Preparing to be a trainer...what do I need to know?

X-Country aka Brianne, I doff my cap to you. What strikes me about your last post is that you are highly motivated to teach. In my book that trumps a passel of experience, because you are approaching the experience you have every day with the idea that you are going to use that experience to teach.

When I was getting back into trucking I knew I wanted to teach from the get go. Every step of the way relearning this job I was thinking about how I might pass on what I know.

One aspect about teaching is that everyone comes to this moment with some kind of experience that is valuable. In sports they call it "cross training". In business it's the same principle. You bring a skill set to each new job or challenge that gives you a unique perspective.

When I took my 30 year hiatus from trucking I had a career working with factories, developing new products to sell to customers. I worked with a WIDE variety of factories all over the world. Often my job would involve teaching a factory manager how another factory in an entirely unrelated field does things, simply because what they did made sense in a way the new factory could benefit from. Printing operations and sewing operations are different, yet have some fundamental similarities.

Folks get into trucking coming from a wide variety of backgrounds. Work with the successes you have had and apply it to your new position. With your students find out what they have done and try to tie that in to what they are doing now. If they've done sports, then try to teach your concepts based on what sports they have done.

While there is certainly a lot of merit to the argument that a trainer should have years of experience, as you pointed out ofttimes "old hands" have been doing it wrong for years and their experience doesn't hold water. Trainers should have a passion for teaching first, and an aptitude for learning second. Patience should be the foundation, and having a PLAN is the key. You obviously have put a lot of thought into your Plan. I wish you well and also grant major kudos to you for being a woman in this profession with the BALLS to speak your mind and make a career of this.

 

You shouldn't train unless you have 15 years OTR, 3 deer strikes, and at least 2 jack knifes going down Donner pass in the winter.

Seriously, OP you will be fine. Just go with the flow, be patient, be stern, teach them what you know, talk to them, you got this. Disregard the naysayers. They have big chip's on their shoulder, and not the Lay's kind either.

 

Good post! Funny.

 

I am also a lady trainer. Not sure how it is when training men but in my experience women learn well as long as you keep them focused. Most women are not born with the mechanical understanding that men are and this is good! They are eager to learn and don't let it insult their pride to need to ask questions. You will likely need to explain the "how and why" of each function. Maybe in several different ways, but once they get it... they fully understand. Each trainee will teach you nearly as much as you teach them. Everyone learns differently, by writing it down (such as you), by standing back and watching, by doing, by playing with a toy truck even. I keep a model truck with me for the times when we are sitting still and talking about the day before and the plan ahead. Be flexible and always make sure you have healthy food for them to eat! A hungry trainee can't focus! I keep a coffee pot, water, salad fixings, yogurt, cereal, milk and fruit with me to share. They are usually stressed about money and showing them how to save money on the road and be healthy is also important. I am glad to see another lady willing to train although my company never makes us team. I am always in the jump seat while they are working, otherwise I would not train. It is not about the money for me. I just want to share my experience and help new lady drivers be successful! Good luck!

 

When I was at Werner their training deal was horrible. If its still like it was 4 years ago Id say the first step of being a successful trainer would be to find a better place to do it at.

 

Yes, you will still be a rookie. I don't care what terrain you've driven or how "good" you think you are, you still don't have the skills that only time and experience can teach you. While I applaud your enthusiasm and the way you've thought things through, you still do not possess the experience to be considered a veteran or experienced driver. Overconfidence can kill you.

 

What do you need to know? Both how to drive a truck (which you can maybe learn in a year), but also how to "function" in the trucking industry (which I doubt anyone can learn in a year).

Like not blocking the fuel islands, not driving slow in the middle lane, flashing lites for people passing you, like acknowledging when someone gives you the "clear" flash, etc., etc.

Maybe you have the smarts to think of these things, and maybe not.

Not ragging on you, but I have seen the industry go way downhill in the last 10 years.

 

Pls dont pull into a trk stp like you were being chased by the police then slam on the brakes and immediately start throwing bags and luggages out of the truck while screaming at your trainee. That is only entertainment for us.

 

Hey... X-Country...

I also drive for werner and I have no desire to train... I recently hurt my shoulder and was on lignt duty.. got to draw my average weekly salary instead of the 66% workmans comp if I worked at the terminal here in Omaha..
They have have me driving the shuttle which has given me the opportunity to meet and chat with students, new drivers fresh off the trainers truck either getting another trainer or testing out as well as drivers with 3 months experience to 39 years experience. .. also a lot of trainers as well as ex trainers.. who either got pulled from being a trainer or quit being a trainer... even got to talk to the office people in safety and mechanics in the shop..

Now.. it was suggested that I become a trainer.. 8 safe and successful months at werner, prior experience becore coming to werner.. got my CDL in 2009.. and it is clean.. no accidents, tickets, mishaps..

So, I considered it.. and took advantage of being at the terminal and driving shuttle talking to trainers and all..

My decision. . Not just NO.. but HELL NO!!!!

Just this week.. picked up a trainer who just dropped off a student... student peed his pants while driving... yes, the drivers seat was soaked... gross..

Picked up a trainer at the body shop.. recognized him.. from three weeks ago.. just went through train the trainer, got issued a new 2014 Freightliner Cascadia with only 824 miles on it... student ran into a pole doing pull up after trying for 45 minutes to back into a dock.. I asked besides that happening how does he like being a trainer... so far.. not at all..

Picked up a trainer who just dropped off a student... his last student.. said he is done with babysitting, that he isnt making more as a trainer.. it is a wash because the students slow him down..

Picked up a trainer who said his current student is a good one and so he is actually enjoying it... and they are thinking of teaming a doing the ABF where they both will make better money..

Picked up a student who doesnt like her trainer a female and is going to give her a bad review. .

And that was just this week.. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday..

Oh.. i forgot about the trainer whose student freaked out in the shower at a truckstop.. screaming she was going to kill someone.. they could hear her at the fuel desk..and called the police.. she was escourted out of the truck stop by police.. she went through 7 trainers.

There was also a trainer who cracked me up telling me about his student with gas problems.. so bad he slept in the t.v. room at the truck stop one night and on a picknic table at a rest area anotner night..

You dont have to be a trainer to make money... get on a good account, run safe and smart and you will make more solo then you would training.. or you can team and do the ABF account.. those drivers are making great money.. and more than a few are giving up training and getting on that account or the 3M account.

I also got to take the windy student to the terminal to get on his 4th trainers truck..

 

The one that is my favorite is " My instructor at school said...."