My Trainer Isn't Letting Me Practice Backing

I just got hired on at PTL. I've been out 4 days now. My trainer is barley letting me back. Like we stopped at a Flying J with plenty of open spots. She literally had me pull up and do a straight back. We are at a Petro and the same thing happened. Plenty of good spots for backing and she had me pull straight in to a spot. At this point I'm getting really annoyed.

I do feel like my backing has gotten better since driving school, but I still need more practice. Then the few times she did let me back, she was standing outside and yelling which way to turn my wheels. I HATE that with a PASSION! Like this isn't helping me learn, you're basically doing the backing for me. I called the training manager and told him, and all he said was " focus on the positives". Ummm ok?

I've told her 4 times I need more practice backing and she keeps giving BS reasons why we can't do it. At this point, I'm just going to push through it so I can get this over with and I can get my own truck. I have enough backing knowledge to pass the test after training, but still the more practice the better.

 

Teaching is a skill & some have it & improve on it or don't have it all. I may have learned a skill but it doesn't mean I have the ability to teach the skill. Press on & you will have to get help down the road with it. How long is this "training module"(so they say it is)

 

Start driving everywhere in reverse.

 

Keep us posted. Don't be afraid to record her if she gets abusive.

 

Unfortunately, there’s not much of a screening process for trainers. Some just do it for the money and have no interest in actually training. And, like was already said, some are good drivers, but don’t have the right skill set to be a teacher.

 

It should be 2/1 2 to 3 weeks. You have to drive at least 7500 miles with a trainer before you test. I've driven 1700 so far.

 

A part of me wants a different trainer, but I don't want to prolong the training. Besides I could get a trainer who "trains" just like her.

 

My trainer for my first job was the same. I came to the same conclusion you did, just get it over. When I was finally solo, that’s when it all started coming together.

Try talking to her about it at a time when you are not about to back or have just finished. Like when you guys are driving down the road. Just calmly explain why it’s important to you. If that doesn’t work, go back to the other plan of just getting solo. Best of luck.

 

I wholeheartedly agree

 

This will have been my 5th time telling her. I literally stressed to her on day 1 how much I needed to practice backing. I didn't even back at all on day 1 at a customer. Both places were really tight and she made me get out and watch.