Risk of being a trainer?

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by RollinChaos, Feb 17, 2025.

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  1. RollinChaos

    RollinChaos Light Load Member

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    After 3 to 6 months experience Western Express asks their drivers to be a trainer.

    Yes that is a wee bit of an aggressive timeline.

    What is the risk to the trainer? Mistakes by the trainee can obviously be life threatening. How about risk to my license as the Trainer?

    Not too wild about the idea but wanted to get others feedback.
     
    RollinChaos, Feb 17, 2025
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  2. Lav-25

    Lav-25 Medium Load Member

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    The obvious ..... they hit something , miss something , forget something , then it comes back to you . Then there's the team thingy with a unknown person . Lot's of downside , BUT ... if you are good at everything ( know your truck and self , can TEACH , and have the patience of a saint ) ,
    Then you might be good at it .
    Teaching someone to operate a truck correctly is a special skill cause what you teach is how they'll operate.
    Out of 3 that i've trained , one is a O/O and the other works hauling fuel too ( he's going on ten years now and the O/O is going on 9 )
     
    Lav-25, Feb 17, 2025
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  3. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    That many Megas will let anyone with less than, at least, four seasons of truck driving just amazes me. Some of them have never even driven a car in winter conditions.
     
    kemosabi49, Feb 17, 2025
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  4. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    3 to 6 months is no where near enough time to be a trainer. You need more like 3 to 6 years, closer to 6 years would be better.
     
    bryan21384, Feb 17, 2025
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  5. Concorde

    Concorde Road Train Member

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    Concorde, Feb 17, 2025
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  6. Eddiec

    Eddiec Road Train Member

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    If you have a few years of experience operating in all types of terrain, weather and customers then its plausible. If you have just 3 to 6 months total driving experience in the industry, then that tells you everything you need to know about Western Express!
     
    Eddiec, Feb 17, 2025
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  7. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    I’ve been running 10 years and my company wants me to train a guy. Not very excited about it, but finally agreed. I just like to be alone.
     
    OldeSkool, Feb 17, 2025
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  8. cuzzin it

    cuzzin it Road Train Member

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    The reason for that is...... most drivers with more experience are very reluctant to do it.
    And someone with less experience is much more enticed by more money.
    The one thing i learned by being a trainer for swift is...... they want drivers smart enough to follow directions, but stupid enough to not think of better way to do it
     
    cuzzin it, Feb 17, 2025
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  9. cuzzin it

    cuzzin it Road Train Member

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    :p:p:p:p
    3 to 6 months is enough if you NEED trainers. If the amount of liability and equipment damage bothered them they would not train
     
    cuzzin it, Feb 17, 2025
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  10. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    will that be basically team driving to make more revenue for the company?
     
    Numb, Feb 17, 2025
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