New Trainer at CRST needs advice

I observed, many Instructors fail, Because, Teaching is an "additional Skill-Set" (some don't have).

Most people learn because they make mistakes. Your task is to provide an environment where that can take place in the complete absence of disaster.
(I had an entire abandoned Air Force Base available to me).

If they've been through a decent school. They should be able to shift turn and drive, and back up.
Sometimes you might need to help them polish those skills up some. But mostly, your showing them the business end of things, and how to be successful, and, not get themselves killed.

Food ? I would give anyone food, if they didn't have any and they didn't have any money AND they were making an honest attempt to get marketable skills.
I think the easiest time to inquire about that issue is when your discussing schedules, meals can be "irregular"(multiple meanings) in this business.

Let me know how that "Stick-Thing" works out.

They will always remember you.

 

Peanut butter and jelly is a 24hr staple, and affordable. No yelling. Don't forget to insist: "Read all the signs, not just the big ones." Passing is a learned skill, and it should be a taught skill. In my value system it's important. I hope you do great. I wonder sometimes about being in that role, and I might some day. The students will be at the steepest slope on their learning curve, and so will you. Or me, if I go there. Gotta be some challenges in that bag somewhere. If you're making enough money, it should work out for you no matter how small that cab gets.

 

Teach the student, listen to the student and remember they are students and not another person to get you more miles

 

ask yourself,"what did i wis i was taught?" and teach him/her the same.
one thing i was never taught(wish i was) how to do a proprer button hook. not sure if your van or flatbed side but teach how they back differnt turn differnt

 

I was a student at CRST Van Ex. back in 2010. Had 3 different trainers. 1st one was for 2 weeks. 2nd for 1.5 wks. and last one was for 3 days. I'll summarize what they taught me and what i will teach/train if i was a trainer.

1st Trainer:
would never let me hold the steering wheel with just one hand. Always wants two hands on the steering wheel when not shifting

 

Anyways...i messed up on my first post: So here we go again.

1st Trainer: Trip Planning most important (don't want to be on the side of the road when you run out of hours)
Never let me hold the steering wheel with one hand. Never let me go above the speed limit (although everybody is passing us between Barstow and AZ state line). Reminded me to look at my mirrors and follow my trailer whenever we're on a curved ramp. Reminded me to constantly look at both side mirrors. always want me to down shift (couple of gears) before coming to a stop. wouldn't allow me to build up speed/momentum b4 climbing a hill. Also, when to call off driving because conditions were too bad. He also showed me the who, what, where, when, how, and why of the trucking industry.and a few more i cant recall at the moment. But i hated his Training procedure.....so i ask for a new trainer..

2nd: Took us around Chicago land and Showed me how to "Doctor" my logs. and that was about all i learned from him...oh, and don't wake him up when your trailer brakes are about to catch on fire. (I-81 Penn). Snow and rain don't really go too good with newbies that heard "Don't use the Jake when it's snowing" BS on 40k load. tell him if the roads are dry it's ok to use jake.

3rd: Showed me how to use a gps to find Wal-Mart and shopping centers and other places we could go and hang out at while waiting for another load. He also showed me what to use if i don't have the time or money for showers. This guy was probably good trainer but too bad i only had 3 days with him. Was on our way back from the east coast to Cali. My home time was overdue and they were sending us west. we ran as a real team and made it.

But if i was a trainer I would teach/train:
Downshifting, lane changes, TT set-ups, Techniques, Road Signs, Clarences, Truck route, Map reading, trip planning, snow driving, maybe chaining, road conditions, curves, grades, scale house, scaling, axle placement, lower airbags, interlock axle, sliding tandems, qualcomm, gps, no super trucker, always better safe than SORRY, Driver makes the call, Not dispatch, how to drop/ connect trailers, don't let landing gear touch floor. and a whole other bunch of boring stuff that Trainee will dump me for another trainer...LOL...J?K

Good luck...
Remember when you're training...."Always better SAFE than SORRY"

 

The two hands on the wheel part is taking things a little far, but everything else you just described is correct and the safe way of driving. Sounds like a good trainer to me.

 

Controlling device use in the sleeper ?

That might become complicated.

If your Student can't get enough rest, for any reason. That would be a valid issue.

If noise from the sleeper is distracting you wile your driving. That is an issue. (You could have them mute the thing).

 

How dare your first trainer eat in front of you! You showed him though! Eating in front of him! Great payback!