Training Qs

Call your DM NOW!

If you are uncomfortable for any reason. It is your right to contact your DM and ask to be routed back to the yard and get a different trainer. You should be treated as an equal. Dont settle for anything less.

 

@Lostmykey

You need to have a conversation with him. Preferably out of the truck where you can sit across a table and look at each other in the face. If that is not an option then do it with the truck parked and you both sitting in the front seats.

Explain to him your issues. Think about how you want to express them - try and chose words that indicate that you are looking for a solution, not #####ing. Help me help you type thing. Explain how the ambient temperature inside the cab is distracting you and that you will be adjusting the front vents while leaving the bunk at his desired temperature. Talk about wanting to run the earlier shift so you can have some opportunities to back in the truckstops when they are not packed.

Discuss each trip plan together. Decide AHEAD of what the truck's expected eta to the next customer is. WRITE IT DOWN. I would also be planning on where and what time you will be switching drivers. With this done you can easily plan all the stops that you need.

From your post it seems you are too passive. You don't need or want to flip your lid, but you do need to be assertive. Some of my hardest weeks are when my trainee is passive and takes no initiative or responsibility. I had a guy sit with the door open because he was afraid to push any of the dash buttons - after that we had a conversation about his rights and his responsibilities then went over all the dash switches again. Your trainer probably has no clue how frustrated you are because you have not made it clear. Sucking it up and getting thru is one thing, being a latrine is another.

I probably have other thoughts and advice, but I'm tired. If you have more questions or just want to vent, please keep posting. If you start a new thread, tag me.

 

Actually, we will have a conversation about them. Probably several.

I do one demo morning - pti, first customer, d/h, scaling, demo back at the truck stop, then turns things over to New Guy. Before I get out of the drivers seat I dump half the air out and raise the mirrors. I tell them to adjust seat and mirrors, then we can go. If they get in and fire it up saying "looks good", we have a conversation.

If he can't get straight in a hole, we talk about mirror placement.


Every time he gets back in the seat after I was driving I will watch to see if he adjusts things. If not I pull the brakes back out and ask what did he forget.

If after a pti or reroute if the mirrors are still dirty I will ask why did he not clean them (squeegee and Windex in the door on both sides).

We talk about mirrors a lot in my truck.

 

This guy is a trainer. A good one.

 

THIS is the thing I keep wondering about whenever I read these crazy trainer stories. Isn't there some sort of evaluation at the end of the training period? I would assume the trainer has to turn in some sort of evaluation of the new driver that probably becomes part of their permanent record but isn't there some sort of evaluation of the trainer also? Is there anyway a new driver could request to see those before going out w/ a trainer?

. . . or perhaps no one cares and those evaluations just end up in the circular file?!

On a side note, this sort of thing is exactly why I'd never, ever want to team drive!

 

If you think the night mode for that device is helping you then by all means use it.

I personally refuse to have radar based braking systems on the semi. If the #### thing applies brakes on ice its going to probably put it into the ditch.

If he is a lease op, then it's his truck. His rules pending your company's mandatory requirements.

I feel that your situation is a little more difficult than it has to. Its one thing to endure require "Training" until you get a solo but this seems to be evolving into a problem that might damage you before you have a chance to learn anything.

I am merely expressing a fear that soemthing is going to get royally screwed up....

The two pictures were taken approx 98' near Sheridan WY about 10 miles to go. Car came at the two of us at 70+ with extreme reckless on ice. And presto buried in snow deeper than it's high. I was around 15 or so on lockers, plenty of time to take old fashioned pictures and wind film.... Doubles tanker was a mile behind me.

 

Oh for heaven's sake - why would the bitton be there if it is a safety violation?

When he says "odd" things like that, respond with "thats interesting, why is that?" or "could you explain that more/in a different way?". Make him justify (politely and respectfully) the stuff he wants you to do.

 

That's it. Take over the velt mit bomba ja!?

HAHAHAAHA that's just slays me too much. =)