Schneider Trainers Get Crap Too.

I've read many horror stories about the Big truck truck driver trainers that newBees are assigned to when they first hire on with a larger company. What they relate is, unfortunately, sometimes true, although it's also sometimes exaggerated I think.

But on the flip-side of the coin is some of the trainees a trainer is expected to contend with. Allow me to illustrate my point by describing one of my more unforgettable trainees.

Upon first meeting at the company yard, he seemed to be a nice guy, but a tad less interested in what we were doing than I'd prefer. But I figured maybe he was just nervous.

Whenever I'm first assigned a new trainee, I take the first leg driving to allow them to get comfortable and get the feel of riding and observing me.
During our conversations within the first few hours, I learned that ne was married, and had been for about five years -- no kids,.... yet.

He told me that soon after they were married, he was fired from the job he held, and never found another one for 4 1//2 years, and that his wife was the one who worked and paid the bills. However, she had put her foot down and demanded that he "get a job" --- so he picked Big truck truckin' because it was the "easiest" job she found for him through an affirmative action program.
So, according to him, he was "just more or less along for the ride."

Red flag!

I drove the Big truck north out of Fontana to to Interstate 5 -- and over the Grapevine Mountain -- as my trainee enjoyed the scenery OUTside the Big truck. He didn't show any interest in learning how to descend a steep grade, but in his favor, he did wonder what the Big truck escape ramps were.

When I explained, he thought they were a "waste of money".
That thought silenced me until we got to the T/A Truck Stop at the bottom, in Wheeler Ridge, where we, I mean I, fueled and he played video games inside.

Upon refueling, I waited until his game was over, and we proceeded to the Big truck parked in the lot. As we walked, I explained that it's necessary for him to take this seriously and he needed to be paying better attention.

"Okay," was all he said.

After doing a quick walk-around the rig, I handed him the keys, and traded seats with him. Time for him to drive.

Now, those of y'all not familiar with I-5 in that area, what the trainee had in back of him was the Grapevine -- and in front of him mostly straight as an arrow and flat as a pancake Interstate. Should be a breeze ---- if he could just get 'er out of the parking lot.

You see, he was trying to drive a diesel like a gasoline engine by feathering the clutch as he gave it 'go juice' and the Big truck shuttered and shook as it bucked and bounced.
But after several attempts it appeared we were on our way. Then he tried to shift to the next higher gear --- and missed the shift -- and we started the whole process again.

When we finally bucked our way to the Interstate on-ramp, he couldn't seem to find the right gears, or ANY gears for that matter. So I did the shifting from the jump-seat, and we were finally headed north approaching 55 mph.

It was soon after that I noticed he was having trouble staying centered in the lane and was wandering over the line on both sides. I brought this to his attention, and it angered him.
Imagine that.

After that though, he seemed to be driving a tad better, at least for the next few hundred miles.

We stopped in Corning, California for the night and got a motel room, which we were entitled to because we didn't have double bunks in the Big truck.
The next morning I learned he was NOT an early riser. I like to roll by 6:00 am, 7:am, latest ...... we were rolling by 8:30. I decided to let him drive first and that was my first mistake of the day because the road ahead was filled with hills and mountains.

On the first real grade requiring down shifting, we found ourselves dead in the water as he couldn't find a gear because he waited too long to down shift --- out of fear.
So, as soon as it was safe, I relieved him of the driving duties -- which angered him.

When I tried to explain the hazard of being stopped in an uphill lane in a Big truck, I was labeled a "racist" for doing do. By now, in his opinion, I was "out to fail him" -- he "knew the type" of person I am/was.

This went on for two weeks, as his Jeckel & Hide personality changed minute by minute, and all day long.

When he was about to take out a fuel pump at a truck stop, I yelled STOP! -- which he did, just in time to avoid a disaster. For that he became angry and informed me I was NOT allowed to yell at him. He "deserves respect".
He continued to inform me that HE had a "professional" driver's license and deserved to be treated like a "professional".
At that point, he informed me that he was now hungry and was going to get something to eat at the truck stop.

I told him we were on a tight schedule, in no small part due to his inability to keep the wheels rollin'. I told him to get something to go, because we didn't have the time for a sit-down meal.

Well, 45 minutes later, he's still not back. So I went in to find out what the hail he was doin'. I discoverd that, after enjoying a nice meal, he was "relaxing" by playing another video game, and that he'd be out as soon as he was through.

Now I'm fumin'!
I went out to the Big truck, and was about to collect all of his belongings and take them to the fuel desk --- and just drive off and leave him. At least that's what the devil on one of my shoulders was tellin' me to do. But on the other shoulder, the angel was tellin' me differently.

Call your dispatcher, she'll know what to.
And she did.

She made arrangements to relay the load we were under with a load coming beck to the Los Angeles area, and instructed me to return the trainee to the yard as SOON as I was empty.
Which I did.

As it turns out, that trainee had been calling into dispatch complaining about his trainer -- me -- which just didn't compute with what she knew about me.
You see, ........... at that time, I was known as their mellowest trainer, with NO complaints from ANY trainees, in fact quite the opposite, and had a waiting list of those waiting for a trainer. Some even put off training until I was available.

After unloading was complete, the trainee asked where we were going to re-load. I told him we weren't --- we were headed back to the yard.
At which time he asked me if I knew why.
I told him I didn't.
So, he boldly announced it was to exchange trainers because he had entered complaints about me and he'd had enough of my "racist" attitude.

I replied that he might be correct.

When we arrived at the yard, a couple of the male dispatchers and the personnel manager met us as I was dropping the trailer.

They requested that the trainee remove ALL of his belongings from my Big truck, and report to the office --- where he was informed that he was now terminated -- and to get off company property ASAP.

And I got to run solo for a week --- you know, just to relax.

I'm sure glad I listened to the angle on my shoulder rather than that devil.

He who laughs last --- laughs all the way to Miami, Arizona -- my favorite place to go -- for a load of copper headin' for Ohio. Then re-load and come on back for a few days off before being assigned the next trainee -- hopin' it would be a woman this time because they have better attitudes as a general rule.

Anyway ---- that's my story.
And I'm stuck with it.

 

You might be surprised, NCS. Actually training isn't all that bad -- especially when it's for a company that hires above average people.

I was a trainer for a couple of years and only really had three ding-bats for trainees. I think that's tolerable. And my dispatcher worked WITH me by trusting my judgment. If I told her the trainee wasn't up to snuff, there were no questions asked. She just relieved me of them, and two of the three were assigned to more senior trainers, and they both agreed with me.

I'd estimate that around 70 --> 75% of my trainees were female, and I liked their attitudes and actually learned a bunch from them.

YeAH!
Ya reckon.
I think I heard a rumor that to make up for not makin' the grade in Big truck truckin' -- he found his lovely wife a second job
loading cement blocks (by hand)

I pity the fool who'd punch me!
I'm a baaadd man - - who walks softly
and carries a big tire-buddy. :smt075
It's twue!
It's twue!

 

Actually, ......... that's just the tip of the ice cube.
Truth be known ........... I'm a baaadd man.
And I'm good at bein' that.

YuP!
And probably not the first time ---
or the last time either.

They seem to seek those kinda companies,
that they claim destroys them.
I reckon that's one way to be king or queen of De-Nial,
and pass the blame onto someone or something other than where the blame actually originates.

Probably in a effort to avoid pain.
Pain hurts.
Especially when it's the truth.
Truth be known.
If they're really interested.