HELP - Am I responsible?

The most troubling words I've heard repeatedly by newer drivers is... "well that's not what my trainer did".
By someone saying that, that means they have no clue as to WHY they are, or are not, doing things a certain way.
Just like a robot without common sense or ability to think, OR ability to research the factual reason for "why or why not".

All new drivers need to realize that most things you run across will not have been covered by any trainer.
They need to realize they are now solely in control and responsible for every new decision/crossroads they come to in trucking.
When a newbie counters my advice with "well that's not what my trainer does", I then ask him/her "OK, aside from your trainer doing it that way, what exactly makes it the correct way?". This usually results in a low mumbled "I don't know" by the newbie. Bingo! I rest my case.

Your co-driver will not get better unless he takes the initiative to think on his own, research, and learn... the "whys" of truck driving.

 

Not your fault the dim whit that he had for a trainer failed to do his job properly, it sounds like the kid needs a few more months with a trainer, period. You can tell the safety guy that as well. What if the guy was going to be single driver not a team driver, he most likely would have tried t turn around in that small gas station lot and messed up the truck or someone else's vehical if the safety department doesnt see that then that is not a company to be driving for. As for letting him drive the truck well you went back to sleep well after training he is suppose to know what it takes to at least go the right direction, even the cheapest gps has a directional compass indicating the direction the truck is going. But if you go out again with this guy here is what you do, Step 1 take gps from dash, step 2 drop it just outside the window step three pull forward and turn left. This will fix the gps so this does not happen again.

 

If they try to tell you that it is your fault ask them where your trainer pay is on the pay scale. I had a fully trained and experienced "team mate" wake me up and and tell me he was lost and did not know which way he was pointed. We were on a service road in AZ. I figured it out in a couple of minutes. Maps are not rocket science. When I had trainees the one who would not learn the maps never made it with the companies. (this was before gps) One of the reasons I drive is because I love maps. So you can just ask the powers that be to give your wrong way boy a test. Tell them to give you both a trip to plan. You get destination and an atlas. You should be fine he wont know what to do. Plan the route fuel stops and ETA. Just remember they said he was qualified. Dont think that helping him now will really help him. If you are going to team you need to learn to let go of the teammate. You have to trust him to do his job. Dot requires that you be off duty when you are. Don't let them tell you other wise.

 

I am old school the gps is only for telling me how far to the next fuel stop that I have preplanned or the next scale that I have also preplanned. The routes I take and the stops I make are all done with my maps. I calculate my fuel so when I hit an active scale I will be on the low end of my tanks then fill at the next fuel stop. I program the gps so the route I will be taking will be the one that the gps knows I am taking by making small town or cities as waypoints along the way.

 

did this situation en-raged you? I have never driven team nor had the desire to.your thread reminds me why. i have come out of a t/s and gone the opposite direction of my intended travel but i think it was for only 35 miles or so.It would always happen on a west coast turn,headed west,back when we all did coast to coast and back solo every 6 days or so.that includes the 11-12 picks of garbage(produce) for the backhaul.

i do not even question how or why i would end up going the wrong way.it just happened from time to time.you new drivers have to have a co-driver in order to experience it-


just kidding.

 

This is why a trainee needs a minimum of 6 weeks with a trainer. Some need 8 weeks. They are rushing them through too quick today.

First mistake is saying you wanted to team. Is $100 worth a newbie killing you? Second I would told the company I'll only team with an experienced driver.

That newbie needs to go back out with a trainer. He needs to learn to read a map. Evidently he is clueless if he doesn't know where the sun rises and sets. Did he not have the right address or something?

 

smh he was lost that's why he caught me off he didn't want to miss the exit so he can turn around going the other direction.