Not only does the trainer get pressure, the trainee should also. That is a huge part of the job, learning how to deliver on time. Technically, even if the trainer spends 11 hours in the jump seat he could take over and drive 3 once the trainee's 11 hours are up. Not common practice, but I have heard of a couple of trainer's doing this on occasion when time was tight. I could see where that might even be a little beneficial to the trainee to see how the trainer handles the truck from time to time, but nothing can be learned when either one is in the sleeper.

I know with Maverick, they insist that the trainee drive 100% of the time that the two of you are together, unless it's some type of emergency, and that the trainer must be in the jump seat the entire time. As a matter of fact, if they find out that the trainer is doing the driving, they won't be a trainer for long. I know of one trainer who caught a ton of flack from them for driving 2 hours one day.

 

If he is 100% satisified, then the trainer should be completed.

If he is not 100% satisfied, then he should be training and not sleeping when you drive.

Maybe the trainer gets paid more driving as team than as a trainer, thats why he wants to drive.

 

I know at Swift the trainer (mentor) gets paid all the miles the truck does. So the incentive is to drive team and get paid for double the miles you could drive on your own. The trainee is basically "slave" or unpaid labor. We get $50 a day ($350 a week) no matter how many hours we drive the first 14 days then it goes up to $400 a week for 14 more days and then will go up one more time.

While I agree that "team" driving is not true training, that is unfortunately the way it is done at most companies.

My second mentor (trainer) stayed awake 18 to 20 hours a day the first few days. Once he was confident that I could keep it on the turnpike he started to take hour or so naps. BUT he is awake at the least sign of any problem. This is a dedicated run and the only way to make it is to team drive, so it probably is not the best choice for a training run. It is also my mentors first week on this run and he had no idea how lengthy it was (almost 1,000 mi a day), he is not sure he will stay on this run and continue to train....... while I am a competent driver, his next trainee may not be.... and this run keeps the truck moving almost 24 hours a day the 4 days he is scheduled on it. (bread delivery)

I know that I will be very happy to be completed and in my own truck..... ahhhhhhh....... showers every day if at all possible!

 

I think your mentor is on the right track. the inabilty for him to adequately train is a big deal. On top of that, a dedicated run isn't teaching you a thing about effective trip planning and it's not giving you the opportunity to drive on varied terrain. He would be best to either give up the dedicated run or give up training.

 

schneider is def 1 of the companies that have trainer injump seat. But they do allow you to use full 14 hours. I would start day and drive until i felt tired and hen TE would take over for 2 or 3 hours. Ussually i drove my full 11 and he only had 1left to drive time figured breaks in.

The diff i have noticed about schneider though is they dont keep u with a trainer for ever. standard is 10-14 days and your done. I was out with mine only 6 days and he said i was good to go. But he made me do everything from the start. So i felt i had a basic understanding of all principles afteri left him. I also sill call him if i have a question. But next step with schneider is when you get back and they give you your own truck you go out with a OSR (operations Safety Rep) For a road drive similiar to the cdl road test except its done in the city. I took mine downtown atlanta. And the run you thrugh alot of suff you will encounter. If you pass that you are turned loose on your own. (90 days laer you come back and take another test drive with them tomake sure you havnt picked up any bad habbits. Then 2c a yar we havemanditory winterand spring training Ussually spring training is anoher road test. And winter is time on the simulators handling icy driving.

 

I have a friend who is a trainer 3 yr.s now 4 swift and a couple of bad marriages. He is dedicated, reefer. He has over 15 yr.s otr. He is paid well, by swift. he also is prior svc. And know when he got a dead beat, gives them about 2 weeks... B4 he makes a decession, on there fate. He will let them practice backin up in yrds. between trl.s.. He goes over the route b4 he lets them drive, give them aloud stops.. And wants to be wakened if anything out of norm. If they make it 6 weeks with him its fair to say, there ok. And motivated!

 

Glad ours is only 3 weeks. lol.

 

hmmm, I see myself getting pimped at CRST =) not that I wouldn't mind it as long as I'm paid decently to support the wife and son at home, oh and possibly the wee one on his/her way.

 

USXRecruiter4080 I'm assuming you're with USX? Maybe I can look up your site and see what there's to offer to a newbie driver?

 

I only trained with hogan for 2 weeks, and its a 4 week program I was released early. It wasnt that bad, I had a good trainer I guess.