Estes Dock worker

I was trained on forklift the same way. Fortunately there's not much to it so the yelling should stop soon as you get better at it.

 

I don’t let that start, someone goes to yelling at me I’ll tell them, we’re both grown individuals, you talk to me like a grownup, or I’ll start talking down to you as if your an imbecile, and if you don’t like the way I operate this forklift, then show the proper way, aren’t you supposed to be training me?
Or am I just doing your job for you? If that’s the case, get outta the way, you’re invading my work space.

 

Dockwork can be busy and some people have no patience and yell a lot. Do things to the best of your ability and in a couple of months you'll look back on this and laugh.

 

I would request an immediate intervention with H.R. outlining the trainers bad attitude and telling them that you have been demeaned, and are both emotionally and psychologically damaged, and will require reparations.

 

That works just the opposite with me. Treat me that way and the person has a life long enemy. I have a deep hatred of people that yell and scream at others.
The guy screaming at you is, in his way, telling you he thinks you're stupid and the only way to get through to you is to scream and yell. He's insulting you and trying to impress the other employees into thinking he's a big shot and important.

 

While Dave's post was a sarcastic response, I did work LTL and actually it was actually at Estes for several months. I was a driver though, not a dockworker. OP what I would do is try to express your concerns to your trainer and be sure to ask ANY questions that you might have. You also need to tell him that you will not tolerate being yelled at (I'm guessing you are the same size or smaller than him, otherwise he wouldn't have such a big mouth. That's always the case with those types).

Dockwork is a serious job and can cause serious injuries. You need to be trained properly. You are also dealing with loading and securing Hazmat material. This needs to be respected too.

If that Estes location can't get you a good trainer than you might need to think about finding another place to work if they cannot train you PROPERLY to do the job safely and effectively. And no matter what, please take your time on that forklift no matter how much they tell you to hurry up. You are operating a heavy piece of machinery (with hazmat material no less) and that needs to be respected.

Also OP where are you at if driving is your end goal? There's some Old Dominion locations that are currently doing a dock to driver program, whereas I'm assuming you're working the dock now and hoping to land a spot on Estes dock to driver program when/if it becomes available at that terminal. Definitely check Old Dominion and see if they have a dock to driver opening around you so that you don't waste any more time on the dock than you have to (not saying dock work is a waste of time but if OP's ultimate goal is to drive then he needs to get off the dock ASAP).

LTL is among the highest paying sectors of trucking for company drivers. Estes is a great company too. Now is a great time to get into LTL due to the driver shortage so if you're getting your foot in the door, that's great. But hopefully you've already discussed with Estes your desire to get your CDL and drive. You don't want to be on the dock 2 years from now if your end goal is to drive, so make sure that the Estes Terminal you're at actually has a dock to driver program for you in the future. Because in 2 years time you could get your CDL from a local community college, stay a year with a starter company OTR and then apply to ANY LTL company and you'll get in if the economy and labor force stays the way it is.

Or if you didn't want to do OTR I think YRC/Yellow is getting government money to put lots of drivers through their CDL training program where they will pay you to get your CDL. You could go that route as well to get your 1 years experience if you wanted to do that.

 

• CDL Driving Academy - Dock Worker Jobs |Work for YRC Freight
  Get Paid to Earn Your CDL
  Get Paid to Train: Four Weeks at a YELLOW CDL Driving Academy. The CDL training program consists of classroom instruction and behind the wheel training with an experienced instructor in preparation for the State Class A CDL Skills and Road Testing. Academy

 

Or he could tell that F@@@@R the next time you scream at me I will be throwing your a@@ off the F@@@@@G dock and going home. Just kidding! I really didn’t do this, or did I? If I did I have likely mellowed out some since my early 20’s. Let him know you will treat him the way he treats you. You are not a grunt in basic training and will not be treated as such.