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Jax3683 · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Lincoln Nebraska

I leave in about 3 weeks with my trainer for 8 weeks :shock:

I'm rather nervous, just because I'm a fairly shy person who likes to be by myself. But I know I have nothing to be too scared about!

Can anyone tell me a little about what to expect?

4roses · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

which company will you be going with? ... once we know that we may be able to help a bit more. ... :wink:

Soladad · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

Getting on board with a strange guy is very unnerving for us gals. Hopefuly you will be compatable. Just remember that you are entering his home and his rules. Relax and try to learn what he trying to teach you. You might be lucky to establish a working friendship with him. I was fortunate to have a wonderful trainer that he and his wife have become good friends. My trainer also was willing to answer any questions I had in the weeks and months after getting out of his truck when the REAL education began.

8 weeks seems to be a long training period. Most companies are 4 weeks on the road with a trainer. With a good trainer each day you will be expected to do more and show more progress with skills. At the end of your training you will still not be polished in shifting or backing (unless you are a natural). Those skills just come with time and daily practice once you have your own truck.

If you have ANY problem with the trainer that makes you very uncomfortable (language, sexual harrassment, etc) try to work it out first between you and your trainer. If it doesn't improve or your personal safety is at risk then contact the training dept at the company. If you really feel threatened then GET OFF THE TRUCK at the first truck stop that has a bus station. Deal with the company after you are in a safe place.

Unfortunately there are very few companies that have female trainers so we are forced to take our training with men trainers. I am currently working toward becoming a trainer with Roehl so if you have any further questions about training in general drop me a private message. I will be happy to answer any questions I can about training. :)

Soladad

Jax3683 · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 24 Location: Lincoln Nebraska

I'm going with Crete... My trainer will be female, but they require 8 weeks for newbie drivers :roll:

I am anxious about this, just nervous in general... as that's to be expected I suppose.

treefinder · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 15

Well, having a female trainer means that at least you won't have to deal with anything harassing (hopefully!). It's a long time, but my trip with a male trainer was grueling because even though he was fully respectful, there was just tension and awkwardness throughout the whole time due to gender.

BamaMom · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Alabama

I knew when I started that I had a long way to go. I got into the truck right out of cdl school with high hopes. I was not in physical danger, he was a Gentleman who spent the entire 17 days explaining "why you have no business driving out here" over & over & over.

I can not say I have not learned many things from this trainer, one thing I am now certain of and that is that there is no way I will run the East coast by myself. With that said, is there anyone who has any suggestions on a graceful way to let a company you have only worked for 17 days that you will not be going back out on Tuesday?

I don't want to ruin myself before I get started.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciate.

4roses · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject:

BamaMom ... talk to the Human Resource person at your company and tell them why your discouraged, and the reason you don't want to return. Chances are they will set you up with a different trainer ... they don't want to lose the money and time they have invested in your training so far ... I'm sure they will work with you. Give it another chance and see if life doesn't look better in a couple of weeks.

two4theroad · Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

I would be more determined to finish my training if I were you. I would be requesting a new trainer and I would certainly inform the training department of what you have gone through. Trainers are suppose to be there for support and encouragement. What was this trainer born with a stick shift up his butt?
:evil: We all are new and if it is a gender issue with him that is discrimination.
There are good supportive trainers out there you just got a lemon. Address your issues with your company and don't let anyone try to talk you out of a career (if that is what you want.) When I was a little younger I worked construction I started out as just what they called a float girl on a masonry crew (you washed blocks with a sponge to seal the joints) I got so tire of hearing I could not do this and that I ended up being a rod buster (cutting and bending steel) and could lay a house from lay out to lentils (start to finish) and could read the prints better than a lot of the top masons. (This was when girls were not out in the Field) Don't ever let a man convince you it is a mans job and a mans world!
I drive a truck as well as my male counterparts and pull my weight as a team driver. I may have had my new beginnings but no one was born behind the wheel. If we women are such lousy drivers how come car insurance is so high for men?

terrylamar · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1426 Location: Austin, TX

If you let him convince you that it is a man's world and that women have no place driving, then perhaps he is right. All you have to do is prove him wrong.

