How Much Experience Should A Trainer Have?

So the foot tall writing on the back of ALL their trailers are lying ???

 

it depends on the company and type of work, it also depends on the person. I've got 14 yrs exp., I should make an excellent trainer, but the truth is, I suck at it. I don't have the patience to train someone. Now, the two guys at work who are the primary trainers, both have been with the company 5+ yrs and both have 10 + yrs exp.. But, they were both training before they had been with the company 2 yrs, why, becuase they have the patience. But, at the same time, they will also make sure the new guys know who the old timers (I don't feel that old) are to help them with a problem.

The two guys who trained me, both had been with the company less than 2 yrs, but one had 30 yrs exp. and the other 10 yrs exp. They had patience. We had another guy who got his CDL the year before God was born, but he didn't have squat for patience to train someone, but just from being around him, I learned a lot.

 

I think it depends on the individual, and the training program. A driver with one year's experience in a truck, but many years in life may be good for basic training. After all, most of the first few weeks for a trainee is repetative instruction. They're learning how to turn, shift, back.
But the nuances of driving takes several years experience.
and most of all, a good trainer has to have patience, even temper and be organized.
I don't think there's a lot more the industry can do in qualifying trainers than it does now, since much of the training time is just that...time behind the wheel.
One of the most difficult FORWARD skills a new driver has to grasp is shifting. My students consistantly grind gears, miss shifts, pick the wrong gear. But that's part of the learning curve. By the time they get off my truck, they can back decently, control their lane, turn corners...but shifting still has a ways to go.