Trainer Questions-Male/Female?

The company will run the sexual harassment policy by you as any place would. Just keep it professional and abide by the policy and everything will be everything.

 

I was a co-ed trainer for a period of time. did not have any problems that come to mind.keep your eyes open. I'm sure there is one out there that feels it would be a great way to meet girls. but it should be easy to weed them out. Make sure you get to meet your trainer before you are assigned to the truck.

 

this might sound like a stupid question ?? do companies assign women trainers with men or men trainers with women trainees ???

 

I don't think that is a stupid question at all, I was actually going to ask the same thing you just beat me to it.

 

I don't think any of the bigger companies even offer co-ed training because of the potential for sexual harassment suits. Probably figure it's best to be on the safer side of things with that potential situation. Things are tough all around nowadays & lawsuits are seen as easy money, especially if they get them to settle out of court. Nobody wants the bad publicity.

 

As a former trainer I can tell you that in most cases companies do their very best to pair women with women and men with men. They even try to match smoking preferences. That said there is a definite shortage of female trainers out there. Some women trainees who specifically request a female trainer may have to wait several weeks for a female trainer to come available.

I have trained approximately 36 guys and a couple of females in the past and there have been no issues in regard to sexual harrassment. I am a professional first and foremost. My skills and reputation mean alot to me and therefore I conduct myself in an appropriate manner regardless of the gender of my co-driver. My only desire in training was to convey my experience and knowledge to others especially after seeing other trainers take advantage of their co-drivers. Making additional money was a bonus at the end of the training period.

There are some really top notch drivers out there that actually enjoy teaching and want to help the younger (new) drivers entering the industry. They become mentors and even friends to their co-drivers.

Good trainers will sit beside you and give not only tips and advice but will try to put you at ease so you will be more receptive to learning. Patience is a must have for anyone willing to train new drivers. The co-driver should be doing the majority of the work with the trainer at his side so he/she may become proficient. Watching is fine but doing is the best way to learn. Wether it be computer work, paper work, trip planning, customer relations, backing or driving, the trainer should be at least observing for the first 2 weeks.

Unfortunately there are others that are only interested in "power trips" and "money." These fellas will berate and belittle their trainess when the trainee makes a mistake or does something the "trainer" disapproves of. Something about that power tends to go to the heads of some of these guys and gals that agree to train. Regrettably the trainers have a tendency to use their co-driver as a second logbook to make the "trainer" more money and are not really interested in teaching at all. When companies only offer the mileage on the truck as an incentive to become a trainer it is not difficult to see why we have some of these characters in training positions.


Some companies will actually rent a motel each night for the trainer (when a male trainer and female trainee are paired up) and ask that the trainee or trainer sleep in the truck while the other sleeps in the hotel room so there is some semblance of privacy during the sleeping period. Companies prefer the trainee sleep in the truck to "get used to it," but in my case I always let the trainee have the room (I actually sleep better in the truck anyway).

In the event you get a "trainer" that you do not click with then be sure to request a different 1 asap. It may mean you have to wait a little longer for an alternate trainer but it may be better than being with a guy who isn't interested in teaching but is solely motivated by money.

 

IMO, your post goes beyond excellent --- all the way to outstanding.
Thanx!
You saved me a lot of typing because you've already said what I was gonna say.

 

Perfectly said,also your trainer cannot fire you, vise versa you can fire your driver.Dont let a driver drop you at a fuel station or rest area he will claim you abbandond the load. It will go on your DAC and you wont find work.
Best wishes
Nefram

 

Perhaps a trainer can't actually fire a trainee, but a trainer CAN influence a decision to fire the trainee.

Well,..... actually, a trainee can request another trainer. But if that request is presented too many times, that might cause a trainee to lose the job.

Are you serious?.

It's true that an unfavorable DAC can cause employers to not consider a driver for employment.