Ask For New Trainer, Or Suck It Up?

I'm going through the same thing now. The trainer gets angry at the slightest thing. I've had securement equipment snatched from my hand (it was not a safety issue), been cursed at for taking too long to back inside a building (first time I attempted it), cursed at for going left when I was told to go left, told to get the **** out of the way because I was confused about a securement and I was taking too long because the trainer wanted to get done faster, etc. PITA. Almost lost my military bearing a few times.

We are due to leave out again Monday at 0200 for a short run. I'm asking for a new trainer Monday once we return to the terminal.

Dean,

Do what you need to do to stick with it and prove the mettle that jarheads have.

Semper Fi.

Rob.

Dean wrote:

I'm going through the same thing now. The trainer gets angry at the slightest thing. I've had securement equipment snatched from my hand (it was not a safety issue), been cursed at for taking too long to back inside a building (first time I attempted it), cursed at for going left when I was told to go left, told to get the **** out of the way because I was confused about a securement and I was taking too long because the trainer wanted to get done faster, etc. PITA. Almost lost my military bearing a few times.

We are due to leave out again Monday at 0200 for a short run. I'm asking for a new trainer Monday once we return to the terminal.

Dean I’ve read both of your posts about your trainer. Your situation is not the same as Grumpy’s...his trainer was clearly unsafe. Yours may be an ass, but you’ve yet to document any unsafe behavior.

I already suggested to elevate your communication with him. Please read this article Rainy wrote a while back:

How to Survive CDL Training

Dean, I had a terrible trainer. I was still able to learn from him. I was miserable, but it clearly had no negative effect on my trucking future. Some people are sadistic a-holes, you and I both got one.

I suggest you stick it out and watch and learn as best you can. You can always ask questions of other drivers when you are solo. Most flatbedders will help you if you ask. We will help also, but another driver loading at the same place as you is your best bet. Just tell them you are new, and your training was insufficient. They will usually be very helpful.

As a side note, I learned a lot by sticking with my trainer. I learned about myself and self control. Those things have proven to be more effective to my success in trucking than the actual securement training.

Here's an article I wrote about my training experience...

Your Trainer Will Test You On More Than Your Driving Skills

Oh, I just remembered this - we have an extensive section on securement training in our High Road CDL Training Program. It is excellent! I highly recommend you study it diligently. You will learn a ton about what you need to know to be both safe and legal.

One more thing. You can't expect to feel 100% confident from your training. Your company knows that and you have to accept that. You are formerly military. I have noticed through the years in our forum, a pattern emerging. Typically former law enforcement and military personnel have real issues with the training in trucking. They are accustomed to thorough training scenarios. Trucking doesn't do that. It is best learned by doing. Your entire first year has to be viewed as a training experience. It's filled with variables that just can't be crammed into a training program.

You can do it. Don't sell yourself short. Trucking is hard on newcomers, but there's a reason for that. Individual initiative and commitment is prerequisite for success at trucking. Nobody holds our hands. We are expected to take the bull by the horns and conquer it. You've got what it takes - just dig a little deeper each day - you'll be glad you had the resolve, but it will take you through some difficult struggles to get there.

Dean wrote:

I'm going through the same thing now. The trainer gets angry at the slightest thing. I've had securement equipment snatched from my hand (it was not a safety issue), been cursed at for taking too long to back inside a building (first time I attempted it), cursed at for going left when I was told to go left, told to get the **** out of the way because I was confused about a securement and I was taking too long because the trainer wanted to get done faster, etc. PITA. Almost lost my military bearing a few times.

We are due to leave out again Monday at 0200 for a short run. I'm asking for a new trainer Monday once we return to the terminal.

Dean I’ve read both of your posts about your trainer. Your situation is not the same as Grumpy’s...his trainer was clearly unsafe. Yours may be an ass, but you’ve yet to document any unsafe behavior.

I already suggested to elevate your communication with him. Please read this article Rainy wrote a while back:

How to Survive CDL Training

Yes. The only thing he was teaching me was things that were clearly wrong, and unsafe.

If he were just an A-hole, I would have sucked it up.