Being a Trainer?

Well, for starters you need to refine and improve the skills the student learned in school. Teach them the fine art of trip planning, make sure they know how to log, work on their backing skills, and generally teach them more about the industry and dealing with various situations.

Hopefully you have a lot of patience, can keep an even keel, and not lose your temper.

I am not, have never been and would never be a trainer myself. This is based off my experiences as a student and my hubby's experiences as well.

I'm sure there will be others in with some advice for you. If you decide to do it, best of luck to you!

 

That seems to be my problem. No one wants to be a trainer. I am waiting in Chattanooga to get a trainer because I figured I'd have more luck closer to headquarters. Unfortunately after taking a 20 hour bus ride from Dallas a snowstorm hit Chattanooga and here I am, still waiting. I understand why people may not want to be a trainer, pretty much the same fears I have of getting a trainer from HELL. LOL
I am keeping my fingers crossed that someone will decide to be a trainer!!

 

Consider this. Someday, your gonna have to deal with a trainee like me. I gots ten years experience, 2 verifiable. I gots me more miles backing up than you gots moving forward. I ken blindside alleydock a 53' trailer in downtown Chicago during rush hour using only one hand, never looking in my mirrors, while arguing the "finer points" of my log book with the DOT officer, and pleasuring lil' Miss Suzy HotPants whut we done just picked up from the truckstop. Whut's a newbie like you gonna teach a good ol' Billybob Bigrigger Super-Duper Trucker Driverer like me? And did I mention that I did that blind side alley dock in High Reverse with the fuel pedal floored? Yeahhhh.....

 

And, you will get people that have never driver a stick shift, have never held a steady job, only went to trucking because the goverment paid for it. They know it all, don't want to work, think truck driving is a paid sight seeing vacation, are mentally challenged, and dangerous to be around.

For every good trainee you get, you will probably get five this way. Unless you are in the latter category, I wouldn't do it. But, it's more money, and it's your call.

I wouldn't train for fifty cents per mile more unless I could pick the student, and kick them out when I wanted, and I would not train at all with my own truck.

 

Now I am understanding why I have been waiting for over a week for a trainer. The sad side of that is that there are a lot of newbies out there that are really cool people. Our class was full of people that I will stay in touch with. To be fair there were also a few that I didn't want to touch with a ten foot pole.

 

If you're doing it for the money......................

as many do,


please reconsider.

 

My trainer (who is a great guy) has only had one problem trainee. Guy was a pig. He said he has really enjoyed the trainer roll. He is very good at it, very patient and very helpful. I would think that if I was running solo, it would be something I would definitely consider. Maybe easier with USX since if you do have a bad trainee, it only is for three weeks or so.

 

I was a trainer/Mentor with Swift for 14 years...and I agree and disagree with statements made so far here. Most of the students aren't as bad as the worst case scenarios you have heard. Each individual is different, and must be treated as an individual...one blanket set of protocols for instructing does not work.

In trucking, I have always said that a driver learns the absolute basics in truck school...just barely enough to pass the drive test to get the CDL. Level 2 is the time with the trainer, which is the most important part of a driver's learning. Level 3 is the time solo after the trainer when more of the concepts taught by the trainer are applied. Level 4 is becoming a trainer, and learning how to say the same thing 5 or 8 different ways to be understood. Level 5 is when the patience for teaching is gone and the time alone in the truck is enjoyed.

As for being a trainer...simple really...the person must be willing to pass on the knowledge he/she has attained, share the experience of different situations with the student, and hone skills and eliminate bad habits while replacing bad with good habits. A trainer needs more than basic information and knowledge of the lesson he/she is teaching, and needs to be open minded enough to accept different people and their individual needs. A good trainer cannot be "Billy Big-Rigger" but be the conservative driver who is already in command of doing things legally and can pass a good work ethic on to others. A good trainer obeys ALL the laws and speed limits, and does not condone "fudging" or intentional "cheating" in the course of their daily duties. A good trainer doesn't care what others say about the issue of teaching legal, and the hype of "the real world v. book learning". A good trainer is one who has the self confidence in what he/she does and how he/she does it, so that what the good trainer teaches is the right and legal way to get the job done.