How Much Experience Should A Trainer Have?

I don't agree with the arbitrary number requirement but you should have a more than firm grasp on the subject matter.

 

That's like saying a great parent could be qualified to run a daycare; someone knowing how to raise their own children doesn't mean they are good with other people's kids. In other words, someone having OTR experience doesn't mean they can teach others the industry.

 

I don't agree with number requirements either. Some drivers drive for 5 years and don't know squat. Others have driven less than a year and make a good candidate. The problem with number requirements is that you're going to end up with a short supply of trainers.

Your ability and willingness to teach is what will make you a good trainer. Most trainers just want a student for another logbook. These are the worst trainers on the road.

Here's the layout at the bottom feeder I drive for:

Yes, you can train at my company with less than one year of experience. Here's the catch: you're not teaching the student how to drive. If you're a Phase II trainer at my company, you should be teaching the student how to run a truck. As in how to run your logbook, how to do a proper trip plan, etc. The student should already know how to drive when they get on a Phase II truck.

Phase I trainers at my company are the trainers that teach you how to drive. Even with my company, you need at least 1 year of experience before they'll consider you to be a Phase I trainer. You also need to take classes for a couple days.

 

That is so true. In programming there are a lot of guys with a lot of experience who are horrible at teaching others. I think some people try to sound smart to impress you rather than making you understand. In the trucking industry I would imagine the trainer has to experience all types of weather more than once in order to pass down tips to his pupil.

 

I won't speak for blackw900, but when saying that someone should have five years experience it doesn't mean that just because they have that experience they should, or can, train. It means that is the minimum experience level at which someone should be considered to be a trainer. Additional technical competence and the ability to properly train, etc., have to also be considered.

 

HELL NO!!!

I'd double that. 10 years verifiable T/T experience minimum....

Trainers should have 3 years at the carrier they are training for...remember, they aren't JUST teaching the person how to drive, they are also instructing the person in matters regarding company policy. A trainer should be able to answer any question that comes up...and a great deal of experience is the best way to have those answers.

Drivers like you?

which could be considered a GREAT thing. If requirements for becoming a trainer are such that trainers are in short supply, carriers will have to treat/pay drivers better as they close in on meeting the requirements in order to keep them around. For example, if a driver needed 10 years verifiable T/T experience, with the last 3 years being with the carrier they are going to be training for, new-hire drivers with 7 or more years T/T experience will be worth more than drivers with only 1 or 2 years. Then, after a couple years with the carrier, their value increases again. A company that cannot attract and retain veteran drivers to train for them would not be able to hire new & inexperienced drivers to prey upon.

Ability and willingness to teach are only part of the equation. You still have to be KNOWLEDGEABLE on the topic you are trying to teach....and you aren't going to be very knowledgeable when you are still wet behind the ears yourself.

...are you bragging about working for a bottom feeder? With all of the years of "experience" you claim to have?

That too.

 

You don't know who I am, so why don't you STHU.

No, I'm not. Do realize that bottom feeders are the only game in town in some cases. Also, you can have 40 years of experience, and it won't mean anything if you take too much time off in-between jobs. This is what happened to me. My time with Werner meant nothing when I was going back to OTR.

You must be gods gift to driving also. I'm always wrong and you're always right.

Watch your comments. You aren't exempt from forum rules. Continue to bash me and I will report you. I don't have the patience to argue. Maybe y'all will get the hint after a few members get banned.

 

566 years........

 

Fixed that for you.