IMO a minimum of 5 years with a clean record anything less and you have a rookie training a rookie..
How Much Experience Should A Trainer Have?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by MojoPotatoe, Oct 1, 2011.
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A trainer is many things. They must have the eyes of an Eagle, compassion of a Mother, and the passion & pride within themselves to do a very demanding job. Not many can do it. 5 years OTR is a bare minimum. I say this with great pride, I trained one driver. I kept him with me 6 months. I had 20+ years behind me back then. The tractor was mine, paid for. The man that trained me kept me for almost a year. It was a different time back then. A lot of drivers just want to make money. Some drive because of a need deep inside. I sent two home on a bus for their sake. He closed a promise I made so long ago. At a Truck stop in Amarillo over breakfast I made a call. He was washing up. When he sat down I told him to pack up, he was going home. He looked at me like a slapped puppy. Why? Did I do something wrong? No, Your new tractor is waiting for you at the yard in San Antonio. Driver I asked? what is my No1 rule about mountains? He said, you can come off one 1000 times to slow, but just once too fast. He was ready. He calls or emails me almost every week. He is doing just fine
mtnMoma, Pegasus, MojoPotatoe and 1 other person Thank this. -
If you knew what the hell you were talking about even every once in a while, people wouldn't have to correct you nearly as often. So, either check your facts BEFORE you post, or grow thick enough skin to deal with the criticism when you are wrong. I cannot in good conscience sit idly by while you (or anybody else, for that matter) try to pass off bad information as the truth. -
You never answered to my other comment. Are you gods gift to driving? Apparently, you never made a mistake. You're the only perfect human on the face of the earth.Last edited: Oct 2, 2011
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The thing with having someone with little experience training someone with no experience is, if you dont know it you cant pass it on.
MojoPotatoe Thanks this. -
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At c r england u 2 can train 6 months out of school, joy! Became a trainer after 20 years! You have to been there done that a few hundred dozen times
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The training experience I had:
6 months with a 50+ year experienced driver. He has hauled everything but people and livestock. We were hauling wood chips, logs, and heavy equipment. On road, off road, two lanes, dirt roads, residential neighborhoods, and a bit of divided highway. Gross weights up to 130,000 & 12 feet wide. I also learned how to grease a truck, change the oil, adjust manual slack adjusters, and some other light maintenance work.
I would say that I learned more than I would have if I had gone to a "school" then worked for a "starter" company.
After 6 months solo, the company ran out of work, I (being the new guy, I'm sure) was laid off, found my second trucking job- pulling a flatbed for a small company that operates regionally.
Now, back to my trainer. As I said, 50+ years of trucking experience, 10 years with that company. He was very laid back, only really said something when I did or was going to make a mistake. He was the last driver to get a truck stuck, I don't recall him ever grinding or missing a gear.
Does one have to be as experienced to be a good trainer? I don't think so, but I'm glad I was fortunate enough to be trained by someone so experienced.
Only downside: when I got laid off, the big trucking outfits wouldn't hire me because I didn't go to truck driving school. I laugh about that now.MojoPotatoe Thanks this. -
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