A Thread for the Trainer

[didntitellu]

Yes I agree Kabar. There are good and bad. My last one was let go by the company. Unfortunately he just wasnt cut out for this line of work. But I have one former student if he called me today looking for work I would buy another truck for him to drive without hesitation.

[alot-to-learn]

Originally Posted by Kansas

alot-to-learn, "there but for the grace of God go I" is a statement that comes to mind regarding your student. Although I feel your pain (boy do I feel your pain LOL) I have seen this before. Some of these guys just get nervous, and every bit of common sense there ever had flies out the window. Not that it helps you in any way shape or form, but I have seen these guys more than once, and I have seen a couple of them turn into awesome drivers. I think "what it is", their nerves are so shot, and they want to please so badly they blow their own minds.

I could have never believed this if I hadn't seen it first hand myself. I had a student driver that just sucked in every conceivable manner. This guy couldn't back, he couldn't follow simple directions, he couldn't even play the read the road sign game with me. He was safe, and at no time did I ever feel we were in harms way, not really anyways.

Only a couple months after he got his own truck I saw him at one of our terminals. I didn't say a word to him, and kind of stayed hidden out of his eyesight. I watched this guy back an empty into a tight hole, watched him unhook and re hook to a new trailer. He never made a mistake and if I didn't know him I would have thought he had been doing it for years.

After feeling like a proud papa, I went over and talked to him (I was grinning ear to ear and wanted nothing but to shake his hand and pat him on the back). He instantly lost all of his confidence and started fumbling around like a first day rookie, and it was clear this guy was just intimidated by me. Probably not so much "me" but as the person that controlled his destiny with our company.

We discussed what I had just witnessed (him backing like a pro) and we also discussed why he lost his marbles when he saw me. I did my best to reassure him, and let him know he was a full blown company driver, and in no way did I have anything to do with his job at that company anymore. Hell, I tried to be his buddy. I think it actually helped.

I don't think of myself as physically intimidating but my wife tells me I look that way. maybe he was abit scared of me but I always try to put people at ease and smile, crack a few jokes just to keep things light. yeah thats me, a few years ago

[StrawberryWine_SC]

Originally Posted by alot-to-learn

I don't think of myself as physically intimidating but my wife tells me I look that way. maybe he was abit scared of me but I always try to put people at ease and smile, crack a few jokes just to keep things light. yeah thats me, a few years ago

You're not so intimidating looking. The teddy bear in the background proves that.

[eckz]

Training takes alot of patience, and i've seen alot of trainers who have none. Those people have no business training.

From my experience (both from being trained myself from someone with zero patience, and from training people) the more you yell at them, the more nervous they become. Being nervous WILL make them do worse... Not to say that being nervous is nescessarily a bad thing, i always had a certain level of nervousness when i was driving, it keeps you out of trouble.. But, my trainer personally made me a nervous wreck, and most of the problems I had when i was with him went away when i got out and started to learn things on my own, when i started training i made it a priority to take my time and explain things, and to understand that they diddn't know everything right out of the gate like most trainers expect them to.

I've had some close calls, but i don't think i've ever lost my patience. I've also never had a trainee get into any kind of trouble while in my truck, or in their own (at least not to date, i think i trained about 11 people)

Just remember, a little patience will go a long way, once your training long enough to realize some common mistakes, take a second to be proactive and let them know ahead of time.. Don't wait for them to make the inevitable mistake that everyone else has made, and then yell at them for it.

I know, being patient is hard, and us drivers were never known for it (Just look at what we have to put up with on a daily basis)

But a little goes a long way. >.<

[Trucking_mom_mom]

Hi just came in here to see what trainers are looking for. I got my CDL last week and i'm going to work for CRST. My husband has worked there since Jan 09. he did not have a good start he spent his first 3 weeks looking for a truck all over the country, each one the would find would go to another team or it was so bad they could not drive it. his trainer was new also. I hope my luck is better. I just wanted to say hi and please have the patience with us newbes we do want to please. lol

[didntitellu]

Originally Posted by Trucking_mom_mom

Hi just came in here to see what trainers are looking for. I got my CDL last week and i'm going to work for CRST. My husband has worked there since Jan 09. he did not have a good start he spent his first 3 weeks looking for a truck all over the country, each one the would find would go to another team or it was so bad they could not drive it. his trainer was new also. I hope my luck is better. I just wanted to say hi and please have the patience with us newbes we do want to please. lol

Trainers are no diff than students. There are good ones and bad ones. I believe as a trainer I am only as good as my student is. The key to success is communication. If at any time you feel that you are unable to communicate with your lead, try to talk to him/her and see if you can make a change. Let them know you take this serious and realize these few days you spend together will help form a lot of what you do for the rest of your career. If that does not work ask dispatch to pair you up with someone else. They will listen if they dont hear a lot of finger pointing and blaming. The time a student spends on a trainer truck is tense. First you have usually spent 4 or more weeks in school and then orientation. It's time to get out of the classroom!! While it is very normal to be nervous climbing aboard a stragers truck about to depart on a 28 day adventure that may land you anywhere, it is also very rewarding and can be a lot of fun.

