Mentor/Trainer shortage?

Discussion in 'Swift' started by CuriousG, Sep 23, 2014.

  1. CuriousG

    CuriousG Bobtail Member

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    Hey All,

    I have been lurking for a couple months while I have been thinking very seriously about a career change to driving a truck OTR. I currently plan to go with Swift for a number of reasons and will probably start training around the end of October.

    My question/concern is that on a thread I read the other day someone mentioned that Swift currently has a shortage of Mentors causing a wait for those coming out of training/orientation. Can anyone confirm or deny this as true?

    Cheers,
    Gary
     
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  3. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    I had a QC message the other day about a mentor shortage asking for help in that area.
    Sorry I can't help, but I like my space and solitude.
     
  4. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Yes, there was a Qualcomm message that they need more mentors. I talked to a Driver Development Coordinator, the guy that tries to match new trainees with mentors, and he said that there is a push on company wide to increase the number of mentors and DDC's to help expedite a higher number of trainees efficiently through the system.

    Matching a trainee with a mentor isn't as simple as just saying, "You go with Bob". Bob may be halfway across the country and needs dispatches to route him to your terminal. That happened with my current trainee. From the date he was assigned to me to the date he actually got onto my truck was a week. I needed to get loads routing me home, then take home time in order to get a 34 hour reset. A mentor should have a fresh 70 hour clock to start training.

    Other issues may involve matching smokers with other smokers or nonsmokers with nonsmokers; or matching men with men or women with women. The more flexible a trainee and mentor are with their preferences the faster they can get matched up for training.

    I don't know what the average wait time is, but I've heard of cases where trainees get on a truck right away and cases where it can be well over a week.
     
    gpsman Thanks this.
  5. CargoWahgo

    CargoWahgo Road Train Member

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    Every mega needs trainers.

    That trainer might have 3 months exp so hope you get lucky and don't get a moron.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  6. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Timely thread. I'm upgrading a trainee today, but they had a particularly large orientation and seven trainee's waiting to road test. Not sure if he'll even be able to test today, and if he does there may be a wait for a truck. Some orientation classes can be huge and others have very few, depending on when folks want to start. If you are jammed with a big class there could be a long wait to get mentors to the terminal.
     
  7. ryan5464

    ryan5464 Light Load Member

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    I had a friend that was a trainer for USA. Said that he was paid for all miles while the trainee was paid his training pay or whatever. Anyone know if this is still the way it works? I would consider being a trainer if so
     
  8. A21CAV

    A21CAV Road Train Member

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    Another approach is to find a mentor here well in advance of when you will be finished with orientation. I contacted my mentor, Bluebonn, and he was in Laredo the day I finished orientation and we headed out that night.
    Frank
     
  9. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    Seems like you are more interested in training for the money, not actually training a student. Would recommend maybe you also get some more experience.
     
    HalpinUout and 27butterfly Thank this.
  10. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    That's the way it works financially, but...

    ... THIS is right on in two very important ways:

    1. If you in it for the money, then you are in it for the wrong reason. You first and foremost had better LOVE to teach. There's nothing like helping coach someone to success.

    2. If you really want to teach, then you have to know WHAT to teach.

    Have a [teaching] Plan, Work the [teaching] Plan.

    While you can become a trainer at Swift with as little as nine months experience, I wouldn't recommend it UNLESS you are a great teacher AND came to driving with prior RELATED experience. It would be far better to have a couple of winter's under your belt and a great track record. Prepare along the way to pass on your knowledge. Talk to mentors at the terminals and pick their brains on their teaching strategies.

    One thing about being a teacher, it's the best way to really learn something yourself.
     
    Eckoh, 27butterfly and blsqueak Thank this.
  11. ryan5464

    ryan5464 Light Load Member

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    I actually love teaching people to drive. Been doing it for years in 4 wheelers. Cousins, brother, sister. Stuff like that. For free. And as far as my experience. Really? I've been driving longer than 3 months. That's much more than can be said for CRST's trainers. Pretty sure they come out of school, go to orientation, then they get to be a trainer.
     
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