Prime- only newbies sing the praises 2

Actually there are "rules," and trainers are expected to be professional and abide by them. You might want to PM U2 about this - he's more familiar than I am with said rules.

Lets be real here - I am not an advocate of dropping a dime on other drivers, but in the case of training, it's a different story in my opinion. Part and parcel of the training deal is your feedback to your FM. If you're having problems with these guys - and no.s 1 through 3 are a problem - did you bother reporting their behavior to your FM, and in the case of no. 3, to safety? Nothing will be done about these dirtballs unless someone (you) takes responsibility to do something about it.

Welcome to trucking. It's not a "normal-punch-the-clock-job," and frankly many people are not suited to the life of a trucker. That doesn't mean you have to be a dirtball to be a trucker. Here's a wake-up call to you and anyone else looking in on this thread... trucking (especially long-haul trucking) is not just a job - its a lifestyle. You love it or hate it. You cannot expect to jump into this and have things be just the same as a cozy little life in an apartment with an 8-to-5 (or whatever) job. You don't go to bed at 9 and get up at 6... you sleep whenever you can, because the job starts whenever the shipper/receiver needs you at the dock, and then you fit your needs into what has to be done to get the freight down the road legally and safely. This job has its rewards as well... as much as I hear about what a hell OTR driving is, I wouldn't trade it for another minute in "cubical hell." And expect to be away from home... not a little, a lot. Get the significant others on board with this before you start and be straight with them about it; 5 months down the line on the road is no place to be dealing with that kind of problem. That is the job and lifestyle of trucking; deal with it or don't step up.

Yup, you're right about one thing... FMs have no clue about what goes on out here unless someone gives them said clue; if you want things to be different, man-up and let them know about it. The personal habits of trainers no. 1 and no. 2 make them absolutely unsuitable to be trainers - you have to be the one to communicate this to management. If you're going to be on a training or team truck, you have to adapt your lifestyle to living with others in a really small world - the closest thing I can compare this to is military life in an open-bay barracks. If you've had that experience, you know what I'm talking about. If you've been a civvy all of your life, you have no idea.

As far as structure goes, there is structure provided by the company to the trainers. Its then up to the trainer to provide that structure in the training process. As much as many potential drivers are not fit for this career, many drivers are not fit to be trainers either. Unless you provide that feedback, nothing will be done about it.

Good luck with no. 4 - lets hope that one is the ticket to your future career.

 

Yeah it's different... and yes I've told the FM's each time... and requested a different trainer each time. And I hope #4 is better. I'm actually going to the T/S and before I get on the truck tell him what I've been thru, and if his truck is a mess or he seems a mess or our talk doesn't seem good then I won't even go with him...

 

By looking at the Poll, it seems pretty accurate then, does it not ???

 

Not in my experience. I'd say the people who have problems with Prime will have the same problems with any trucking company. OTOH, there are plenty of things wrong with Prime - but I'd say that as a company driver, I'm much better off than others at different companies.

 

You'd say? You'd be wrong......

 

I thought we were over that. You worked for flatbed division, I work for reefer. I will repeat for the cheap seat... not in my experience... which is different than yours.

 

I guess we ain't over it. You keep saying things like..Not in my experience. I'd say the people who have problems with Prime will have the same problems with any trucking company. .

Then I step in and correct you...

 

Settle down boys... we are running in circles with this.

There are rules and guidelines for trainers. I would say 50 percent of a trainer's skills were learned by example from their own trainer.

What structure?... you mean pick up, drive, fuel and drop off loads? Any trucker can tell you its not as simple as that. You teach by not only example, but by explaining how and why you do it.

Ive only had one trainee so far, but I was a trainer at every other job and every other industry I have worked in.

I dont care what anyone tells there trainee, there ARE dumb questions... I dont belittle, identify, or ignore them... I try to find out where they are coming from or their train of thought, and go from there.

There is 60k miles to cram as much of your knowledge into a trainee... Not only do I try and teach the proper way of things, I also explain why I do things a certain way. I maintain an open policy for questions... even if its the same question 20 times.

Attention to detail... cant stress that enough.

To the guy with trainer problems... I only see one real complaint out of the 3 trainers and that is an issue and that is the violent temper. The others arent really job related. Pervy and gross... but what about their training abilities.

Everyone has their quirks, and though the pee bottle thing is disgusting when there are facilities around... I bet you will use one in an extreme situation. Did you discuss it with him?

Please dont take this the wrong way, but you need to have a thick skin out here... Unless you feel your trainer is unsafe, illegal, or short changing you on your training, a trainee should get the miles in and be done with it. Then you will be on your own and you can live the way you want to live on your truck.

You are about 10-11 weeks in and only half way done... potentially wasted time in my book with all the switching trainers.... my trainee was done with miles about 13-14 weeks. He took 4 day hometime mid way and got over a week at home when he reached 60k.

Talking to your next trainer is a great thing!... every trainee should interview their trainer... just like a trainer should interview a trainee.

 

I couldn't agree with you more!!!!!!!!

Dh's trainer had a temper and severe control issues. He's also a "do as I say and not as I do" kinda guy. But enough of that.

Come Christmas, his trainer put the truck in the shop by his house and the shop messed it up to where it wouldn't even start. What was supposed to be 5 days home time turned into 15 and Dh certainly wasn't getting in any miles sitting at home. At day 13, I saw a message on the internet of a trainer looking for a trainee. Well, they posted a couple of notes back and forth and decided that they had a few things in common, so they spoke on the phone for over 2 hours. That phone call was soooooooooo worth it as they get along great!!!

When two people are confined to such a small space, it makes all the difference in the world if they "click" or not.