Our worst nightmare trainer/trainee scenario

Moron$ in charge.

 

Because they hire the cheapest, and aren't really interested in screening their applicants for basic competence?

 

I graduated driving school 3 weeks ago, started orientation 2 weeks ago, and go out this Sunday with a trainer. I certainly ain't a polished professional yet, obviously but what should happen to make this situation better? I think some trainers just want a "sucker" to drive and pull tarps. Some companies may throw every wannabe in a truck. At the end of the day, a hard working rookie like me just wants to learn "safely" but stuck in the middle.

 

Knowing where every part of your truck and trailer is with relation to what's around it is NOT rocket science. There's really no excuse for hitting something with any part of your truck unless you meant to hit something. Like the loading dock.

 

I agree with that

 

It's the snow, rain, and trainer asleep in passenger seat I'm concerned about.

 

The blame shouldn't be placed solely on the rookie driver, of course. Yes, it's ultimately up to each individual behind the wheel to be responsible for any of their actions and the results of those actions, but part of the blame has to be placed on a company for allowing an individual with only one year of experience to teach other rookie drivers. These companies need to set a better standard industry wide but unfortunately that's unlikely to happen because the almighty dollar is greater to them than anything else, and if they can make more money from a situation, it's already guaranteed they're going to.

 

My very first OTR run with the company, my "trainer" sat up front with me for about two hours and went to bed at 1am. I was left on my own until about 9am. It's a good thing I was a little ####y and possibly a little lucky. I didn't kill us and it was incident free, but reflecting back I think it was unwise to leave me on my own to get lost, or need to have a question answered, etc.

 

Right before I quit Swift, they were asking me to be a mentor, after 7 months experience. I do not regret turning it down. I guess if a company can't retain experienced drivers, then they only have rookies left to train the rookies.