Trainers? - What should new guys be looking for in a trainer?

Someone that will point out your mistakes to you and tell you how to correct them without making you feel uncomfortable, and someone with a lot of patience. The other things people point out about cleanliness is nice to have but its unrealistic, so many truckers don't take showers for 3-4 days.

 

Get a company driver for a trainer.

Stay clear of lease drivers.

 

While out on the road on a long haul it's possible. I was referring to the initial introduction and getting the trainee into the truck. A trainer should have their person and the truck in clean and squared away shape.

It's the trainer's responsibility to make sure they both have ample opportunity to get showers. With the 30 minute break it's easy to schedule showers on the road.

 

Your trainer is a lazy slob. I ran team for 4 yrs we showered everyday. You got plenty of time especially if he's in the bunk like that and your pretty much teaming it.

Oh and I ran for FedEx Ground, FedEx Custom Critical, Cast transport (radioactive loads), which means a lot of time sensitive loads and we showered everyday when we changed shifts. Showers take 20 min especially if you stop mid day or middle of the night.

 

When I ran team learning to drive, (did not go to school back in 1973) we took showers every......day as well. We also stopped and ate sitting down 3 times a day at least. Most truck stops had a counter with stools, and it was a lot of fun. Always....great conversation. Self centered drivers today can not even imagine how much fun it was back then....

 

73 was a good year!

 

There are good trainers out there... I was lucky to get one.. of course it took a few bad ones before I got him.. but he was an awesome trainer...

I fiststarted out pulling flatbed OTR... and there is no reason to go days without a shower.. I know we always showered after loading or unloading... sometimes all we had time for was a quick shower.. but we always got one in.. your trainer is a slacker loser... sorry, but for you to go without a shower from Sunday to Thursday is gross and wrong... he is also not doing you any favors by having you just roll down the highway... a good trainer does it just the opposite... they will take the wheel for the easy breezy stroll down the highway and have you in the seat to back up or when the weather is bad.. you need training, so you need to be behind the wheel for the toughest and difficult parts and your trainer in the passenger seat...

I remember we were coming off a 34 hour reset and going over our route for our new load, the weather forcast sucked and we would be hitting some bad weather during the 2nd shift.. so I said "Maybe I should drive first cause the weather is going to get bad and there are mountains"... he smiled and said," that is why I will drive first... so you can gt some bad weather and mountain driving training in..." which is what happened and although at first I was not happy.. cause I was very nervous driving in the mountains for the first time and during bad weather... but, he was right there in the passenger seat and talked me through. .. and he had some amazing patience witb me.. cause I got ugly.. it is scary going through the mountains for the first time, and it snowing didnt help... I remember hem telling me.. to relax and to breath... seriously, I would get ner ous and hold my breath.. then came the trickest partt and I just flipped on him.. I was cussing and calling him names vor making me drive down this mountain in snow... well, we finally got got to the bottom and pulled into the next truck stop... I took a guick shower to relax and then joined him for a sit down meal.. when I got to the table he smiled and told me I did really well and asked if I still thougnt he was a @$#/ing $#÷%* @$÷#/%&^ .... I laughed and said I was sorry for that.. he just laughed and said well, it is nerve wracking going down a mountain with a heavy load for the first time and I the snow at that..

At the time, I just wanted him to take over and drive us down the mountain and give me the wheel at the bottom... looking back, I am glad he pushed me and that I had an experienced driver next to me my fist time through the mountains...

Good trainers will have you drive the toughest parts of the trip.. and you need to for when you are solo and get that load going through the mountains....

 

That they take a shower.

 

I think even in prison they allow a daily shower?

It seems that trainers are either unreasonable and complete pigs, or they are like Lepton - guys who truly want to teach their trainees to better the industry.

I am absolutely dreading this training time. I'm fine with taking orders from my trainer - he's in charge. But, I'm too far down the road in my life to be screamed at by a hot head or be told I have to go without a shower for 4 days. That just isn't going to happen.

How hard is it to get a decent trainer? Is it easy to switch trainers?

How about the idea of leasing on as o/o right off the bat, and hire my own trainer to ride with me for a month at my expense?