Threatened By Trainer?

Has anyone been threatened to be terminated during your on the road training?

Please go into some more detail. I'm sure a number of trainees could answer yes to that question.

For not progressing in some areas... "If you don't improve on... by... you'll be terminated." On 2 of 4-week training.

The Trainer may be trying to motivate you. This is a rough business. Ask Him/Her for help in the particular areas where you are lacking. The trainer is there to TEACH you these skills. If you two can not reach an agreement on getting things squared away, most Companies will find you a new Trainer. BUT.........beware, the next one might be harder to work with. I really wouldn't want to be the Guy that asked for a 3rd Trainer. My advice is to make it work if at all possible. Good Luck!

At what point in your training are you?

Have you done your road test and gotten your full CDL yet?

What skill(s) are you having issues with - that are causing you to be pressured by your trainer?

Your "header" on the post, could be a little misleading - at first glance, I thought the guy was threatening bodily harm. I doubt the trainer has the power to personally terminate you from the program - but their recommendation can go a long way. He can't just say "YOU'RE FIRED" and leave you on the side of the road.

Whose program are you in BTW? You've discussed in previous threads about getting "pre-hires" - which would usually indicate doing a private/3rd party school, rather than a company training.

Where did you end up?

Rick

For not progressing in some areas... "If you don't improve on... by... you'll be terminated." On 2 of 4-week training.

EnTee, 2 weeks isn't very long. My suggestion is to request specifics; what areas are you not progressing in? Don't accept a vague statement like that.

Very few people can effectively learn through negatively reinforced input or threats.

I had a real Bozo of a trainer who regularly threatened to drop me off at the terminal. That was his way of stroking his own ego so that he felt superior to me. I pretty much had to ignore my trainer about half the time.

Hang in there, do your job with a willing heart, and if your trainer is like mine he will be singing your praises when he takes you back to upgrade to solo. He will get some bonus money when you upgrade - he wants to get you to that point.

Thank you all for the encouragement. I've just been rolling along... Haven't been taking it too personally.

I've been on the road training with a flatbed company. This is a whole new arena to me as I always had desk jobs.

My driving is fine I think... Had issue with downshifting but city/mountainous have been helping me a lot. Since the last "threat," I've improved in those areas.

I still have problem backing (mainly setting up) because our school had their method for doing so. Therefore, we didn't do alley backing or other proper backings. But Im getting better at it.

Securememt... Slowly absorbing the process... Have been exposed to 3-4 kinds of load... The trainer thinks I've been slow (which is true). At times he had left me alone to figure things out.

Had a bit of an incident (no collision nor injuries) at a shipper recently and rather being supportive, he said "Did you do this how you were taught? It took a lot of my convincing to not to have your ass fired. People listen to me." Eventhough I came up with a plan to fix the problem.

Oh well... I'll be alright. I've questioned myself of competency.

Thanks for your support.

Oh well... I'll be alright. I've questioned myself of competency.

Don't be too hard on yourself. NOBODY gains "competency" in this job in a couple of weeks. Keep doing your best and ask your Trainer what He "Thinks" is the best way to back or secure a load. Old School may have said it best. Just stroke the guys ego as you go along, make sure you do it "His Way", the Training period won't last forever. I pretty much had to teach myself to back. My Mentor was not very good himself. When I had extra time after going Solo, I would go to the back corner of one of the Big Distribution Centers and practice. Find my own set up, count spaces, find the right angles and turns of the wheel. Someone can show you the Mechanics of backing, it just takes practice to make it all work. After 6 months Solo, I consider myself quite competent at backing. I have confidence that I certainly didn't have my 1st few months. ALWAYS G.O.A.L.......as many times as necessary. Hang in there!