Training Coordinator Unhappy With Me.

So the first time I talked with my training driver coordinator she was super nice, friendly and helpful. I have been on some of the Facebook pages related to my company and saw that some trainees were connecting with trainers on there. So I thought I would see if I could find someone who seemed like a good trainer that I would get along with. They only ask if you smoke, pets and gender preference for placing you with a trainer, not a whole lot of information.

Now my husband had the thought to ask his training coordinator when he talked with them if it would work if we found a trainer on Facebook. His training coordinator was all for it said it is a great idea.

So I find a guy that is giving advice to other trainers, not looking for a trainee. I pm him and ask if he will be available anytime soon and some other questions about him and his training. He gets right back to me and answers all my questions. He gives me his current trainee's phone number so I can call and talk with her. She has all sorts of good things to say about him, including waiting would be well worth it. He won't be available till December 1st because after she upgrades he is taking some home time.

So I decide to ask about waiting for him. I call up my training coordinator and barely get the words out of my mouth that I found a trainer on Facebook before she is telling me that NEVER works, there is ALWAYS some issue. I'm stunned by her reaction and change from friendly to huffy and angry. I try to explain to her that he wasn't out searching for a trainee and I have talked with him and his current trainee so I feel pretty good about this decision, doesn't change her attitude at all. I try to ask if she knows about how long I would be waiting for her to match me up and all she says is she has other trainees ahead of me. I try to ask her why people have had issues with trainers found on Facebook and she just repeats that it NEVER works and goes silent. I ask her if she can set me up with him anyway I feel like he will be a good fit for me. In a very short way she says she will and that I will have to go home to wait for him so pack up and get out of there. I say thank you for your help I really appreciate it and get nothing back but silence so I say goodbye.

I'm unsure how to handle this now. I certainly don't want to start off on the wrong foot with her or with a bad trainer if at all possible. I feel like calling her on Monday to check how things are going but she was so cold I just don't have a good feeling but I also don't want to get left out. Any thoughts?

I think you're mistaken here. There's lots of downsides to this.

Amber, you just learned something. You circumvented your driver coordinator's plans. She wants to get you on the road NOW. You want to wait for a "good trainer." This has nothing to do with Facebook. It has to do with timing and chain of command.

One thing about trucking that is completely misunderstood by most drivers is this whole layer of management thing. There are many layers of management. Each one required to be measuring and reporting on the one below it. We drivers are at the lowest level. We have only ourselves to manage. One of our most important jobs is to make it so the level above us has an easy time dealing with us.

You and your husband need to start at close to the same time. The company wants to make you into a productive team. If you wait two weeks, and your husband starts now, you're causing another two week delay (maybe more) for your husband later on. Two weeks of not driving is huge for new CDL drivers. That's why companies want to hire people immediately following truck driving school. Your barely a driver anyway - your new skills go south really quickly if you're not driving. They have a term for this it's called having a "stale" CDL. Most companies won't hire someone with a stale license.

One of the biggest mistakes newbies make is rocking the boat during training. They have their misconceptions about training, and they allow their fears of "getting a bad trainer" dictate how they proceed. I say get over it! Training is uncomfortable. You are just going to be stressed during that time. In fact your next year is going to be somewhat stressful. It's trucking - it should be obvious it's not easy to make a good start at this. The statistics of failure rates are daunting.

I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just trying to get you to muster the courage to jump right in here. I would go with your driver coordinator's recommendation. Get the ball rolling. Training is not anything like what you are thinking it should be. It's exposure to the realities out here. It's a time for you to show you have the grit to do an incredibly challenging job. You are only hurting yourself by waiting.

It's not good (as a newbie) to already appear as "smarter" than your driver coordinator. There's nothing that frustrates our managers more than throwing a kink in their plans and purposes. Honestly, if she can find you a trainer, I would go with whomever she comes up with.

I know this isn't what you were expecting, nor is it what you wanted to hear, but I'm hoping you see the importance of the points I'm making. You're the new guy on the job. Right now you need to cooperate and make every effort at getting this early stuff behind you. There is so much to learn at this point. You need to get started. You have got the entire year ahead of you. It's all going to be challenging, educational, and ultimately rewarding. You need to cooperate really well at this point if you want them to be helpful and supportive to you in the future.

