Training Violations: What Would You Do?

I see someone mentioned that a trainee wants to step out of the truck for his ten hour break, why is that a bad thing? I get that they might be late getting back or whatever, but why would you just assume that? If the truck has to be moving then I get it but if not what is the problem? It would be his ten to do whatever he wants, and if he was late then I have no prob kicking him to the curb. Someone tell me why?

 

why is an 8 hour sleep during his ten not a good idea? Where is the problem in that?

 

I use trainees as wheel chocks

 

Once upon a time, I lead a group of drivers out of a wind farm 100 miles from any town. They asked me if they could run with me. Sure, I am a team player.ne driver wanted to stop at every casino along the route. "Go ahead and stop, amigo. I'm going on."
Well, they stayed with me. When we got stopped for our 10, they asked, "Six, what time are you leaving out in the morning?"

"0400"

Apparently, there were quite a few different interpretations of 0400. I got up at 0230. Did the triple S, got something to eat and drink, got something to eat and drink for the drive, and topped off the fuel tanks and did a PTI and planned my day. I walked around the trucks at 0350. One driver out of 4 was sitting behind the wheel doing some paperwork. One driver was just getting out of bed. The other trucks were dark and lifeless.

0359 I called out on the radio to see if everyone was ready. The driver that was just climbing out of bed said something about getting some fuel and something to eat.

0400, my truck was in gear and I was leaving the parkinglot. There was only 1 truck that was ready to roll with me...1 out of 4. On the other end, it was another one of those, "Ol Six is a Hole" discussions. The driver that ran with me laughed, "You asked Six what time he was leaving and he told you...why are you mad?"

"Well, he could have waited."

No, I can't. If I sat up and did my homework and planned my day, and my week, I am not going to change.

I have to agree with the trainer about the student getting a motel on a 10. On a 34, absolutely! On a 24, sure! 10, NO. Check in a motel at 1600, our 10 is up at 0200.

"But Six, he's an adult and..."

If I am responsible for him, he stays in the truck on a 10. Because at 0200, I would be putting my truck in gear. If I wasn't responsible for him, I would leave him if he wasn't ready. No handholding allowed. And because that was an issue,I have to side with Mr Lepton's comments. The student aided in the conflict, so the trainer cannot be crucified alone. Takes 2 to tango.

"Six, how do you know that he wouldn't be ready?"

That's one of those disciplines that you have to teach yourself. If Time Management was common among drivers, you wouldn't see so many drivers crying about money.

 

Ok, I guess I don't understand the system, I just look at it as, it's my time, I'm not working, I could go play some rounds of golf or something if I want and if I'm not back in time then that's my butt. Seems more like a babysitting type thing. I guess I see it as if I want my job then I'll be back on time

 

Trainers are not supposed to hold the trainees hand but we're still somewhat responsible to say "your trained the company's way". When I say the truck has to roll @0500 that doesn't mean flop off the top bunk @0445 and think your gonna 3S. As far as him driving in your book, umm nope, call it in while sitting in the passenger seat while he's driving. That's your book, it's your

 

Chrism1367 - yes, your 10 hour break is yours to do what you wish with, provided you are rested and ready at the agreed upon time. If you're not ready then it's not just your butt on the line. My paycheck is impacted and more importantly my relationship with Dispatch is compromised. Our customer receives poor service, you receive less training as I start moving at MY speed to recover the time lost.

As tempting as it may be to release the brakes and go without the delinquent student, he is my responsibility. I can't just leave without him without calling into the company first and jumping through several hoops -failure to do so would jeopardize my job. If the hotel were across the street from the Truck Stop it's one thing, further than that the issues start mounting. How much of your ten are you going to spend walking back and forth to the truck? How long to pack/stow your gear? Dinner/breakfast/shower time? Pretty soon your 10 hour break is more like 6 hours. How ready will you be to run a full 14? If I have to wait I'll be pissed, if I have to search I'll be bordering on apoplectic.

Something else to chew on - most trainees have no idea how patient the trainer is being with them. Today I had a 350 mile day, two loads - both live loaded and dropped at delivery. Running solo I did this in 10:30 total time, logging 6:35 total on-duty. If I had a trainee with me this would have been a full 14 hour day with about 8:30 total on duty. Most training days are about 2-3 hours longer than had I run solo once you add in end of day paperwork, trip planning etc. Same paycheck, much more work. Sure there's training pay but it barely covers the extra effort. Please note I'm not complaining - just pointing out something you might not be aware of. Trainers get ansty over the clock for a reason.

Back to the OP - if you are happy with the company and feel comfortable being out on your own then it's water under the bridge, live and learn, etc - get to hauling freight and making money. Else find a new 'home' - plenty of good options to start out with in WI.

 

I make them go out and look for lot lizards and then wait outside the cab in the snow while I'm doing my business.

 

Your RESPONSIBILITY on a 10 is to get some sleep. Once I finish post trip I get BUSY getting dinner and get to bed. Lights out with the alarm set EARLY, like in TripleSix's post. Usually I get up earlier than the alarm goes off.

Trainers get gun shy after putting up with trainee antics.

I had one trainee who I gave total responsibility to run a load three days. I just observed as day one he dawdled, took numerous breaks, and drove slow. I knew I could get us back in plan for on time delivery by running a "super single" (I run hours on my clock, then stay on duty while he drives a full shift). I HAD to get laundry done, so I showered while laundry was in the wash. By the time I collected my dry laundry about 90 minutes into our 10 my trainee was JUST starting to eat dinner, STILL yacking on the phone. I mentioned to him we had a deadline to get up as I passed. "Oh gosh, it's that time already?" He kept yakking. He finally got around to getting in the truck about 4 hours after finishing post trip.

He never answered the alarm clock. He was awake enough to get down to the bottom bunk and acknowledge that as SOON as he could wake up the wheel was his.

He finally rolled out of bed after I had driven 8 hours, about 15 minutes before I made it to a terminal and had by then made arrangements to drop the load to make sure it was on time. He didn't make any money that day.

A trainer sees some jaw dropping idiocy when it comes to work ethic in a wide range of ages, shapes, sizes, and sexes. Some get it. Some are clueless. If a trainee requested to get a hotel room for the night on a 10 that would be a definite bright red flag in my eyes.

10's are for sleeping. That's the number one responsibility. Beyond that I would not allow getting off the truck for a 10 for fear the trainee will be late. At least if he's in the truck I can get his lazy ### in the bottom bunk.

 

See that's just it. It's NOT your time. You are T-R-A-I-N-I-N-G. There is no your time. You are not on holiday. Just because you are not driving doesn't mean that you aren't training. Driving is the easy part. You are there to learn the rest of the job too. You walk out of that truck, you'd better be sure to grab all your gear.