Prime Inc.-The trainers

That's exactly right. It seems like the going mentality is it's up to the company and the trainer to make sure the student is proper prepared to go solo. That's true to a point but, as you know, the task of learning lies with the student. You have a good head on your shoulders gator, you are going to be a great driver. Too bad more newbies don't have your attitude.

 

ty for the kind words. it is how we are raising our kids so I have to live upto what I expect from them

 

Still with Prime, it will be 2 years in October, and I have no plans to leave. Since you only go through training once, I have no idea how I would be able to see that they are weeding out poor trainers. I was simply responding to the original question asking how the trainers are. But if you say that they have weeded out the poor trainers and now have strict criteria on exactly who can be a trainer, well then, I'll take your word for it, because I have no way of knowing.

As for manning up and doing due dilligence, you'll have to explain that one to me. I was told by my then fleet manager that the moron they stuck me with was a good trainer. What I later found out was that of this guys previous 6 trainee's, before me, the longest anyone lasted was 2 weeks. The guy right before me was literally left on the side of the road.

Being a business owner myself, I just assumed that if the company was training people to represent the business, then they surely did a little due dilligence of their own. But as I stated, when they asked me to be a trainer so soon after being out on my own, that pretty much told the story. Anyone capable of breathing can be a trainer. But maybe its all fixed now, I have no clue. All I know is, because of my experience, I will never be a trainer, and no one will be in my truck with me at any time.

As for success, that has more to do with the person being trained than the trainer. I have the best fleet manager in the place, (in my opinion) no accidents, no late deliveries, and average 3000 miles a week. After almost 2 years, I'm having a blast.

As for the guy that trained me? He's still there and still training. Probably still making late deliveries too. I guess they'll be weeding him out soon though right? Interestingly enough, what I learned from him did have some value. I learned what not to do.

 

There is no real criteria for trainers. There are some for instructors.

Weeding them out? Eh? Management isn't in the truck.. It comes down to complaints from the trainees and who they complain to. I don't think they keep track. Fleet managers have a financial stake. If a driver doesn't exhibit any poor qualities like tardiness, citations and accident How is he to know what kind of driver trainer he has on his hands? The fleet manager is looking to get the exact same qualities he observes from the trainer out of the trainee... On time, no tickets, no accidents.

The trainer really only has to respect and keep an attitude in check in front of his fleet manager or management... Other than that they have no idea if the guy is a rageaholic unless he gets a complaint from a customer... Again, without consistent complaints, who can management ID a pattern?

 

Ok, tell me if I have this right, the trainer takes you out and teaches you before you test out for your CDL, and then an instructor takes you out for the 3-6 months after that?

 

No, it is the other way around. Instructor teaches you what you need to know to get your CDL, and a trainer teaches you the fine art of being a trucker and the Prime way of trucking.

 

Can a person be both?

 

Yea they can ne both, most are. Some only do one or the other.

 

yes, but they must attend two different training sessions for this. Also, it must be a mutual decision for the student to continue with the instructor during the training phase.

 

sorry, duplicate post