braking the rules? or suck it up?

SUCK IT UP !!!! and welcome to the wonderful world of trucking. If your "Mentor" is old school, he's probably stuck in he's old ways. I would be one of them also, you might learn a few tricks of the trade if you be patient. But if your not comfortable with it, move on. I have been on my cell bluetooth reading the map book and driving many times, its not safe but you won't understand till it will happen to you.

 

Is it the norm? For the majority of truckers, unfortunately I think so.

More and more trainers are viewing their students as paychecks only and I think that's wrong. The first 3-4 weeks should be a bit slow and then the last 2-3 weeks you should really get run hard.

I'm not saying that corners should be cut every single day but from a practical standpoint I think it would be tough to do a pre-trip every day by the letter of the book. Sometimes your times in the log book do need to be "adjusted", if a log book was meant to be a precise device of measurement it would not be done in 15 minute increments. That being said a pre-trip DOES need to occur, you need to make sure you're not putting other peoples' lives in jeopardy, if it was as easy as just putting your own in jeopardy that's one thing but this is not the same.

It sounds like your trainer is being unsafe and putting not only his life and career in his hands but yours too. Will you get through the training alive? Maybe. Do you feel safe though? That's the question you need to answer for yourself and if the answer isn't yes then get another trainer.

A lot of times corners are cut in this way in the name of profitability without thinking through all of the reprocussions that are possible and avoidable accidents happen. You're going to find that not everything can happen the way that the "books" tell you to do them but it sounds like there are a lot of things not happening in your truck that should be.

 

He isn't really "breaking" tha rules.
He's just doing what he has to do and trying to show you how to maximize your book.

Some people are better at "multitasking" than others.
Reading maps, talkin on CB, and even on phone, are NOT as big a deal for many people.

Pretrips/posttrips are subjective.
Sometimes you check EVERYTHING, sometimes not.
You will learn what I mean in time.

Do what you have to and get past him.
Don't do anything that will get you fined.
Then do what you want when you are on your own.

DO NOT BE A SNITCH.
Snitches are the lowest form of scum.

 

I second that, your in control of how you drive, Check the truck out if you feel the need to for pre and post trips. Logs aren't a thing I will comment on because I'll get flamed, but all I'll say is I know when I'm tired...

 

The maps phones etc may come when your comfort level goes up and it may not. Only you can know what all you can do while you're driving and you may surprise yourself later on as far a what you end up being comfortable with.

I think the biggest thing here is whether you FELT unsafe or not, if his driving was scary then by all means get out of the truck, if it doesn't scare you, stick it out and learn what you can. As others have said learn what you can while you can and when you're on your own be the driver you want to be.

 

I would bet a weeks pay you end up driving and reading the map at the same time in the future, it's something that happens, you get lost and your wonderful gps took you on the wrong route your going to have to check that big ol over sized map to get back on track. I'm not saying it will be a common practice but sometimes it just happens. I also don't condone the cell phone, its too easy to get hands free devices these days to hold it up to your ear for hours on end. Just tough it out for awhile and once you get your own truck you'll be in control of it. best of luck to ya.

 

I have a problem with a lot of what he is doing while you are in truck--but I agree with everyone here--it is best to just go along and chill and get your experience--With one major exception(if you actually sleep thru the truck starting and moving)
Even if he is trying to be nice he has no business moving with you in the top bunk--I'd call him on that--to much potential for a bad problem for you--So be nice and ask him not to do it again.
Just my $.02

 

Wow I cannot believe the responses I am seeing here.. I wonder if all your responses would differ if the OP said he's training with England, Swift or Werner..

A trainers job is to train and that includes SAFETY.. how many times has it been mentioned here that it's against the law to operate a commercial vehicle with someone in the top bunk.. last I knew operating a commercial vehicle while on the phone was also illegal without. A hands free device.. what part of reading anything other than road signs while driving is SAFE

Seeing 'don't be a snitch' from a man who wondered if he should report a driver for an unsafe practice is absolutely precious..

This trainer needs a refresher course in training not to mention safety.. OP find a new trainer. What the current one is teaching isn't right.