Me Vs Trainer?

So i went with prime for cdl training have my permit and have been on the road with a trainer for almost 2 weeks, now i have a question for you guys, my trainer expects me to know how to back into ananywhere in 1 go, speed, and mever miss a turn, onviously this isnt how it worked out lol. Today at a redlight with a real weird set up ibwas looking around for my turn and he was mad that i didnt already know it, fine but what he said next has irked me, he went off on this speech about calling the fleet manager and telling him,i wont pass the test because i miss a turn once in a while or would,rather miss an exit then run someone off the road. If he calls the fleet manager how mich say does he have? And would i get a chance to demonstrate i know what im doing and make the occasional mistake? Thanks in advance

Hey Logan. It's totally common for things to get testy sometimes. You stick two people together in a small box for long periods of time and you're going to have some tough spots. The key for you is to keep your cool, go with the flow, and don't let what would have been a rough statement or two on his part turn into a gigantic mess for yourself.

Without being there myself I have to guess at what could be happening here:

1) Your trainer is human and sometimes teaching people something that you're already very good at can get frustrating sometimes. He might just be getting a little impatient. Again, just keep your cool and roll with it. Don't argue with him about stuff, don't try to prove a point, don't get defensive. Just treat it like you're in the Army and do your best to follow his lead.

2) He may be testing you. One of the things a lot of companies and their trainers will do is test your patience and tolerance in situations that aren't going your way. For instance, you're at the shipper ready to pick up a load that finally takes you home. You're dying to get home but the shipper tells you the load won't be ready for another 8 hours. How are you gonna handle it? Are you gonna fly off the handle or are you going to go read a book, take a nap, and try not to think about how disappointed you are? You'll have to deal with tough situations on a daily basis. Things that are out of your control. Keeping your cool and staying level-headed is critically important out there. It's possible there are times he's simply trying to push your buttons to see if you can handle it.

3) It's entirely possible your trainer has personal issues going on that you're unaware of. It could be problems back home, he might be considering leaving the company, or something similar. So if he's getting short-tempered and impatient with you where he might not have been before, it's entirely possible he's dealing with problems you're unaware of.

Your trainer will have a very big role in determining whether or not the company keeps you or not. Rarely will he have the only say or be the only voice in it. But he'll have a lot of pull. So don't get flustered if he's having a bad day or starts getting on your case. Like I said, approach it like you would the Army. You know it's going to be tough, you know they're not going to baby you, but you're there to accomplish something for yourself so keep your eye on the prize. You don't have to be friends with this guy but you want to be friendly so he doesn't start considering you the enemy.

Just keep a great attitude, keep learning, and keep working hard. Don't lose sight of why you're out there. You're out there to make a new career for yourself. Anytime you're considering saying something to him, ask yourself first, "Is this going to help me get closer to my goals?" You'll find that often times you're better of smiling, saying "Ok", and leaving it at that.

Thanks Brett. Good luck Logan. I'll bet here at TT, 100% of the people are pulling for you and want you to succeed.

Logan, I completely agree with Brett on this one.

I had a "whacko" trainer. It was a daily routine of his to threaten me with the fact that he was going to have to take me back to the terminal because I just wasn't going to make it. I basically just ignored his threats and did my job the best I could while sifting the good from the bad information he was giving me. I can't really put my finger on why he was like that. I think with some of these guys the fact that they are a trainer goes straight to their ego. Some folks need their egos stroked all the time just to make it through the day, so they will say and do things that make them feel like they are superior to others. If there ever was a career where you are going to run into some unusual personalities, truck driving is it.

This job attracts a lot of folks who just don't fit in well in many social interactions, there are a lot of type A personalities that think they are the best thing that ever happened to trucking. It's something that many student drivers have to accept and deal with. Sometimes I think my trainer thought I would really do better if he was threatening me, and other times I felt like he was just trying to push all my buttons to see if I would crack under the pressure. You would have thought I was the worst person he had ever trained. Then, after it was all over and done, and I felt like I despised this guy, we walk into the terminal to go see the men in the suits who have the authority to advance me into my own truck, and my trainer starts singing my praises to them! Yes, at that time you would have thought I was the best student he had ever seen! And here's the kicker - the office guys are just grinning at me and then they tell me that whenever they have a guy who makes it all the way through with this trainer they know they have someone who can handle the job!

That's the truth. Is it a strange way to get started in a career? Well, I think so, but it is what it is. As a rookie it is a balancing act to understand just how all this stuff plays out, but the one thing you have to do is keep yourself under control. Your mind and your emotions have to be kept in check.

If you can control those things in a continually stressful situation, you will be able to control an 80,000 pound vehicle on a daily basis.

Hang tough, the end is in sight.

