Trainer Questions

Your over thinkin it just be flexible and hope you get a cool trainer or hope you had one like I did ex marine hell I thought he was gonna have me do push ups a few times but you know what I did what he wanted so I didn't have to hear him ##### and it all stuck and many safe miles since then

 

I recommend telling the trainer what YOU expect. Make sure the ground rules are established up front, ie.. what to call you and what trainer should be called. Are both ok with certain language r not? Smoking? Showering-how often? sleep schedules? City driving and backing, will you get the opportunity. Why is he/she training is a good question but mostly you will get the same answer, I feel I have something to offer and want to ensure new drivers are safe and courteous while a lot of the real, behind the mask reason, is extra money, period.
Make sure he/she doesn't just have you holding a steering wheel. Get some good city time and make sure to get some backing practice. Alway remember, no one was born driving a truck, we all had to learn somewhere someime, somehow.
Stephen

 

"worth" turning down a trainer is relative. If you are willing and able o wait it out for an extra day or more, then maybe yes, it may be worth waiting for some one you can get along with. You have to live in that truck with that person for probably a few weeks at least. I sucked it up with a trainer for three weeks , as a refresher two years ago, I was miserable and finally I let him have it with both barrels.

 

As a previous Primer trainer I can tell you that you should make sure that you ask the following.
1. What is the driving plan? How much driving will I get from day one. If it is a trainer that has it together then I think you should get 1 hour the 1st day and then it doubles after that each day.
2. Bad weather, how will the trainer handle you driving in bad weather. Granted the weather can flip on you, but her/she should not plan on putting you behind the wheel in a snow or rain storm. Highwinds are another matter.
3. Backing practice. How often is he going to work with you on your backing. This should be a high priority, and you should be backing daily, Don't fall for the line that you will get backing practice when you get back to test out. If he/she pulls that, walk away.
4. Pre-Trip inspection - Will he/she work with you daily on it. You should be doing at least 2 a day. Also go to the examiners shack at the backing pad and get the checklist they have there for the Pre-trip. Make sure it matchs the one given out in class, if not then use the one from the examiners.
5. Showers - How often, be prepared to shower once every 2 days, insist on it in fact.
6 Food - Does he/she cook in the truck or eat at the truckstops.
7 Refrigerator space- How much are you going to get.
8 How often is he/she going to stop at the Walmart so you can load back up with food.
9. Storage space. Will you get any? Probably not, but does not hurt to ask.

Hope this helps

 

Good Luck..

 

I don't think pissing off the trainer is a very good idea. Don't ever give him the impression you are questioning his authority, knowledge or authority. Remember that your knowledge is extremely limited and no matter how little he knows it is still more than you know. You just have to get through this phase of your training so make as few waves as possible.

 

I to have plenty of experience of driving in the rain, snow and ice, I lived in Tacoma for 9 years (Rain) and then in Fairbanks AK for 4 years (Snow and Ice) then in Cleveland for 12 years (Rain, snow and Ice), and I can tell you for sure, that truck will handle totally different in the rain than you think. So DO NOT be overconfident about it. You also have to worry about the pesky 4 wheelers who have to go through your spray to pass you, they are the worst as they are very seldom prepared for the spray, wind buffeting them.