't expect me to get you out of the situation. once solo you will have to figure it out so you.might as well start now.

Wake me if you need to, but do your best to try to analyze the problem, come up.with options.

Im a ghost the last week. i drive and that is it. ezpect to do all the work.

If you kill me, expect me to haunt you until the end of time.

other than that, lets have a great time!!!

Those all seem reasonable Rainy..lol

If you pee into a bottle while Rainy's sleeping, and quietly slip it into the trash bag, did it really happen?

My rules...

Don't pee into a bottle while driving my truck. I'll drive you right back to a terminal.

If you are exhausted, park for 2 hours and take a nap. i can change an appointment time or drive when my hours come back.

GOAL. If you don't, my license isn't affected, the accident goes on your DAC.

If you follow the GPS instead of the atlas and my written directions, don't expect me to get you out of the situation. once solo you will have to figure it out so you.might as well start now.

Wake me if you need to, but do your best to try to analyze the problem, come up.with options.

Im a ghost the last week. i drive and that is it. ezpect to do all the work.

If you kill me, expect me to haunt you until the end of time.

other than that, lets have a great time!!!

Smashes invisible like button for this response.