Packing List for Students

Why is it I keep hearing horror storys about traininer? I've been a freight broker for ten years now, and am making the switch to OTR driver for stevens transport at the end of this month. I know trucking is a hard line of work and it's not for everyone. But every person I've talked said that the trainer treat you like dog crap and work off the students miles?!?!?!?!? maybe someone on here can clear the air waves alittle for me?

 

Some are better than others... some actually teach I was lucky enough that mine did - however he also wanted to make money, so we drove quite a bit too - LOL!

 

The truth of the matter is simple. Some people get into training so they can make more money. And for some the money is the only consideration. It's unfortunate, but it's a reality in all walks of life ... not just in trucking. Though I have to admit that stories of trainers that seldom shower, seldom sleep and use their students as slave labor have become more prevalent lately.

On the other side of things I had a great trainer at Stevens. Jason was someone I could count on to teach when I needed it, but also let me figure it out if he was sure I would get it.

Stevens has some great trainers, but just like everywhere else ... they have their share of bums too. I had a delivery in Atlanta where I came upon a trainer and his student. The student came up to me an begged me to help him. I asked what the issue was and he told me that his trainer had some sort of nasty infection in his leg and wanted to make him drive his own hours and the trainers hours until it healed up.

I went over to the trainers truck intending to give him a real piece of my mind before calling Stevens safety department on him. But what I saw when he opened the drivers door nearly made me puke. His left leg was so swollen and infected that his lower half of that leg had nearly turned black. There was an unmistakable odor of rotting meat, meaning that gangrene had most likely set in.

I called 911, then I called Stevens. I didn't throw the guy under the bus, but I believe he eventually lost the leg. Sometimes, the money is so important to some of these guys that they'll risk their health to make it.

Just to be absolutely clear ... this is an EXTREME example, and why the student didn't call 911 long before this is beyond me. So, you're going to encounter trainers that are great, like mine. And you're going to run into the odd wild-child, the wackos, and the pigs. And everything in between. And, it does not matter which starter company you go with ... it's all the same from my experience.

Just keep your head, and use common sense ... if it's illegal ... DON'T DO IT ... EVER!

 

Agreed with Rattlebunny. When I was with CRE (which is where I got my CDL) my phase-1 trainer let me know from the very beginning that I was there because he didn't drive at night. That was my purpose in life - to get him miles at night. England policy stated that students were not to drive after something like midnight due to not having sleep control or some such thing. But he would stop driving just after dark, fill the fuel tanks and then go in the sleeper. I'd drive all night and saw many beautiful sunrises at the end of my shift. The funny thing is that he could sleep like a baby if I was driving (said I was one of the few he trusted) but I couldn't sleep a bit much of the time he was driving. By the end of my phase-1, I was exhausted and hated this guy with a passion. But... I know England also had some good trainers and have classmates who were glad to have them and had great experiences.

If you feel your trainer is unsafe or asking you to do something illegal or beyond your present capability, talk first with the trainer. Don't be a jerk, obviously, but don't hold back, either. If it continues, contact your DM or Safety. I had to threaten my phase-1 with a call to safety because he kept pushing me to drive on his logs.

Your future won't happen if you're dead or starting out with major log/safety violations. No trainer is worth your life or the future you've come there to build.

 

I am just completing my training with Stevens. In fact I got my truck assignment yesterday (09 KW Y2000 w/270k), have grad class today and hopefully a load tomorrow.

my first trainer is a nice guy but he is a trainer for the student miles in my opinion. His hygiene is horrible. We normally went a week to a week and a half between showers. He only brushed his teeth at shower time. I only bumped one dock and backed one time at a truck stop because he was asleep and I didn't wake him so I could back in. Never once did a trip plan. He didn't follow or teach me any of the Stevens policies.

My finisher trainer was also a nice guy but he was real moody in the mornings. I did trip plans on each trip and got some backing in. When he wasn't in a mood he was willing to help.

I heard other students say that their trainers paid for ever meal, bought them gps, cb,etc... I saw about 1 meal a week from each trainer and that's all they did for me.

Like was said, its the luck of the draw. Stevens is in the process of weeding the bad ones out.

 

A real driver is willing and able to drive any hours of the clock. He was a generic version that won't last. Come to think of it, I done alot of night driving while I was in training. But I had a balanced mix and a great trainer.

A good trainer will start a student out with rural driving with light traffic and gradually move them to rush hour traffic. They don't base it on the hours they like to sleep. They are suppose to be watching you closely the first 3 weeks anyways.

A trainer like that is going to get the wrong student one day and wish he was awake.

 

Remember that many people have sensitivities to colognes and perfumes. And frankly, many of us don't know how much is "enough" and tend to overuse it. I can tell you as a former professional pilot that having a strong scent in a confined area can make long days extremely uncomfortable and unpleasant. This would probably not be a good thing for a new driver wanting to get through the training period without bad marks.

 

Thanks to everyone for the insight, some of the thing you guys said made me feel alot better about stevens, I'll keep ya'll posted on how it goes. wish me luck I leave on the 22nd to start my training. this has been a dream of mine since i was alittle kid playing around in my uncles 379 pete! and now i'm finally on my way to driving along with the rest of americas backbone! where would this country be with the american trucker. be safe out there

 

NASCARCHUCK- how was training in your eyes? what was the corse like? did they treat you with respect? I herd they treat you like dog crap in training, like your the most stupid person to ever walk in there class. is all this true, or the ones who couldnt hack it cause they weren't cut out to be a trucker just trying to fill my head with lies?

 

I know what you mean! I got my lic. with England almost 9 years ago and my CRE trainer was the same way!! I drove all night (after we got fuel at the FLYIN J) and he slept. Then after the sunrise (usually) he had me wake him up and we'd swap. I didn't mind it cuz I didn't like him anyways, looking back I can't see why they would have the blind leadin the blind. Here you have a man that hasn't been in a truck that long teaching me to drive and I've been around it all my life, I mean my dad drove from the time I was a infent up to his death 4yrs ago. But like you I know they had better trainers but this guy ran us outta fuel my first day on the truck with him......FUNNY FUNNY stuff but he was pissed so he sucked the refer fuel in a 1 gallon jug and dumped it in the fuel tank.....I said "I thought your not supposed to do that." he told me "no one will know." I just laughed and got back in the truck. He was on a lease by the way..


BE SAFE OUT THERE!!