Advice on what to do about a bad mentor

The dudes full of crap, and thats what they will cover him with. Just tell them what I just read, sounds like this yahoo is more of a menace than a mentor.

 

I just sent you a P/M.

 

OP did it ever occur to you his "buddies" may be figments of his imagination, and nobody is going to cover a guy that makes you sleep in the top bunk while rolling. Can you prove he was texting while driving? Those are both illegal to do, and would get him fired.

The rest you have complained about is just cry baby stuff that I wouldn't bring up to anybody else, it only makes you sound bad. Do you really want to stand in front of a manager and tell him they wouldn't let you go pee pee?

 

Are you serious?? he actually told you 'if you have to pee, to pull off on the highway or use a pee-bottle while driving?? thats F-ed up !!

And i'll tell you another thing...back when i was a student, my first mentor was so bad. I wont even go into details, but i didnt last a week on his truck....but anyway, you had to make a phone call to phoenix mentor training department and they'd ask you questions...etc. one of them i KNOW was "has the mentor asked you to sleep in the top bunk while the truck was in motion?". That should be a no-brainer right there.

But if you're asked to provide a reason why, put it on paper, send a copy to safety in phoenix, and hand a copy to your student DM, that way your butt is covered. When my s-DM asked me why i wanted off his truck, i said, "he isn't training me. I had 1 back in a week." Lets not even forget the first 50 hrs, your mentor was in the sleeper. (think that is another question they asked in that little phone survey). Don't worry about him having 'buddies' who will cover for him. odds are, he dont. and if your s-DM says "well, thats not a good enough reason..." then tell them the next phone call you're making, is to safety in phoenix, and your s-DM can answer to them when they call regarding this mentor.

its that easy....

as for Kansas' post.....its not an issue with 'going pee-pee'...its an issue with HOW he was told, or where he was told to go. Sorry...its my bodily function, i'll go wherever the F i want. If i want to pull into a rest area, i'll do it. If I want to pull into a truck stop, and grab a bite to eat, i'll do it. I'm not going to tell my student "you can only pee at Love's truck stops. if you can't find a Love's, as a last resort, stop on an on-ramp and pee out the drivers side window." (yes i said drivers side...LOL)

my student will have insstructions, you can pull in wherever you want to do your 'business'. (this includes scanning their logs)....so as long as you have an exit plan....as as long as you dont hit anything. They'll have instructions to drive the truck like it was their own truck. and treat it like it was their own truck....meaning TAKE CARE OF IT. They'll also be under the understanding, that any dings in fenders or if they knock a mirror off.....its coming out of their pocket (if swift dont cover it)...(sorry...went off on a tangent there....)

 

I would report him. One day. His luck will run out and you defiantly don't want to be around. It time to get rid of these bad drivers.

 

i report them. i'll send in a message to my DM giving truck number and trailer (if poss.) and tell them what i see them doing wrong. I've turned drivers in for wearing flip-flops at a customer, exiting the truck front first, sliding their tandems on the scale at terminals, when there is a sign clearly saying "dont slide tandems on scale".

 

Tell them the truth!

 

I agree that the texting while driving, sleeping in the top bunk and orders to speed should be reported. As a matter of fact, if told to speed I would say something along the lines of:"It's my licence, I'll choose when to risk it". 3 -5 mph over is one thing, 15+ is a whole new ballgame (reckless driving).

As far as sleeping while you are driving, are you an experienced driver returning to the road or a new driver? If you're an experienced driver, I could see it, otherwise I'd say it's an issue if you are new. Mine would often sit in the bunk where he could see my mirrors over my shoulder, but he was awake until he had reason to trust my driving.

Believe me, safety isn't gonna "cover for him". IF what you are reporting is true (sorry, I try to stay neutral) then this guy needs to lose his mentorship position. When writing and giving the statements, be factual, calm and cool. Never whine or take a "poor me" stand.

How is he on the other issues? Do you get time for showers at least every other day? Is he teaching tandem sliding, weighing, pretrip issues, logbooks, qualcomm, backing etc, or just steering and shifting?