Go get 'em Amber!

Old school, I like hearing truth! I was just really confused as to one coordinator being all for it and another being totally against it. She was upset way before she heard I would have to wait for him. So I guess I just need to call back and say I will go with whomever they find for me. I really thought I was helping because of what my husband coordinator said "if you find one great just let me know and we'll get you hooked up"

Ugh! Mistakes already!

I totally agree with Old School here. Something to consider is that

1) there are probably tons of requests for "visible" trainers. I have 47 requests at this moment by potential drivers. No way can i take them all and many will never qualify to get that far

2) This isnt fair to the trainers who arent on social media. There are tons of trainers who are awesome and can teach you.

3) You could be adding unnecessary work for the DM.

4) Many times the online thing doesnt work because believe it or not, there are "groupies" out there who stalk us. And often new people think they know those of us who are visible. They dont know us. we dont know them. You dont know that guy, you wont until you live together on a truck. What happens if you wait and find his truck is dirty and disgusting and he picks his nose while driving? Then you will want the DM to jump through hoops to change trainers Plus, you are relying on a trainee who could be a total moron. Can you believe her?

5) Part of trucking is getting into uncomfortable situations. That includes training. Adapt and overcome.

If you are already making demands and having expectations of "a better way of doing things" you are going to do yourself a disservice. Relax and concentrate on learning.

Oh damn, I sure have done it! The coordinator office isn't open on the weekends so now I have to wait till Monday to try and correct this, is it going to be too late then?

Ugh!

Oh damn, I sure have done it! The coordinator office isn't open on the weekends so now I have to wait till Monday to try and correct this, is it going to be too late then?

Ugh!

Think about this too.... the office knows more about the trainers and their "issues" than you do. Certain trainers i know arent allowed to take women due to past unproven accusations. So this DM may have her own set of "go to trainers". This DM may have had issues with student/teacher in the past and just wants to look out for you.

The guy said "if you find a good one..." honestly, you wouldnt know a good one. People lie and put on a good face that can't be hidden for long.

i wouldnt sweat it. If it is already arranged and you are happy and want to wait, fine. But understand that since he was your choice, they may not be as willing to accomodate a change later if you want to switch.

You are fine Amber. Just get ahold of her Monday. Eat a little crow and simply say, "Ya know what? I think I may have jumped the gun here. I'm gonna go with whomever you come up with. I'm ready to get this started." She will be glad to hear from you.

My take on yours situation goes like this: in theory you should have one trainer for this in your lifetime. (Yes if it's not working out, you try to change, but everyone's intention is to get you through the training to be a "first seat" CDL driver quickly.) I'm sure few fresh-out-of-school newbies take it upon themselves to find their trainer (like you did)! I didn't, and was happy with the one I was assigned to.

Some training coordinators might allow you to do your own looking, and the consequences good or bad are on you. Your hubby's coordinator green lighted him with blessings. Your coordinator said "Oh, no! This will cause problems!" maybe because she had had & doesn't want to deal with these issues. There's probably no policy at US Xpress about this, so each coordinator does their own thing. I've tried rocking the boat myself a few times. Sometimes it works, sometimes it wasn't a good idea. Life goes on.

Amber, the training won't last more than some weeks. Your coordinator didn't want your help in getting her job done. Keep your eyes on your goal, do what you have to do, and enjoy your new career.

Thank you guys so much for all your input!

I think I will call her on Monday and apologize for letting my fear of a bad trainer get the best of me, for making her job harder and for not staying a team player. Let her know I'm happy to stick with my choice if that is easiest or to go with whomever they find for me.

I know from all of you this is a short time so I think I can stick it out with any personality except someone who isn't training me. I have worked with a few nut jobs over the years and have managed to handle them thru the season with little issue, so I know I can do that part just really want to learn the most I can in this short period.

Amber you also have to remember your coordinator is human. I have no experience with USX, but at Swift Fridays are one the most hectic days for coordinators. They are trying to get everyone taken care of before the weekend. You may have followed 10 problem child students and you got the chill.

Just as we have off days the office staff does too.

As you learn the chain of command and the politics for your company you will learn how to maneuver for your benefit.