PRIME INC TNT Student In Need Of New Trainer...

Hey there everyone. Newbie to the road I’m currently in my TNT phase of my PRIME INC training. I need a new trainer as the one I have right now is really not a good match. However, my higher ups will not give me a new one, or are telling me it’s impossible to get me a new one right now—but my driver friends in this company are saying absolutely otherwise and I should have a new trainer before the end of a week.

I’m going to get off of my current trainers truck in a few days because I just can’t do it anymore with her. We just don’t work well together and our personalities are so different that it makes me nervous to even say anything at all to her. Without getting into it too much—were just not meant to be on a truck together—teaming or training.

So my question is—if the TNT matcher and my fleet manager want to keep bullying me about this, who do I go to next? Someone said HR. So I guess I will call them next.

I’m just really nervous about getting off because my trainer has quite the temper and I’m just very nonconfrontational and want to slip off as peacefully as possible.

Also is it really that hard to find a new trainer? I’m not a difficult person, I’ve done 10,000 Mi so far, and I LOVE the job. I just wanna be with a considerate trainer who doesn’t hate their job :(.

Bullying you? Saying that it's not possible immediately is not bullying you. On the new trainer bit, if you really think about it, the time you are with them is a short amount of time if you plan to do this for years. Make yourself do it, there will be many many things out here on the road that will be uncomfortable. Power through it, get it done, get your truck and roll on.

I like what Pete E. Pothole says about "there will be many many things out here on the road that will be uncomfortable. This is true. There will be times that things will go down in a way you may not like. But it's part of the job. Sometimes by people you must work with, sometimes from bad luck with your equipment, sometimes it's traffic & road conditions - they are all part of the mix, along with the part you really love. I'm not saying you will suffer or get bullied around all the time, no. And if you say I LOVE the job! then you need to take the whole nine yards, warts and pearls all together.

Welcome, TruckingAndPuppies.

First, let me say that I totally agree with you - training would be more fun with a trainer you enjoy. But keep in mind, this is a job you're being paid to do. Your trainer is not your personal tour guide escorting you around the country on vacation. You're being paid to learn how to drive a truck. It won't be a bed of roses all the time. You shouldn't expect it to be.

You'll come across plenty of people out there that don't like truck drivers and will not treat you well. People will cut you off, flip you off, and let you sit in the parking lot for hours until they feel like getting to you. That's just the tougher part of life as a driver. If you can learn how to get along with people that aren't the most agreeable folks it will help your career tremendously. You'll get more favors, you'll accomplish more, and you'll have more fun doing it.

I agree with Pete. You'll only be in training for a short while longer. Learn to get along as well as possible and try not to let anything bother you. These will be important skills you will need if you want to be a truck driver for years to come. You'll come across disagreeable people from time to time. Running away isn't a viable option most of the time. Making the best of it is a skill that will help you the rest of your life.

So even though she **** talked me on the phone to her friends after I went to my fleet manager the first time, insulted me multiple times, gave away personal information about why I need to go home, and told me what I can and can’t say to her because it makes her angry (even though I was simply saying we should calm down and talk about what had happened with another trucker in a truck stop while I was asleep in the back) , I should suck it up and deal with her terrible attitude? She screamed twice about how much she hates her job and can’t wait to get off this truck, and how much she hates how her students are “always trying to make her life hard.” When all I’m doing is trying to learn.

Bullying you? Saying that it's not possible immediately is not bullying you. On the new trainer bit, if you really think about it, the time you are with them is a short amount of time if you plan to do this for years. Make yourself do it, there will be many many things out here on the road that will be uncomfortable. Power through it, get it done, get your truck and roll on.

Erroll and Brett... well said.

I could carry on, but I won't. Welcome to the forum. Wish you well.

ps: Where's Kearsey and Susan when we need'em?!?!? ;)

I hear what you're saying. I get it. You're not having much fun with this person right now. I would rather be with someone I can have fun with, too. We all would.

What we'd like to help you understand is that getting along with disagreeable people is an important part of having success in this industry. That's the reality. You can view this as an opportunity. Figure out how to keep learning your trade and keep things as agreeable as possible. Learn what makes this person tick and see if you can develop a better relationship. It's totally possible. You just have to find the right key to this lock. If you can do that, you'll be a better person and a better driver for it.

Also, keep in mind that the next trainer might be much worse. Trust me, there are much worse out there.

I'm going to encourage you to make this work. Take it as your mission to get along and keep things cool. The best thing you can do is figure out what's upsetting your trainer and show some empathy. We all tend to focus on ourselves and our own feelings, which is why you guys are butting heads. You're focused on you, she's focused on her. You both think the other is the cause of your grief and doesn't care how you feel.

Take the initiative to ask your trainer about her life, her feelings, her frustrations. Let her talk about herself for a while. Show that you understand and that you're hoping to make this experience the best you can for her. If you can do that she's far more likely to do the same for you, or at least be far more agreeable.

If you really feel this is more than you can bear then try again to request a new trainer. Personally I'd like to see you learn how to make this work, but more importantly, I want you to stick with trucking and continue with your career.

I’m sorry I don’t think this is at a point where we can work it out. We are both too different and come from backgrounds that clash. She comes from a really hard and loud background, I come from a quiet, tolerant home.

