Is being a trainer worth the headaches???

I had a blast with my trainer. He said I should be a trainer, when eligable. I would have to agree with 48. I enjoy the solitude. Besides, the last thing I would need is a whiner who has to pee all the time. I have seen trainers that were nasty with a capitol N. Personal as well as truck hygene. Dirtbags create dirtbags. I saw a trainer and a student in flip flops! needless to say I didnt see much more of the trainer after the ambulance left with him in it after he fell off his truck on his head. I felt sorry for the student. He didnt speak very good english, was in his 6th week, and still could not back up a rig to save his life. One of my comrades was called by dispatch to go help a trainer back a rig into a dock. Sorry, not for me.. I keep my truck spotless last thing I need is some funky student leaving potato chip crumbs all over the place.

 

Im in school and my teacher told me that one of their previous students called and said he just got his own truck, after a week. He was with his trainer, who had TWO MONTHS experience, and they stayed at a hotel one night, and the trainer ditched in the middle of the night, left his student and his truck. When he woke up, and found the trainer gone, and called the company, they asked him if he wanted his own truck. Its his now. After a week of training.

Crazy. I couldn't believe the trainer only had 2 months experience driving himself...

 

Me too Redd, I was trained by a few gasoline tankers drivers that had many years of experience. I think I have still have some knots on the back of my head. Safety was always paramount then taking care of the truck then the company. Of course the rules and regulations fell into there too. But you sure didn't make any unsafe moves without a lecture why you don't do that and shown the right way then you got slapped on the back of the head for bonehead moves. You always took care of the truck so it would take care of you. Never running the engine agains't the peg and shifting to match the road speed as smooth as you could. Defensive driving was also very big then too.

I taught my son how to drive using the Smith System and he was amazed how I knew all that. He's been driving for 5 years now and not a scratch or a ticket on his record. But I'm with you guys, I don't like to train people unless they have never driven a truck before and want to learn.

 

I will train people to drive... But only certain people. Like my niece. She is only 16 & just got her permit in Georgia. I was sitting at her house when they got home from the dmv office. tossed her my keys & away we went in my Jeep. She wasn't all that bad either. We were gone an hour & I only smoked 3 cigarettes! I only have so much control over her... But my kids will be studying the motorcycle book & the Commercial book & pop quizzed by me before I sign for them to get their licenses. The way I look at it... They may not like motorcycles or trucks when they get older... But #### it, they are going to learn how to operate around both of them safely & courteously!


The problem with the current training system is the lack of knowledge. People don't care only learn enough to get rolling on their own. I'm not sure about you or anyone else, but I grew up in the industry. I wanted to drive a truck since I was little. I'm driving the truck! Many people don't have that passion. They were forced into the trucking industy because they lost their jobs in manufactoring. Ofcourse some love it.... Then there is the majority that don't give a flying ####, it's only a job to them!