Prime Trainer can't train...

Oh boy, I guess I'm going to be the "cheerleader" here...

So, about 2 1/2 weeks you made it? With 2 different trainers? You didn't give it much time to get acquainted with each other and work out any problems, did you?

No offense, but right off the bat you were complaining and telling your trainer "I can't." Now, I'm all for safety and everything, but what makes this situation so interesting to me is the EXACT same thing happened to me. I was up early for orientation, got on my trainers truck, around 9pm. He was nearly out of hours and told me I was driving. I told him I was pretty tired from classes all day, but I'd go as far as I could. Around 2:30am, I told my trainer I was getting way too tired to drive any further, and we worked things out from there.

You've been frequenting the "Prime" boards for quite a while. You never picked up on this? During CDL training, the truck is run as a solo truck. The instructor is always with you. During training, you are expected to know how to drive down the expressway. Most trainers will wake up when you get into trouble (if they hear gears grinding, feel you're in traffic, feel you turn off the expressway, etc.). They are also usually awake during maneuvers such as driving city streets, getting into / out of a customer location, backing, etc. If you can't drive down the expressway with a trainer up front with you telling you when to change lanes, speed up, or slow down, you need to get your money back from whatever CDL school you attended.

THAT is why your first trainer didn't work out? I've got news for you, this wasn't Prime. Just about every major company operates this way. If this was a major problem, you would have never made it in trucking. Just sayin'

You were on his truck, and you should have been doing things his way. If he says "jump" you should immediately jump as high as you can.

I thought he was always sleeping? If your trainer screamed "STOP" you should have stopped and asked questions later. Simple as that.

Way to insult your trainer. And this was with under 2 weeks on the truck with your trainer? If I was your trainer, I might have kicked you off the truck right then and there. I at least gave it a few weeks before I yelled at my trainer.

There is absolutely, positively no excuse for this, and maybe the only valid argument you've made so far.

And you know this from 1 flower load, with 2 full weeks of experience as a truck driver? Wow, you learn fast! Funny, when I was with my trainer we had a flower load with 9 stops on it. Made our deliveries no problem. I wasn't particularly happy about all the unloading on those flower loads, but my trainer didn't hear one complaint from me, and I woke up to help on each and every delivery.

Was it really in good fun, or were you offended just a little bit?

So he got mad at a joke you made, and that was the last straw, huh?

All trainers are into the money at least partially. I honestly don't think things would have turned out much different with anybody else. I just don't think you're entirely cut out for truck driving. This is a career like no other. We are treated like crap, we are used and abused, and just about everyday something "unfair" will happen to you. Trucking is either in your blood or it's not. If the longest you made it with a trainer was 9 days, there are some serious issues there.

You also told me in a private message that one of your trainers was "power happy." Well, sorry man. That's the way it goes when you're in training. The trainer will want to control when you sneeze and how hard you do it. Training is a temporary thing. You just need to deal with it. Was my trainer perfect? Heck no. Did we even raise each others voice from time to time? Certainly. But I stuck it out, for 4 months. Now I'm solo and cruizin' the roads alone. I call the shots. If your trainers where here to defend themselves, I think they might paint a different picture.

Look, I don't wish anything bad upon you. I truly hope whatever happens will be in your favor and I wish you the best of luck. I'm sorry if it seems I was hard on you. Sounds like you have quite a few supporters here, so I guess I'm in the minority. But I really don't think you're cut out for trucking.

Of course, you were there. Only you know what really happened. If you still think trucking is for you, try Swift, Werner, TransAm, Stevens, or any of the other training companies. Maybe they will work better, if they'll hire you. But step one, realize right now that even at one of the other companies, your trainer will probably be sleeping while you drive. Are you going to be ok with that?

I only wish you the best of luck TD.

 

totally agree. the ONLY reason any of us are out here, training or not, is for the money...right? Okay, sure there is probably 12 drivers out there right now who do it just for something to do, but those 12 drivers probably have a million bucks sitting in escrow or savings, are about 55 years old, no kids, no wife, no car or house payments....just a cat that sits on the dash.

i for one, wont train. Cause i think i'd be bad at it? not at all. But the trade off of having your own space, being able to do your own thing, etc. is far better than having to babysit your student. And what if you do go into a movie, and they want to stay in the truck. Worrying they go postal, and drive off with your truck.

