help with trainer

isn't there a way you can sign yourself out when your not driving ?

 

They aren't all jerks...yours was a jerk.

 

Its the way grown ups do things. If he gets mad or insists on doing it illegal then it is time to go to the company because its not being a crybaby if he tried the adult route first.

 

Yes the company wants to know. They want their trainers teaching students how to be safe and legal. The training dept even wants to know if the student and trainer have a personality clash. They want to see if it can be worked out, but not all can, and they don't want the student quitting because of it. So, do the companies like to intervene, no, but they don't want to lose a student that they have invested in.

 

As far as him sleeping when you drive, some companies run their trainer trucks like team trucks. Since the trainees get less 1/1 time w/ the trainer riding shotgun and coaching they tend to have longer programs. The other school of thought w/ companies (like mine) is no, the trainer must be in the shotgun seat training and sleeps when you sleep and only really pitches in driving if you run out of hours and once a week the trainee gets a day in the shotgun seat as somewhat of a break (though they are usually going over map book training or "book learning" things , managing the DOT clocks, life OTR without spending all your money etc) and thus have a shorter (but more intense) training program. School and getting the CDL truly is just the beginning of the learning. So, for that part I'd say; if you're doing OK then it's probably OK. It's gonna all seem new again when you upgrade to your solo qualification anyway. Something about being all by your lonesome really has you seeing through a different pair of glasses. Now, if you aren't getting what you need to be able to pass the solo qualification road test - that is a different story.

As far as driving on your book; I'll be nice and say it's most likely a forgot to change active drivers thing. I like the suggestion of you making the switch on the Qualcomm (or whatever brand your company uses) and doing it in a friendly, helpful way. "Ooops I almost forgot to switch us in the computer. What's your login. I'll go ahead and log ya in while you get all situated."

As for texting and driving: The only correct answer to that is it's a major no, no. I'm not sure how I'd handle it. Probably just be real polite and just let him know. "Could you please don't do that. It scares me. My wife (husband, boy/girlfriend whatever) had an accident texting and driving and it's just scared me pretty badly ever since. I know you have it under control and all but could you humor me on this one thing? I had a bad experience with it and it still scare me. I'd really appreciate it. If it's something you really need to take care of I'll be happy to drive." It's an awkward position to be in but you have to do SOMETHING - for his sake too. You never know. Maybe something you say to him might get him to stop doing it even when you aren't with him. You might be saving his life or someone else's. I don't know going to the company about it is necessarily the way to go, but I'd definitely have a talk with him about it but not from a scolding perspective.

As far as getting a new trainer well that's up to you. You might get a better one - you might get one that does the same thing; you might get a worse one. In a perfect world all trainers would be super professional but trucking is very far from a perfect world. Student companies tend to be the biggest ones and some bad trainers slip into the works. If you can get him to stop texting and driving and driving on his own book and you guys get along good and everything else is cool between you I'd probably stick it out. Practice your people skills. Getting what you want out of other people (your Driver Manager, Load Planners, dock workers, the shop, shipping and receiving clerks etc ) is going to be a very important skill. Start working on it by trying to get your trainer to do (or don't do) what you need. If after a good sincere effort you still have these issues then maybe a change is in order. It's a judgment call and one that involves your safety so in the end you have to be the one to use good judgment. I wish you the very best.

 

Ok folks let put down our DOT regulation book for one minute and put on a little common sense. Prime has tons of students coming in weekly. Do you truly think they have quality trainers to train them? Most I'm sure are just looking for a log book to keep their truck rolling to pay off that lease. So please stop acting brand new like this doesn't go on all the time. Some of you rookies thinking about prime because they pay 600 a week might want to think twice about going to companies who let their lease purchase drivers train students. I'm sure you have some good ones who do it, but the odds are against you.

Wow @ all these people crying about texting while driving. Is it illegal yes. So is going 1 mile over the speed limit. Which I'm sure none of you do. The question is when is he texting? Is it during heavy traffic? or Is it out in the boonies when there is not a car around for 10 miles. When he text does it hit the rumble strips? Can he not stay in a straight line? Wow pretty soon it will be illegal to check you mirrors. As a drive I think you should be able to learn to multi task, because that's what you doing all the time anyway. Don't let the safety guru's scare you, because most don't practice what they preach either.

What is it easier for the company to do. Get rid of a cry baby student who cries because the trainer is not double clutching. The student who if he quits or gets fired will have to pay the company back the money for the school if they went through their program. Or the Trainer who makes the company a lot of money by renting their truck. Not many want to train. I'm one of them. I have trained to help the company out once, but when the woman asked why I wanted her to back up to get practice in and it's her last week. I couldn't wait to get her out my truck. The moral of the story is there are tons of people getting out of truck driving school, and very few qualified trainers who care about what the student learns. More then how big their pay check can be by having a student in their truck. Stop with the high expectations, because you will only be disappointed.

Biggest thing to learn is Cover your tail. Because no one else will. I'm sure driving on the students time is common practice. Especially when a company has there on time delivery percentage on a pedestal. They will say NO NO don't do that while at the same time WINKING at ya shaking their head yes do it. Just don't get caught.
Welcome to trucking.

 

This is why we need to discourage people from hiring into these companies at any cost.

If a company doesn't have a resource to properly train their drivers, then that's their problem and eventually ours.

To the OP, get in touch with safety and ask them if it is alright to text while driving and if you don't have to keep an accurate log. Tell them your trainer does it and it seems unfair that you can't do the same thing - in other words screw him.

YOU have an obligation to those who are around that truck while it is driving down the road, it is YOUR responsibility not to allow anyone to mess with your log and that means especially drive on it. YOU get in one accident with him using your log and you won't have to worry about driving a truck any more, no one will hire you with all the CSA points you get. Then no one is immune to being distracted - we already have on the road enough idiot truck drivers. Texting is not for those driving, the laws are clear and the safety of those around you and yourself in the truck are more important than his texting.

 

I don't know how common or 'normal' it is. I would imagine it happens a lot.

What to do about it is up to you. Have you talked to him about these things? Do you feel unsafe in the truck with him?

 

CDL training mills.......

It never ends.

Good Luck Driver

 

Texting while driving impairs you nearly as much as being drunk.

I'd get off the truck at the terminal and request a new trainer, and tell them about your previous one texting, sleeping, and running on your log. Remember, you are paying prime for this training one way or another. Everything he is doing is putting you, your career , and the company at risk.


edit: feel free to PM me his name, I don't want to get stuck with a clown like that when I start PSD next month.