Ask For New Trainer, Or Suck It Up?

I agree with everything you said except

However, is he dealing with something big in his personal life that you are unaware of?

Not sure if you're trying to make an excuse for the trainer but that's no excuse. It's not grumpys fault if this trainer has issues. We all have issues in our personal life. As a professional it's your responsibility to put those to the side and do the task at hand. I don't give a damn if the guys going through a divorce or as bad as it sounds, a death in the family. He agreed to train and that's what he needs to do. Why should grumpy be forced to be treated poorly and not trained thoroughly due to the trainers own personal problems?

First thing I would do before you call and should have done day one, is have a sit down talk. Face to face out of the truck at a table in a truck stop, even if it's in the restaurant. Very politely say to him that his ranting and raving at you is not teaching you anything. Is he aware that is phone use is unsafe, illegal and a bad example for students. That blasting the radio is life threatening to him because you can't concentrate on the road or hear his direction. This puts both of your lives in danger. Ask if there is a compromise you can come to with the heat. If after that talk there is no immediate change, then call the company.

Remember when you are in the driver's seat it's your butt on the line. You are responsible. If you wreck because of the loud music it will be your license on the line. If you don't feel safe, find a safe place to shut down.

As a trainer, I not only teach and observe, I talk with my student. Day one, truck rules. I make sure they know how and who to contact if they have a problem they don't feel comfortable speaking with me about. This guy sounds like he should not be training. However, is he dealing with something big in his personal life that you are unaware of?

Good luck.

To clarify, the music is while he is driving. When I drive, I shut it off. But he is trying to talk to me to tell me procedures, etc., with the music blaring while he is driving

I agree with everything you said except

However, is he dealing with something big in his personal life that you are unaware of?

Not sure if you're trying to make an excuse for the trainer but that's no excuse. It's not grumpys fault if this trainer has issues. We all have issues in our personal life. As a professional it's your responsibility to put those to the side and do the task at hand. I don't give a damn if the guys going through a divorce or as bad as it sounds, a death in the family. He agreed to train and that's what he needs to do. Why should grumpy be forced to be treated poorly and not trained thoroughly due to the trainers own personal problems?

His wife is pregnant, that is about all I know about him.

If he were doing a great job teaching, I could live with how he treats me, I have a pretty thick skin. If he yelled, then explained what I did wrong, showed me how, etc., or ideally, showed me how and explained beforehand, then yelled if I got it wrong, I could live with that. It still isn't the right way to teach someone, but I could live with it

I was not trying to make an excuse for the trainer.

I was not trying to make an excuse for the trainer.

I didn't take it that way

I would prepare now for that phone call on Monday by gathering as much accurate information as possible - direct quotes if possible, time of day and date also. When you can give them precise information like that they will be far more willing to believe you. Because there are definitely students who will exaggerate the problems or even be the cause of the problems but place blame on the trainer. We come across people like that in this forum from time to time, people who have never done anything wrong in their lives and everyone around them is an idiot and are clearly to blame for all of their problems.

So you want to make your case the way you would in court. Give them accurate facts and let them know you're simply looking for someone reasonable to work with.

Now if you really, really want to lock this in you should try to record some of his rants. It seems like he's ranting most of the time, so this shouldn't be too hard to do. Hearing about his behavior from you is only 10% as powerful as seeing it or hearing it for themselves.

In the NFL this past year there were a ton of cases where players were accused of domestic violence. Only two that I know of are out of football, and possibly permanently - the two who were caught doing it on camera. It's just so much more powerful and real when you see it or hear it. If you can even get one or two of his rants recorded on your phone it will change everything for you and might spare a bunch of students from enduring this guy in the future.

Even if you intend to stay with him I wouldn't tell the company everything is fine. I would let them know what's going on and how he's behaving, but that you're willing to endure it for a short time.

How long is your training period with this guy?

Wow. I literally just sat down from digging out two voice activated digital voice recorders just for that purpose, and I planned to set my phone to record video next time he has me drive.

My original plan was to talk to training Monday morning and then him Tuesday morning before we hit the road. Maybe I will not say anything to him until after I record his rants.

I am with him for roughly 4 weeks, or until we mutually agree I am ready.

The post I made is directly from my notes, though I don’t have dates and times, as I started from memory Friday. I could put most of it to dates and times from the logs though.

Ok just be careful. If you cross through a state that is a 2 party state and you're recording him without his knowledge you can inadvertently be breaking the law.

I would prepare now for that phone call on Monday by gathering as much accurate information as possible - direct quotes if possible, time of day and date also. When you can give them precise information like that they will be far more willing to believe you. Because there are definitely students who will exaggerate the problems or even be the cause of the problems but place blame on the trainer. We come across people like that in this forum from time to time, people who have never done anything wrong in their lives and everyone around them is an idiot and are clearly to blame for all of their problems.

So you want to make your case the way you would in court. Give them accurate facts and let them know you're simply looking for someone reasonable to work with.

Now if you really, really want to lock this in you should try to record some of his rants. It seems like he's ranting most of the time, so this shouldn't be too hard to do. Hearing about his behavior from you is only 10% as powerful as seeing it or hearing it for themselves.

In the NFL this past year there were a ton of cases where players were accused of domestic violence. Only two that I know of are out of football, and possibly permanently - the two who were caught doing it on camera. It's just so much more powerful and real when you see it or hear it. If you can even get one or two of his rants recorded on your phone it will change everything for you and might spare a bunch of students from enduring this guy in the future.

Even if you intend to stay with him I wouldn't tell the company everything is fine. I would let them know what's going on and how he's behaving, but that you're willing to endure it for a short time.

How long is your training period with this guy?

Wow. I literally just sat down from digging out two voice activated digital voice recorders just for that purpose, and I planned to set my phone to record video next time he has me drive.

My original plan was to talk to training Monday morning and then him Tuesday morning before we hit the road. Maybe I will not say anything to him until after I record his rants.

I am with him for roughly 4 weeks, or until we mutually agree I am ready.

The post I made is directly from my notes, though I don’t have dates and times, as I started from memory Friday. I could put most of it to dates and times from the logs though.

Ok just be careful. If you cross through a state that is a 2 party state and you're recording him without his knowledge you can inadvertently be breaking the law.

Good advice

Sorry it took me so long to answer. AT&T hates Wyoming and Nebraska for some unknown reason. Mainly Wyoming.

Just call Jo. If nothing else, just tell her you are requesting a different trainer; because of, personality conflicts. Personally, just be straight with her. She is a no nonsense person who is all about being direct.

If you were an OTR guy I would gladly take you on. However, to be honest, me training you is not practical in the least bit.

1). I avoid the NE. So you wouldn’t see home or get a feel for the freight in the area.

2). I am a heavy smoker. It would be unfair to subject you to that. I keep Phillip Morris in business by myself, lol.

3). Since I volunteered for reefer , you would mainly see what is west of the Mississippi River.

As far as berating and yelling at 4 wheelers. Umm, no guarantees that wouldn’t happen. I am an angry individual. LoL.

Simply, just call Jo and have a candid conversation with her.

I find it funny you call yourself "grumpy old man" yet you seem to be describing your trainer more than yourself.

I find it funny you call yourself "grumpy old man" yet you seem to be describing your trainer more than yourself.

LOL

The Grumpy Old Man is because that’s what my daughter calls me. I’m actually fsirly easy going until I get angry. :)