One thing I encourage my students to do is take notes. Sometimes you will have qyestions that we may not have time to immediately answer. So write them down. Uf they are important enough to ask they deserve our undivided attention in answering. Also try and find time every week (I like to sit down to breakfast) and talk with the trainer about what he/she sees and how you feel. What do you both think about the process. What do you need to work on a little more?

Above all try to relax and enjoy it! Good luck to you!!

[alot-to-learn]

Originally Posted by eckz

Training takes alot of patience, and i've seen alot of trainers who have none. Those people have no business training.

From my experience (both from being trained myself from someone with zero patience, and from training people) the more you yell at them, the more nervous they become. Being nervous WILL make them do worse... Not to say that being nervous is nescessarily a bad thing, i always had a certain level of nervousness when i was driving, it keeps you out of trouble.. But, my trainer personally made me a nervous wreck, and most of the problems I had when i was with him went away when i got out and started to learn things on my own, when i started training i made it a priority to take my time and explain things, and to understand that they diddn't know everything right out of the gate like most trainers expect them to.


I've had some close calls, but i don't think i've ever lost my patience. I've also never had a trainee get into any kind of trouble while in my truck, or in their own (at least not to date, i think i trained about 11 people)

Just remember, a little patience will go a long way, once your training long enough to realize some common mistakes, take a second to be proactive and let them know ahead of time.. Don't wait for them to make the inevitable mistake that everyone else has made, and then yell at them for it.

I know, being patient is hard, and us drivers were never known for it (Just look at what we have to put up with on a daily basis)

But a little goes a long way. >.<

I never yelled at any of my students, I raised my voice when we were on a collision course with construction barrels tho!
I am patient, driving truck makes you even more so. the impatient types probably don't get far in this business.

[GasHauler]

Driver trainers will always be good and bad unless regulations are adapted and a set course of instructions are mandated. Alot of new drivers complain about the old timers blaming them for all that is wrong with the industry today. It's wrong to do that but you have to understand the way it used to be. Plus the new drivers are only using what they are giving or how far they pass the selection process.

Before the CDL schools took over when a new driver came on the driver trainer took pride in his or her training abilities because it reflected back on them. Nowadays most of the bigger companies could care less and once you leave the terminal and get to your drop without killing someone or putting the company in court you're good to go. And the CDL schools are only there to get the student his or her CDL. Years ago defensive and professional driving were at the top of the list along with taking care of the equipment. Pride in yourself and the company showed that the driver trainer took a keen interest in teaching the student how to drive the best way.

I believe for things to change there needs to be another endorsement for driver trainers and regulations that the company must follow to ensure the program is integrated into their safety program. The best drivers need to be selected and a decent incentive should be established.

Then maybe the "boys" at the top will realize that cost to operate will go down because accidents and insurance rates will decrease. Plus it gives the drivers an incentive to work for if he or she chooses to. I know that most will say we don't need more government intervention but something has to be done so it's not so scary on the roads todays.

[steelerfan67]

Originally Posted by GasHauler

And the CDL schools are only there to get the student his or her CDL. Years ago defensive and professional driving were at the top of the list along with taking care of the equipment. Pride in yourself and the company showed that the driver trainer took a keen interest in teaching the student how to drive the best way.

I believe for things to change there needs to be another endorsement for driver trainers and regulations that the company must follow to ensure the program is integrated into their safety program. The best drivers need to be selected and a decent incentive should be established.

Then maybe the "boys" at the top will realize that cost to operate will go down because accidents and insurance rates will decrease. Plus it gives the drivers an incentive to work for if he or she chooses to. I know that most will say we don't need more government intervention but something has to be done so it's not so scary on the roads todays.

There are some people who still care, I worked as a certified instructor at a school. I got the student before some of them knew what the inside of a truck looked like. I had a week to teach them how to drive a truck, so they could get their CDL. I was paid salary so I had no incentive to pass or fail either way. I made the same money regardless.
I did fail some as they had no business being in that truck, they just were not going to get it. I did take pride in teaching them the right way. I gave everyone of my students my personal cell and told them if they ever needed to talk call me. I taught not only how to drive but also how to be a professional, and to respect that truck. I gave them advice and told them what to expect out there, I did not sugarcoat this industry, and to this day I get calls once and awhile thanking me for the honesty and how what I gave them in a week made a difference in situations that had to deal with.
It takes a certain kind of person to have the compassion to teach and not just the ones who do it for the money. Too many "trainers" do it for the money and could care less if the student is taught the right way. It gives the good trainers and instructors a bad name

[dgarrett0008]

I would just like to say to all the trainers out there no matter how many bad student drivers you get dont give up because you are saving lives out there, and from what I am reading you are all good trainers. I am currently in USA at orientation, and I hope I get a trainer as dedicated and determined as you guys.