 

Hey 3David, sorry to hear you are done with Prime. I thought Prime paid you a straight $600/week while training, or $0.12/mile for ALL miles ran, whichever is greater? Are you saying that you only get paid if and when the trainer turns in his BOL? Did you have a lot of advances, or other deductions, and what was your gross, if you please?

 

I won't train. When I was with Prime, they requested on numerous occasions that I train new people. The answer was always no.

I have a year prior experience with Swift and worked with the same driver manager I have now. I have been back less than two months. I am already being asked to train new hires...even if it's just the folks who need a two-week observation because they did something on the road test that Swift doesn't like. The answer is still no.

Not because I believe I would make a poor trainer or because I don't think I have anything to offer. It's for several reasons. I would have to kick my dog off the truck. I would have to reinstall the upper bunk. I would have to spend 24/7 in a very small space with someone I do not know. I am meticulous about the condition of my equipment and do not want it damaged.. I expect a person on my truck to be at least as driven as I am. And this only scratches the surface.

Mr. 3D, you may not be made for this business. It sounds like you have a thin skin and are easily offended. Also, it sounds like you didn't realize there is actual labor involved in trucking. Truckers understand they will need to remove their behinds from that seat and be on the dock sometimes. Steering Wheel Holders complain each time they are expected to slide the tandems for dock personnel safety.

Regarding "jokes" with your trainer, I would just say don't. You are there to gain experience, the trainer is there to give you information if you'll listen and, yes, to earn a few extra bucks along the way. There is nothing wrong with a guy trying to improve his bottom line.

After two weeks on the road, it is expected you will be able to put in a full shift. By what you have written, you indicate you could not do this. At which point the o/o trainer you were with loses money on you because your pay comes out of his settlement in addition to the higher level of fuel consumption and excessive mileage he has to pay for. You were not a good investment for either of these drivers.

Sorry, but that's the way it is...and will be at least for the foreseeable future.

 

Another I FAILED but it's everyones FAULT stories .

 

Which is it? You fired him or he quit you?

 

I believe your quote to me in a PM was :

"The last guy was just power happy and couldn't handle me knowing more then him with my basic knowledge of life."

Sounds like a know it all complex. If I was your trainer and you gave me that attitude, I would have a little discussion with you first... If it continued then I would just give enough rope to almost hang yourself, or piss your pants before I bailed you out. Remember its your CDL, your behind the wheel, the ticket is all yours. (No I wouldnt set you up, but I wouldnt exactly be in the mood to double check your work)

You called the fleet manager on his cell? To complain? Way to go on endearing yourself to him... Ive never had to do that. If I did it would be an emergency, or a situation where the night or weekend crew arent getting me support on an immediate load situation.

 

Those classes are so taxing on the mind and spirit that you would immediatly fall asleep behind the wheel... I get it.

I thought he would sleep while you drove? repeat?

Yeah, you tell him... Its always good to tell your trainer that he's no good. You obviously didnt tell him your intentions to roll up on the curb, but thats ok, he can see everything you can from the passenger's seat... UH wait a minute NO HE CANT!

You know I screamed STOP the other night at my trainee... maybe I should have just trusted him that he knew what he was doing because he had a better view from the driver's seat... too bad he didnt listen to me right away and managed to run the truck into a fence.

No argument there. Thats wrong. doesnt happen on my truck.

You learned this from one load? As I understand they pay pretty good to the Lease guys. Very lightweight so good on the fuel milage. Myself, as a company driver, enjoy the drop pay and the driver unload pay.

You left the truck... no garuantee pay for partial week.

BTW you were claiming you were out for three weeks. You said your check was $20 or so in change. What about the other 2 weeks. If you "left" the truck with your first trainer (somewhere on here you said it was in the middle of VA) you probably cant claim that as a full week for the garauntee either...

Ive sat through 2 Prime orientations and both times we were told not to get off the truck unless we felt we were in danger. To notify our fleet manager and they would route you through a terminal to get off.

If you were kicked off the truck (not a mutual agreement between you and your trainer) and not in a terminal, it never looks good on your part if it happened twice.