Rookies training Rookies

Maybe the newer guy is passionate about what he is doing and can be a good teacher. I had a guy with 30 years experience and he couldn't care less that I was in the truck...

 

that's the normal practice. 6 months is all you need with them megas.

start in the spring, train in the fall. and you have absolutely ZERO experience with winter and mountains.

 

It has little to do with experience and everything to do with the right attitude. I've been doing it over 10 months now. I'm ready to teach and pass important knowledge on to another driver. I can show them how to back, how to do a real world pretrip, proper courtesy and etiquettes as a truck driver.

I can show them my methods for staying safe, methods for saving money on the road. I can show them a lot of things. I've got most things figured out, you do learn things some times, but its not everyday. Truck driving isn't rocket science.

Knowledge and experience are important, but to say someone can't teach or train unless they have 2-5 years experience, is a farce. What differences set aside a driver with 1 year vs 5 years? Drivers are people, some are more relaxed, some are wiser, some have better teaching abilities. 9 months to a year, you've probably encountered most things as a driver from backing into tight spots, bad weather, snow, near misses, etc.

A driver with the right attitude and brains with 6 or 9 months can be a better teacher than someone with 1-5 years who is just there for the extra money. Some people just get jealous and want to feel good about them selves, and resent the fact that a driver with 9 months can train.

Bottom line, there are drivers that can train at 9 month, and there are drivers who still needing training to lift the lid on the toilet before they whiz in it. That is what separates us.

Finally, you say, "would you be kinda upset if you found out your trainer was only doing it for 6 months?" If you're learning things from your trainer and satisfied, why would you be upset? I'd be more upset dealing with an a-hole who berates me and doesn't want to teach me a thing. Be upset about that.

 

They can learn what not to do.

 

What about no trainer?
10 day orientation and they throw you some keys..
Two years later, no preventables and a speeding ticket

Honestly, an experienced trainer (5+ years) is no better if he has bad driving habits...

 

There should be minimum standards and an endorsement on a CDL for trainers,,
Years ago I had the license but when I got a job with a company and they required me to make 2 trips from Wash DC to NYC before they would let me go on my own,,first thing my trailer did was stop at the first liquor store after we loaded to get a 6 pack,several years later I went to work at a car hauler,,needed one week training local around so calif,,my trainer went into a road rage when a car changed lanes too close in front of him and he went into a road rage took 3 miles until he could get beside the car a force it to the shoulder,, I really had good examples how to drive a big rig,,
Today most trainers only concern is to earn an other 20ct/mile while in the bunk and the trainee get paid almost nothing,,and the carrier has a team running a load for little money.
Been trucking local and over the road for 44 years,,best trucking I have ever done was the past 30 years with my own authority, I ame the decisions, I pick the loads and I decide on how much I will haul for,,and best of all I don't take any crap when I load or unload.

 

While experience means something for sure, it's not everything. My teacher had 19 years in the industry and was brutal. After a couple of weeks I was a better teacher for another student in backing than she was. That's not bragging on me, as I'm not saying I'm the end all teacher. That comment is stated in a way that just because someone has experience doesn't mean they're a good teacher.

I don't know how other megas work, but at Swift a person has to have 9 months. They also have to have no violations, no preventables, no tickets, all on time deliveries, and a few other things (not recalling exactly what) that makes me feel my teacher will be a quality driver. Whether he's a quality teacher or not I won't know until Monday. His experience level isn't a factor to me though.

Edit- Should have stated that they can't have certain violations for X amount of time, depending on the violation. If they had a late delivery 3 years ago or what have ya, they can be a mentor. The main point doesn't change though, that they've got to have a good recent driving record in order to be a trainer.

 

When I first started driving I didn't have any trainers. I was given the keys to a rig and told to get going. Only time I had a co pilot was when I had my permit. Only incident I've had is a not at fault accident. Like stated above. Driving a rig isn't rocket science and some people pick up things faster than others.

 

I would rather have a trainer with more experience then someone with a year under there belt. I am hoping that's the case next week when I start my job.

I think I'd ask for a different trainer if I found out that they only had a year experience I would not feel safe. I'm sure there are some drivers that can do fine with one year experience but I personally would not want to be a trainer for atleast 2 years and made sure I could give a newbie the right information and how to correctly drive, follow dot regs and understand the trucking industry. TO MUCH INFO TO LEARN IN ONE YEAR.