You guys make some,good points, and youre right me getting mad and turning it into an argument wont help at all, I only have 2 more weeks with thus guy and im on to the next phase, thanks for the support, you guys really help keep things in perspective.

Is it wise to request for a trainer who is calm and doesn't yell? I'm asking coz it's very difficult for (don't know about other drivers) me to concentrate when someone is shouting instructions while l am driving.

Is it wise to request for a trainer who is calm and doesn't yell? I'm asking coz it's very difficult for (don't know about other drivers) me to concentrate when someone is shouting instructions while l am driving.

I know you're not the only one who could get into a "situation" if someone is yelling at you.

However, you may be considered "picky" if you start setting conditions like this. Better is to have a "get to know you" conversation with your new trainer. After all, they really are interested in you passing.

You could use a safety word to remind them you are getting nervous.

Example: if your trainer starts yelling, you say "Just a minute!". That's your agreed on code for "I'm doing the best I can please be a bit more patient with me!"

Is it wise to request for a trainer who is calm and doesn't yell?

Serah, this is only my opinion, take it for what it's worth - and that may not be much!

I think if you go in to this with a request like that you are setting a precedent with the people who are giving you a four week interview (that's what this training period is really like) that you are weak and unable to handle the stress of the job. For me, my training period was one long test just to see what I was made of. There were days I could have strangled the very life out of my trainer, and seriously felt justified in doing so.

It's funny how the company and the student have two different perspectives on what this "training" is all about. You are better off going into this with your best game face on and planning on looking like you've got nerves of steel and nothing is gonna rattle you. It will test you to your very limits. I remember my trainer one time (only one time) complimenting me and telling me he thought I was going to make it. He told me that most of his trainees broke down crying and quit before the second week was over with.

I think it is best to take what you get and try your best to make something good out of the situation. Serah, don't let my comments frighten you - I think I went through an extreme experience, but I'm glad now for it because it helps me to show others how to keep their chin up and survive their training time. Did you notice what Brett said to Logan?

Hey Logan. It's totally common for things to get testy sometimes. You stick two people together in a small box for long periods of time and you're going to have some tough spots. The key for you is to keep your cool, go with the flow, and don't let what would have been a rough statement or two on his part turn into a gigantic mess for yourself.

That is key to remember. Things getting a little testy in a training situation is very common. It is up to you to not let it get out of hand, if you can keep your cool then it will all work out. But, if you show that you can't handle it then it is going to go downhill like a truck with burning brakes on Cabbage Hill - and that's not a pretty thing.

Had a trainer kept saying "what are you doing" over and over, now c'mon if im doing something wrong then tell me what it is. I case of OwnerOperator/IC they have nothing to loose by being a trainer; their miles/revenue double, just annoying when trainer has no common sense/respect for others In the end I didn't learn crap from him....had to watch youtube to learn to proper way to shift. Also, at the end of week 4, back to Springfield, and god forbid if you don't pass the skill/road test then you'll easily replaced with driver with CDL in hand for 30k TNT. Logan try hard not to loose your temper, that's the only thing i can say; "you can't put out fire with fire".......

Is it wise to request for a trainer who is calm and doesn't yell?

Serah, this is only my opinion, take it for what it's worth - and that may not be much!

I think if you go in to this with a request like that you are setting a precedent with the people who are giving you a four week interview (that's what this training period is really like) that you are weak and unable to handle the stress of the job. For me, my training period was one long test just to see what I was made of. There were days I could have strangled the very life out of my trainer, and seriously felt justified in doing so.

It's funny how the company and the student have two different perspectives on what this "training" is all about. You are better off going into this with your best game face on and planning on looking like you've got nerves of steel and nothing is gonna rattle you. It will test you to your very limits. I remember my trainer one time (only one time) complimenting me and telling me he thought I was going to make it. He told me that most of his trainees broke down crying and quit before the second week was over with.

I think it is best to take what you get and try your best to make something good out of the situation. Serah, don't let my comments frighten you - I think I went through an extreme experience, but I'm glad now for it because it helps me to show others how to keep their chin up and survive their training time. Did you notice what Brett said to Logan?

Hey Logan. It's totally common for things to get testy sometimes. You stick two people together in a small box for long periods of time and you're going to have some tough spots. The key for you is to keep your cool, go with the flow, and don't let what would have been a rough statement or two on his part turn into a gigantic mess for yourself.

That is key to remember. Things getting a little testy in a training situation is very common. It is up to you to not let it get out of hand, if you can keep your cool then it will all work out. But, if you show that you can't handle it then it is going to go downhill like a truck with burning brakes on Cabbage Hill - and that's not a pretty thing.

Point taken. Think l will print out and keep that piece of advice from Brett. I value all your opinions with thanks.