I wouldn’t ask for another trainer if I couldn’t actually handle this. But I can see us eventually exploding on each other with how we are. Trust me I am a VERY patient person. So when I feel this way—it’s time to stop.

I know this job entails a lot of a-holes and jerks. Trust me I’ve dealt with them every day of my life before this job. I’m not a sensitive snowflake. I just stay really chilled out and keep my calm. But I’m too relaxed and calm for her, she prefers to be loud and super assertive. We’re just two very different people. I also don’t appreciate the things she says to me/ has said.

So I will remove myself from this situation. Thank you all for your advice. Hopefully they will have a new trainer for me.

I hear what you're saying. I get it. You're not having much fun with this person right now. I would rather be with someone I can have fun with, too. We all would.

What we'd like to help you understand is that getting along with disagreeable people is an important part of having success in this industry. That's the reality. You can view this as an opportunity. Figure out how to keep learning your trade and keep things as agreeable as possible. Learn what makes this person tick and see if you can develop a better relationship. It's totally possible. You just have to find the right key to this lock. If you can do that, you'll be a better person and a better driver for it.

Also, keep in mind that the next trainer might be much worse. Trust me, there are much worse out there.

I'm going to encourage you to make this work. Take it as your mission to get along and keep things cool. The best thing you can do is figure out what's upsetting your trainer and show some empathy. We all tend to focus on ourselves and our own feelings, which is why you guys are butting heads. You're focused on you, she's focused on her. You both think the other is the cause of your grief and doesn't care how you feel.

Take the initiative to ask your trainer about her life, her feelings, her frustrations. Let her talk about herself for a while. Show that you understand and that you're hoping to make this experience the best you can for her. If you can do that she's far more likely to do the same for you, or at least be far more agreeable.

If you really feel this is more than you can bear then try again to request a new trainer. Personally I'd like to see you learn how to make this work, but more importantly, I want you to stick with trucking and continue with your career.

Well, I wish you luck, and I hope you'll keep us updated on this situation. We'd love to help any way we can.

if the TNT matcher and my fleet manager want to keep bullying me about this, who do I go to next? Someone said HR. So I guess I will call them next.

I don't think changing trainers is a big deal, but I worry that your company might label you as a problem if you make too much of a fuss, ya know what I mean? I think you can make this happen, but it's super important that you handle it the right way. Stay cool and professional. Don't start making demands or threatening people or anything like that.

I'm only saying this because I don't know you and I want to make sure you're aware that your situation is tenuous as a recruit in training. You don't carry the authority that a ten-year veteran does, so play it cool. Be humble, be kind, and just explain how you feel. Don't impose your will or show them who's boss. We've watched people raise hell only to wind up on a bus home that day. I don't want to see that happen to you.

Keep us updated and best of luck!

The page glitched on me the first time so let me also include that she said she doesn’t want to talk to me about anything—empathy towards her seems to upset her. Any time I show empathy or try to understand her she hates it. She “grew up hard” and I suppose she doesn’t care about strangers trying to understand.

So that’s another way we clash. Like I said. We can’t work or live together. I’ve been patient but I’m at the end of my rope.

I’m sorry I don’t think this is at a point where we can work it out. We are both too different and come from backgrounds that clash. She comes from a really hard and loud background, I come from a quiet, tolerant home.

I wouldn’t ask for another trainer if I couldn’t actually handle this. But I can see us eventually exploding on each other with how we are. Trust me I am a VERY patient person. So when I feel this way—it’s time to stop.

I know this job entails a lot of a-holes and jerks. Trust me I’ve dealt with them every day of my life before this job. I’m not a sensitive snowflake. I just stay really chilled out and keep my calm. But I’m too relaxed and calm for her, she prefers to be loud and super assertive. We’re just two very different people. I also don’t appreciate the things she says to me/ has said.

So I will remove myself from this situation. Thank you all for your advice. Hopefully they will have a new trainer for me.

I hear what you're saying. I get it. You're not having much fun with this person right now. I would rather be with someone I can have fun with, too. We all would.

What we'd like to help you understand is that getting along with disagreeable people is an important part of having success in this industry. That's the reality. You can view this as an opportunity. Figure out how to keep learning your trade and keep things as agreeable as possible. Learn what makes this person tick and see if you can develop a better relationship. It's totally possible. You just have to find the right key to this lock. If you can do that, you'll be a better person and a better driver for it.

Also, keep in mind that the next trainer might be much worse. Trust me, there are much worse out there.

I'm going to encourage you to make this work. Take it as your mission to get along and keep things cool. The best thing you can do is figure out what's upsetting your trainer and show some empathy. We all tend to focus on ourselves and our own feelings, which is why you guys are butting heads. You're focused on you, she's focused on her. You both think the other is the cause of your grief and doesn't care how you feel.

Take the initiative to ask your trainer about her life, her feelings, her frustrations. Let her talk about herself for a while. Show that you understand and that you're hoping to make this experience the best you can for her. If you can do that she's far more likely to do the same for you, or at least be far more agreeable.

If you really feel this is more than you can bear then try again to request a new trainer. Personally I'd like to see you learn how to make this work, but more importantly, I want you to stick with trucking and continue with your career.