so should I report my past employer/trainer?

Sure seems like even the good ones like prime the guys out there are driving 4000 miles a week while training so someone is driving at night.

 

I think a better strategy is to prepare yourself with some research before hiring on with a company- rather than have yourself wired for surveillance expecting the worst and looking to hire an attorney.

 

Suit yourself , but , in order to be trained , the trainer needs to be there....TRAINING....not sleeping....I got no skin in this. I'm just trying to give good , sound advice to those that don't know. No way would I hire on with a company that did that....no way.

 

True, but just like any type of contract, they are made for worst case scenarios and helps keep the parties involved honest. Never hurts to cover yourself for worst case situations.

 

Sure seems insane to me to put a brand new guy in a truck ans send him out to team and expect him to drive 11 hours a day after he was supposed to be trying to get a half way restfull night of sleep in a rolling shaking truck earlier.

Just seems crazy to me.

I have done my fair share of yacht cruising and delivering where you have crews on watches 4 on and 4 off and I know after 2 days you are a Zombie give it 7 and you are mentally ill and need 48 hours to recharge your batteries before you will be normal again.

 

Might seem insane to you but that's how companies are.They are in it for money more then giving the trainee the proper training.Unless FMCSA steps in it's going to always be like this.

 

Fascinating. Apparently, there are TWO different views to this saga. Now this is the "acting childish andf seeking revenge" part of the saga. Where does one begin?

1. Why didnt you(OP) ask about Western Express BEFORE taking the job? Everyone would have told you not to.
2. Tony is dead on, this is a done deal, let the grudge match go. If you were going to do something, you should have done it before you quit, like pull in an open scale, play dumb rookie and ask a scalemaster if what they were doing is legal, and then have the trainer explain the rules of the game in front of the scalemaster.
3. Seeking revenge? For what? Because you're having troubles lining up your next gig? You should have have the next gig lined up before you quit.

Its like you're playing poker and making bets BEFORE you see the cards. Thinking comes BEFORE action.

 

I would say you should certainly call the company you were with. Getting off his truck was certainly your choice, there are also a great number of scumbuckets passing themselves off as trainers.

as far as driving nights, thats where I started new drivers, I would have run you day time untile I felt you were up to it, then worked the hours around to see how you handled nights. Look you have to be able to handle your driving shift day or night.

As far as equipment malfunctions, well just noway to know. But if you feel this slimy piece of flamunda was treating you unfairly then you should by all means talk to your employer.

 

I say forget about it. Maybe I missed it but how long did you stay there? When I was trained my trainer was always in the jump seat. I cant imagine somebody sleeping at night while a new driver is at the wheel.

 

Maybe you are your own problem!

Patty...I think he/she will be seeing more problems getting any large training carrier to give him/her a shot...I read it as he/she quit during training! what would any incentive be to hire a quitter?

Student drivers need to learn/experience as many situations as possible while under the tutelage of a trainer. Day driving, night driving, clear weather, nasty weather...as they say..."the more the merrier"!

And do what after the first few days or a week....point out the different signs, the different color cars and trucks? At what point is a student driver ready to be "trusted"? that would be a trainers call, to be in the sleeper...not necessarily asleep...but "out of sight" at least offering a modicum of "you're on your own" time before the student is really "on his own". After the student has demonstrated he/she can operate the vehicle safely and with a certain amount of intelligence, the trainers focus should move to the more technical side of the industry...i.e., docking, customer service, time management, company policy, trip planning.

See above response...but each student is an individual, so the "hand holding" could take longer with some and shorter with others. Again I ask...when do you allow a student to begin to "spread his/her wings"?

That's it...students need to learn how be more litigious and to prepare for those situations!