Argument With Trainer. Need Help!

Mark O sounds a bit similar. If my driving was bad he wouldn't have his head down looking at his phone or feel comfortable enough to sleep. He has not taught me the Jake brake at all. I'm on YouTube most nights after driving 5+ hours straight learning techniques on how to back and use the Jake brake.

I also had high expectations. I thought the trainer would do more than sleep and be on his phone. When I'm backing he's putting me in a position where it's harder for me to see. I did ask him about it and he said that's the way it has to be. No problem, I follow his lead.

I do all the driving which is fine but 5 plus hours straight is hard on me. I never driven more than 3 hrs without at least pulling over. I see Andrey made a post about 3hrs or 150 miles. Great question because I forgot about that. We do neither. No safety check and he does not do a walk around pre trip. Wakes up in the morning marks down pre trip is done on the tablet, scans it to the truck and drives. I walk around the truck in the morning checking tires and glad hands and he told me once I didn't have to do that, but I do every morning.

Good luck with your trainer, I will see if I can salvage this relationship lol. He is still sleep, I'm up way too early.

I'm shocked that you're not using the Jake. How do you maintain speed on just a slow downhill much less steep declines?! At the last possible moment before heading through Raton Pass he jumped outta bed and showed me low gear... Thankfully.

I've been putting in 8-10 drive shifts. It's fine he's using me for miles, I get time behind the wheel. But I was hoping for the trade of imparting day to day ops for the extra cash he's making. Not one lesson on reading and understanding load assignments. I'll ask about them, telling him what I under they are saying, but get no feedback.

I'm shocked that you're not using the Jake. How do you maintain speed on just a slow downhill much less steep declines?! At the last possible moment before heading through Raton Pass he jumped outta bed and showed me low gear... Thankfully.

I've been putting in 8-10 drive shifts. It's fine he's using me for miles, I get time behind the wheel. But I was hoping for the trade of imparting day to day ops for the extra cash he's making. Not one lesson on reading and understanding load assignments. I'll ask about them, telling him what I under they are saying, but get no feedback.

YouTube. I did drive thru the mountains in Northern PA and was going way too fast downhill. All he said was slow down, I asked how because I had the service break completely pushed down as far as it would go. I was pulling 43k lbs at the time. He says use the Jake put it on high when you start going to fast. That was the only explanation he gave. That was on my 2nd day as well. Ever since I self taught, I think I'm using it the right way but I'm following what i saw on YouTube.

Also putting in 8hr shifts. I have no trouble sleeping at night lol. I am exhausted

Kerry, First congrats and good luck next week! Also congrats on the wedding and new life coming into this world!

Thank you so much. I am super excited and a little nervous and very much missing my wife because I couldn't bring her back just yet.

He is mister big shot million miler that can do no wrong. That is his attitude. He knows better than the GPS. Took me off route a few times into residential areas because he knows a better way. Gotten us lost a few times and even put us in a country club. But brings up the only 2 wrong turns I made.

I have kept an open mind and been very coachable. I have done what you said in another post and analysized my actions.. I do that in life anyway because I know I'm not perfect and I strive to become a better person each day. I guess him saying he is not a babysitter is a response to me asking questions before doing something. I asked him what he meant by that but he never explained. I never questioned his directions because he has been driving for 20yrs and has a million plus miles. I respect that.. I will try and talk with him because that's the kind of person I am.

Thanks for your response Kerry.

Not every person who has a lot of experience in a given field is necessarily possessing the traits to be good at training others. Reading your description of your trainer, it reminds me of people I have encountered on jobs who want to flex and kind of show off as far as how exceptional they are. It's possible that your personality and his just don't mix like oil and water. If he is receptive to the calm, rational conversation, sticking it out would be worthwhile. If he isn't receptive to that conversation, I wouldn't blame you for deciding to request a change for the sake of safety.

Also, no matter how much he gets on your nerves, you have to keep the talk back in check. He is the experienced driver and you are in his truck (loaner or not) to be trained. I don't know if it will help, but try thinking of him as your supervisor at any other job you have had.

One last thing: Respect is earned and not given. Your trainer has put in his time and earned that respect. You haven't put in the time yet, so you have yet to earn the respect.

I wasn't allowed to use the Jake at all during training. Learn to pay attention to signs and control the truck. Get it in the right gear and controlled braking because what happens if you can't use the Jake? What if it's raining or snowing? Learn how to drive without it then you can use it.

I wasn't allowed to use the Jake at all during training. Learn to pay attention to signs and control the truck. Get it in the right gear and controlled braking because what happens if you can't use the Jake? What if it's raining or snowing? Learn how to drive without it then you can use it.

I suppose that would apply to manual trans more than autos?

I suppose that would apply to manual trans more than autos?

It applies to both. The truck being auto or manual doesn't change the fact that using the Jake in inclement weather can lead to a jack knife.

TwoSides, I hope this morning brings a better day.

Maybe you two can bury the hatchet. If not, him leaving you at a company terminal seems better than kicking you off the truck in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time Knight had a Trainer/Trainee that were not compatible.

Hang in there!

Your feelings at that moment are all valid. Yes, you got tired and just really want to make just stretching because of your sore muscles. But always remember to keep your focus and first take a deep breath and think that it's all part of your training. Pressure is part of your work really soon. When you'll be the only one driving you'll realize that handling stress during times of pressure or tiredness is a process and that is part of being a skillful Driver. I hope you succeed in this career you will take!

If I read this correctly you pulled into a gas station that I assume wasn't meant for trucks then had to back out to get out? Did you have to back out onto the road?

If so I don't blame your trainer for being upset that is a good way to get in trouble.

As for the fighting sometimes living in a small space will do that I'd try to settle your disagreements and finish with him. You said he is a million miler so he obviously knows what he is doing, you should probably listen to him better. There is a good chance he know more than a GPS at times.