Werner's unqualified trainers...

[syl77dar]

goodluck

[Skywalker]

Most of the posts I read seem to focus on years of experience when describing a trainer. Time in the seat is only part of the answer. Just because a driver has years of experience doesn't mean he/she will be an effective trainer. They need to be experienced, and also have some teaching skills. Just because someone has the experience doesn't mean they can teach.

Very true. And sometimes the "experience" that person has is not what you want passed on to a new driver.

It's too bad some of these companies don't bring back some old timers, put them on a salary, and let them teach the new drivers.

Thats a fantastic idea!! It would make things much better. They would have to make sure that the people they selected to be trainers are of the caliber that they would want to have training a member of their own family. A fixed and guaranteed salary would be a good thing as well.

I think the trainer positions are "sold" to drivers as a way to make more money, instead of what it should be...training.

This too is true. But one way to correct this problem is to make all training trucks "solo operations", not team trucks. It should be a Federal Law that these trucks have to be solo, and no student teams either.

I personally think that most of the "trainers" out there are unfit for the job, and are only doing it for the money. And if thats their primary drive in life...maybe they should just go and be pimps. With the mindset that many have, they are halfway there already.

This is not to say that there are not good and even excellent trainers, but they tend to be more the exception than the rule.

Also, trainers need several years of experience, all 48 states, all seasons, and all kinds of terrain. Lacking that, they are just the "blind leading the blind". They also need to know all of the rules, how they work, and they need teaching skills as well. I also think it would be a good idea to put trainers through psychological testing to prevent nutjobs from getting into that position.

A plastic surgeon can fix "ugly", a fat person can lose weight, but there just is no way to fix "stupid"...... :!:

[choperbob]

uhh, first week out i only sat in drivers seat when truck was parked, i was told to do stuff like dim lites, hit clutch and downshift and such. 2nd week i got to back into spaces at truckstops trainer set up for me. also a few hrs driving. 3rd week after i proved myself i was allowed to drive 30% and back into docks more. 4th week i drove 50% and did most of backing with trainer outside yelling at me to calm dow, get out and look. 5th week i drove 50-75% and did all backing. trainer then was satisified i learned the book way, and spent lots of time showing me tricks of the trade that he learned over 14 years. the way it happens in the real world. he shared lots of stories about how accidents can suddenly happen, what to be aware of, route planing, how to get proper rest. stuff only an experienced driver knows. if you ain't learnin' this stuff get another trainer.

[mowman]

My trainer was dedicated to the Home Depot account, and although I thought I'd be ready to go solo, I wasn't. He did a good job of teaching me the technical aspects, but I was totally unprepared when it came to planning.

Because we pretty much drove ruts in I-75 from Atlanta to Orlando and the delivery times were so liberal (we considered ourselves on-time if we were a day ahead), we knew exactly where we were going to stop and when.

He also told me he'd teach me how to "make money" - mainly by cheating the Qualcomm. (The 7 minute rule, putting yourself on line one when you hit the exit ramp, putting only 15 minutes for loads/unloads)

This worked great for him because he went home every other week and we never got close to consuming all of our 70 hour clock.

It took a while (and a lot of help from other generous drivers) to figure how to plan my routes - any idiot can read a map. It takes some real planning to avoid being stuck on a skinny road in the middle of nowhere with the clock running out and big brother staring over your shoulder ready to slap you upside the head with a log violation.

I've found that you're really alone with Werner. Maybe it's just my dispatcher. I called logs, safety and my dispatcher when I was faced with those decisions totally unprepared. All I got was "Drive all available hours safe and legal. Keep the load moving".

If you're planning to go with Werner and drive the 48 states, make sure you get a trainer that is driving the 48 states.

You may have to wait an extra day or two, but it will be well worth it.

[glasman2]

If you're planning to go with Werner and drive the 48 states, make sure you get a trainer that is driving the 48 states.

You may have to wait an extra day or two, but it will be well worth it.

This is the kinda advise I like to here.... Thank You
Good advise for any company

[syl77dar]

i had the same experience with werner u did with waiting an extra day, just don't do the nasty dollar general, cuz the o/o's make you unload and they are not suppossed to let u touch anything and many trainees do not know they could get fired if they touch any of the freight 2 unlaod it since they are not trained on how 2 unload it! the 1st trainer i had was a pig, so then they tried 2 give me another dedicated trainer and told them thank you but no thank you and then got the best trainer who was 48 states!

[Jason607]

I called my SDM today, they said dedicated is all they have right now. I am getting some extra PTO because of the holliday! If I get a Dallar General dedicated, they can forget me unloading freight. Sorry, I didn't enter this career to be a stock boy. Offloading pallets, OK, but loose freight I don't think so. If I were to do that, I would go to SIGMA. If they make me touch anything, I could hurt my back, and the right doctor might agree, and I'll have a long recovery. :twisted:

My first trainer, we delivered to Office Max, and it was a :"driver assist unload" but I wouldn't help. Then he thought because we were waiting for the next load, we "Might as well help" and wanted to go help them stock the shelves and crap but not charge them. F'in socialist/commie. Sorry, I'm a capitolist, it's all about money to me.

My second trainer said if you want to get off of any "assist unload" you start the clock as soon as you get to the consignee, not when you actually begin "working", and they can't argue you, but they will take those loads off you. Sorry 10/hr doesn't cut the unlaod.

[mowman]

I'm just not sure how much to hassle the dm. I'm sure he's hearing the same thing from everyone.

I continually hear drivers say things like... "i'm not going out [out east/ny/canada]" "i'm not going to [do driver assist/unload]"

I figure I'll do whatever I get to the best of my ability. Did an office max driver assist. Got $40 for it. I motivated the store geek and we got it done in 2 hours.

At first, my knee jerk reaction was "i'm not paid to unload, i'm paid to drive", but I realized that I'd be sitting at the dock until it was done, so I got into it.

When I get a long run, I run the heck out of it. I've had 3 700+ miles day running a Werner truck with electronic logs governed at 65.

It just doesn't seem like it's making much of a difference.