Can an owner operator be a trainer to someone who only has a permit? I failed my manuveurs part of my school and they are letting me go and I was approached by an owner operator who said he would train me on the road. How would I check him out? He goes by the name goatman. I would give you his real name but dont think I am allowed to on here. What should I ask him and what should I look out for? Please advise.

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Ask him what are his intentions are?May be money that You have to pay for training or he just looking for somebody to drive for him.
Anyway be carefull.Ask locals about him,what company he works for.

this really is a tough one to answer. his "intentions" my be honorable, or maybe not. he could be looking for a driver, or a "partner" if you know what i mean (wink-wink). i'd be very leery of his "proposition".

i cannot see why your school is "letting you go". we all basically advised you in your other thread to seek legal advice on this matter, as they have YOUR money.............you'd had darn well better get a lawyer, really, because if they are letting you go, then they should refund ALL OF YOUR MONEY.............

as for that owner-operator, find out by asking him straight out, who he is leased on with. ask to meet his wife, kids, etc,etc, and watch his reactions. i'm believing he wants an "interlude" with you, and doesn't really care about anything else...............

always be suspicious when a guy says he wants you to be his "co-driver", cuz most times, he's looking at a different kind of "driving"..............


PS, i sent you a PM about my "true feelings" about this owner-operators "intentions".........

I have seen his posts but that does not mean we know him or his intensions. I will tell you that I would do that for someone if I had my own truck. But the real question is who is he and are you both going to make money? As students we all climb into trucks with people we don't know and spend 4-6 weeks with them. The only thing is that the company is paying the trainer and has a legal obligation to make sure we are safe. It sounds like a great gesture and he might be a great guy, I would just make sure that you have things in place in case something would go wrong. Check him out and see if you can do a short run with him. It does not take much to gain skills and he could teach you most everything you need to know in a parking lot. Enough to pass your skills test.

Just my 2 cents.

Skrog

No I dont know him personally but am getting to know him by phone and email. It will be a couple weeks at least until I go if I choose to do this.We talk daily on the phone and conversations have been had that it is strictly professional relationship, I have someone at home. The plan is to train me so I can be licensed and then run team with him. He drives a peterbuilt 379 with a 120" sleeper on it. a large car. which in itself kinda intimidates me. He says if I can learn to drive his truck I can drive anything. He is giving me his wife's name and no, along with his son's and some of his friends, and the company he works for. because I asked for references. So as soon as I get them I will be checking them out also. Thanks for all your help.

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I think that's the best way to learn as long as the guy isn't just a perv or serial killer

Maybe I'm too old school but I would think a woman teaming with a guy long term isn't going to work out too good.
But its slightly possible I don't know what I'm talking about.

Best of luck.

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This is not a personal attack against you or what you desire to do, or any O/Os out there. I say what I am saying for YOUR protection and well being. I don't know you or the O/O. This is my take on the whole situation. If it seems I am being harsh, un-forgiving, un-trusting, I am. I call a spade a spade.

I know more about your situation that some of the people on here do simply because I have followed your story through school from your postings on Trucker Spaces, and frankly I suggest that you go back to school and learn there.
1.The cold, hard facts may be that you are not cut out to be a driver. Some people just aren't, that's nothing to be ashamed of it's life.
2.If you decide to keep trying, then go with a company AFTER you get through school period.
3.You say you need one on one training; one of the primary purposes of any school is to see if you have the ability to learn so that you can get that one on one with a trainer at a company.
4.Forget the fact that you met this person on a website. Just pure logic and common sense should tell you that this is NOT a good plan or clear thinking on your part.
5.I don't care who it is or how long you've known them it's not a good plan to train under an O/O male or female period.
6.They have no benefits, if you get hurt WHO'S paying for it? Taxes?
7.If they go out of business you have NO references for your next job.
8.You have NO support out on the road. If there is a personal problem, for instance, suppose he wants to become intimate, and you don't, you can find yourself walking home. The company he's leased to has no say so since you are an employee for the O/O.
9.There is NO easy legal recourse against an O/O in the instance that you don't get paid. Again,the company he's leased to has no say so since you are an employee for the O/O.
10.They have total control of your money. With a company you at least have legal recourse in the event that there is a problem between you and the company over wages.
11.The companies have a legal liability to protect you and make sure you get home in most instances. Again the company he's leased to isn't going to get involved,since you are an employee for the O/O.
12.I think it's a foolish thing to even think about in your case since you don't know this man and have NO way to verify anything about him at the personal level without doing an extensive background on him and even then you won't know anything personal about him. All that tells you is the person has never been caught doing anything illegal or immoral.
13.For your own sake and safety's sake, go back through school, if you fail then again, then accept the fact that trucking is NOT the type of work for you and move on with your life.
The bottom line here is use your BRAIN to not your desire to decide this. We can all talk our selves blue and unless you use common sense to make an ADULT decision we've wasted our time trying to help you. People we meet on line are not always interested in helping you. Ask yourself this: Why would he want to increase his insurance rate to take on a student? Has he had students before? If so will he give you their names and a way to contact them? What do you know about the company that he's leased to? Is it a bona-fide legitimate company or some hole in the wall outfit that doesn't care what goes on.
Why did he approach you? Predators sense weaknesses in their prey. You've let it be known that you r desperate, that's a weakness.
What's his motivation?
Why would you trust his family to tell you anything about this person? You don't know them either. References should be from a legitimate source that deals with a person on a business level. You stated: " He is giving me his wife's name and no, along with his son's and some of his friends, and the company he works for. because I asked for references". Companies cannot BY law tell you anything about this person without a signed release from the person in question.
Why do you want to be a driver? Is this a real desire or just some dream of yours that over time will fade and not be as glamorous or exciting once you manage to get in it.
Are you willing to forget your life as you know it and live the life of a driver and pay the personal price that YOU will pay because you are never there for friends and family.
Last are you willing to put yourself in the position to become a statistic? The grim facts are that thousands of people disappear in the US maybe later to be found as a nameless body dumped in some secluded place because they met the wrong person on line and did a stupid thing and paid for it with their life. GO back to school for your OWN sake and safety!!!

I postd my response earlyer without even realizing you were a woman. I wouldn't condone it. Woman/ man teams can work. my father did it for years but it takes the right two people and that is hard to find.I know being a woman "shouldn't" matter but the truth is it does. I don't trust these people I meet out there and I'm a BIG guy

Sounds like you may get a deal/break with this oppurtunity