Sizzle · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 207 Location: Colorado

Just be firm with the "boys". I had a very bad time with trainers who thought that women were put on their trucks for nothing but sexual purposes. I'm not a shy person and wouldn't "give it up". I should have reported these guys but figured "boys will be boys". I regret not reporting them now because I didn't do any females after me any favors. I think it was a good training camp for what was to come. Some of these guys out here are very aggressive.

I was very passive/aggressive and being in trucking has taught me to be more assertive/aggressive. Remember you will find people from all walks of life out here in trucking. Be ware there is enough white trash to be concerned. If you have led a middle class or upper middle class existence-you will learn real quick that isn't the case in trucking.

Don't let anyone intimidate you into anything you don't want to do. If he gets "needy" report him. You'll be off the truck in a heart beat with another trainer. These trucking companies don't want to face sexual harassment lawsuits.

Exquisite · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 37

Don't ever let men tell you this is thier world and not a place for you.

I have done just about everything, dry van, loaded/unloaded my own truck, I am an Owner/Op.

I took a break from the OTR and ended up in contruction, heavy equipment, tri-axle dump truck. Learned in a day the basics.

Now I am driving flatbed, hauling steel, local and love it. It's really hard work and I have found ways to work smarter, not harder.

For example: I have to throw a 25lb chain up over a load of steel beams, about 12ft high, you miss and they come down FAST and HARD. I found that clipping a 50ft nylon rope to the last link and throwing the rope over and then pulling the chain over was WAY easier! :)

I had a bad trainer, I turned him into his safety department when it was all said and done (did not want to and have to restart with another trainer, so I put up with it.) But thats you're choice, I came out of training totally sure of myself because he sucked and did nothing the 3 weeks we were out, thus taught me to manage on my own.

As for running alone, make a few simple rules for safety and live by them.

1. I never stop at rest areas at night. Dangerous and too crowded. If I must stop to use the restroom at night I pull up thru a fuel isle at a major truckstop, well lighted and visiable. I used to even keep a port-a-potty onboard, so I could stop at night and not have to walk the parking lot in the dark.

2. Do not open your door at night if someone is pounding on it, regardless of what they say. Keep it locked, call the local police to come out and check on you.

3. Never get out of your truck without your wallet, keys and cell phone. NO exceptions to this rule!

4. Never stop or pick up anyone. In this day and age, everyone has a cell phone or roadside assistance is nearby. Even females appearing to be stranded onside the road can be decoys!

syl77dar · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 361

one more though! when you do stop at night put your seat belts through the door handles and latch them noone can get in your truck at night! also never open those window vents by your bunks they can put ether in them. i personally always carry one of 3 things: small thing of hairspray, perfume or fds feminine spray in my bra, so any would be attacker can be sprayed directly in the eyes, i always wear good kicking shoes so if I need 2 kick in private area it will hurt enough so i can scream or run fast enough 2 get away. I never had any problems, until a couple of weeks ago and this would be trainer asked 2 come up 2 my motel room 2 discuss trainning well he tried everything else until I literally pushed him out of my room and called and made a police report against him, he was not American Greek Egyptian name of ANDY SOLIMAN. Why do I put it on here? Cuz I was blessed he did not get 2 far with me, but next female may not be so lucky! He is an Owner Operator and was fired by our company, but they have not located him to bring charges against him yet!
Little word of wise females no matter what they guys say stay in public places even to discuss training! I would love 2 run in 2 this little jerk again he will be sore 4 a long time I promise you!

syl77dar · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 361

goodluck

HEADED4HOME · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 65 Location: San Antonio,Texas

A female friend of mine that I graduated with just got OFF a truck because he thought,He could get lucky....................LOL
She offered to kick his ASS,If it doesnt work out between a female student and a male Trainer .GET OFF THE TRUCK..............................

Good luck ???????????

Pete

sunny5 · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

I'm not even in school, but doing research. I haven't seen a company on-line information that allows 8 weeks of training. Do you know the names of companies that train that long? Also, does anyone know the name of a company(s) that have female trainers?
Nancy

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