This is BKG's wife (again)! Sorry about that part... I should probably get my own log-in.

Brian is out on Evo 1 with a Roehl O/O trainer who is pretty much like the horror stories we had read about on this site... and thinking they were probably few and far between.... never thinking he'd get one. The guy swears and yells at him, won't answer questions and treats him like he's a pain in the butt. I would go into detail, but I just want to get this up so he can get some answers on what to do.

Brian did well at orientation and with the yard guy he rode around Marshfield for the first 3 days after orientation (I think he said that guy was named Chuck?). He was told during that time that the driver he was going to go out with would answer questions he had -- but that isn't the case. He left Sat afternoon with this O/O trainer, and things have gone from great at orientation and yard training -- to unbearable with this guy. He needs a new trainer.

It's obviously been 4 days with this trainer, and same as others at this site, he didn't do anything about it at first, thinking it would get better as they got to know each other. Things have remained bad.

The question is, who should I tell him to call, what should I tell him to do, etc., that will not get him fired. He wants to do well, wants to learn and wants to be at Roehl.

Also, do companies do this on purpose for some reason? Like to see if you can handle jerks? I don't get why these people, who must get complaints from other trainees, stay as trainers.

Please help! Thanks in advance. Theresa

I would have him call the dispatcher and ask to speak with the training co-ordinator. Not sure what the title is at this company but the dispatcher should know who this is. Short of that he can ask to speak with the guy that ran orientation.

Tell your husband to be honest with the company rep and simply say we are "incompatable." Bashing a trainer will put the company on the defensive and may make it tougher on your husband in the long run.

__________________
Knowledge is Power

Finally got my own login.

Brian is done at Roehl. He came home last Friday and they told him to call Sunday am, which he did, more than once. They finally called back today, and the person he was suppose to call transferred him to Mitch and he was told they were not going to "continue" with him because his trainer said he 1) had an attitude problem, 2) was not receptive to learning, and 3) was difficult to get along with.

We are obviously really upset about this. Brian did end up talking to Mitch about his trainer, and by the end of it found out some info about the trainer he had. Brian was this trainer's second student, and the first student was also terminated for the same reasons -- and that student wrote a letter to the Roehl addressing the same problems Brian had with the guy. Mitch told Brian he was being recorded while they talked (about 15 min) and that they were for sure going to investigate it and get to the bottom of it. Brian also asked Mitch to talk to Chuck (the yard guy he was with the first 3 days), to verify that he was not the kind of person this trainer said he was. Mitch said he saw Chuck every day and would for sure talk to him. Hopefully, something good will come of it for others.

I've obviously found out a lot more about what went on when Brian was out with this guy and it was crazy. I won't whine about all the details, but it was bad. Mitch did ask why Brian didn't call right when he knew there was a problem with the trainer. The thing about Brian is that he doesn't like conflict and he tends to kind of shut down and just deal with things. Plus, he was worried that if he complained, he'd be done there on the spot. We just hoped he wouldn't be back out with the same guy. I guess the advice for other new people is what i've read here 100 times: speak up ASAP!

The really sad part about this is that Brian is probably the best human being I've ever known... he is a good person to the core... and I don't say that because I'm his wife; I'm his wife because he is who he is. It hurts me more that he was lied about and made out to be "difficult with an attitude problem" than it does that he lost a job he wanted really bad. And he drove Chuck crazy with questions when he was out with him, so "unreceptive to learning" is ridiculous. He also quit a pretty good local job (but not good benefits, which we need) when he got Roehl, and that company was unhappy he was leaving and tried to get him to stay.

Regardless, we are worried about Brian's DAC report. Mitch had said that he would be getting a termination letter in the next few days, and that after Brian sent back stuff they want back, they would pay him for the time he did spend out. Emphasis on "termination." I think that was all said toward the beginning of the conversation, before they really talked, but I'm assuming it won't be different until Roehl does their investigation.

So here goes all the brain-picking: Does anyone know how will this affect his chances of getting another job? And does anyone know who Mitch is in the company? He told Brian he was the guy who always had to give the bad news to people, so we're assuming he's the guy that fires new people, but we are wondering if they really will look into this... if Mitch is higher up and really does want to know what went on. Should we look into getting the termination changed? And if so, who would we contact at Roehl to do that? And is that even worth it, as if it did get changed to resigned, he will have 2 resignations within a month's time, which can't be a good thing. Any advice?

Thank in advance, Theresa

I think at this point all you (or he) can do is to send a certified letter to the Terminal Manager. Document the issues your husband had with this "trainer." Hopefully the letter will be investigated by personnel higher up the food chain.

Trainers are a big commodity for companies that hire students and until there are many complaints about a specific trainer nothing will be done.
The trainer is the senior driver and has been promoted based on his time and record with the company as far as compliance, safety, and on time service.

Unfortunately a good worker does not always have the interpersonal skills to motivate, teach, and encourage that others with management training have.

It sounds to me this "trainer" in question relishes the position of authority and feels inferior when "questioned" extensively by students or trainees. Exposing his obvious lack of knowledge caused him to become defensive and hostile. A typical response I have seen from new and inexperienced managers in over their head. To my knowledge there are no trucking companies that actually train prospective trainers in interpersonal relations or conflict resolution.

In the meantime try and convince your husband to apply with some other training companies. DO NOT let him give up.

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Unfortunately I don't have much advice to offer you, but I wanted to send my best wishes to you and your husband... Hopefully he can try again at another company and have better luck with a different trainer.

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Dan H.
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How does someone get a copy of their own DAC report?

Okay, having read the story from your side, here's what I suggest.

1. When your husband gets the termination letter, make very sure that the reason is clearly stated, not vague.
2. Write a certified letter to ROEHL, Attention Roger Zophie (he's the head of training) detailing the details as exactly as you can.
3. Try to keep emotion out of it. As they say "Just the facts, Ma'am."

If you don't receive a response from ROEHL in a resonable time (less than a week), I would send a copy of the letter and a cover letter directly to Rick Roehl.

Having been a trainer for a number of years (not currently) I am surprised that the training department has fallen on such hard times that they are taking unopposed, the word of a trainer who has had two students who were "unreceptive and had attitudes." When I was training and had a problem student, both of us were talked to by the head of training and the situation resolved. Of course, I didn't have to many problems with students that we couldn't work out between us.

As for the DAC report, here is the web site:

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.



Good luck to you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!