Verbally Abusive TNT Trainer

Looking for advice on my situation. I am halfway through TNT training with Prime Inc. and have a trainer who is racist, hateful, and disrespectful. I've put up with it since PSD , but at the time he wasn't as bad, so I agreed to go TNT with him.

Since then I was involved in a preventable accident at which point the whole dynamic has changed. He has said some terrible things to me about myself and my wife. He has yelled obscenities at me while on the phone with my son who is 6. The list goes on. He thinks this is all hilarious.

Last night though he crossed a line I can't forgive. He and another Prime buddy got on a website called Truthfinder that reveals sensitive information about people and I feel he seriously invaded my personal privacy. He found my address, my wife's phone number and email address, etc.

The fact a website like that exists is concerning enough, but to know he now has this information really worries me.

I'm about to get off the truck due to a deth in the family.

If anyone has any advice as what I should do it would be much appreciated. This has been hell and I cannot get back on this truck.

Thank you and sorry for the insanely long post.

None of that is ok. Have you spoken with anyone at the company about this?

None of that is ok. Have you spoken with anyone at the company about this?

No. I'm waiting until I get off the truck on Wednesday. I'm taking home time due to a death in the family.

He has told me because of my accident it'll be nearly impossible to get a decent trainer if I tried to do that.

I just don't really know what course of action to take. I know I definitely need to tell them something, but my family is concerned he will try to get me fired since I have the preventable accident looming over my head.

There will be other Prime drivers in here to help out, but it's my understanding they'll be willing to move you to another trainer. Don't do anything rash until you get more advice here.

Just remember, the world is full of people who derail your life if you let them. Don't let them. It's only words, after all, so don't freak yourself out about it. You should know by this point in your life not to let bullies know that something bothers you. Once they know, they're not going to stop. So just brush it off and do your job for now.

There will be others in here very soon to give you more specific advice about how to handle this at Prime.

I'm not familiar with the finer points of Prime's training. But if you have such problems with your trainer, there should be a way to contact the office without your trainer being around.

He has told me because of my accident it'll be nearly impossible to get a decent trainer if I tried to do that.

This type of "you're no good without me" is standard for an abusive person. You are not under his control, and don't let threats like this keep you from moving on.

Most truck companies know the newbies will have a few minor preventables. Sure, don't take this for granted, take the accident as a learning situation and you'll be better for it. A truly "decent trainer" might talk to you about it. If you own your mistakes your next trainer should know you can learn things.

I'm sure Rainy or another Prime driver will be by shortly, but in the meantime, here is a recent similar discussion, but again, wait for one of the Prime drivers for the best advice.

Abusive Trainer

You can either call your FM , email him at

his first intial + last name @primeinc.com

or call someone in the training department. it depends on the division which FM supervisor you should call but Steve Tassin in reefer , or steve larson in training.

I prefer writing letters cause then it is documented. Include dates, exact quotes of profanity, voice recordings or other proof. Prime hates profanity and disrepsect of the drivers.

And it is a BS intimidation tactic to say no good trainer would take you with an accident, IE harassment. You watched a CBT about this and what to do. They even explained you can call security if you feel your life is in danger.

All trainers know new people will have a fender bender. I expect it. As a company trainer i dont pay the insurance deductible for the student, the lease op trainers do. Worst case scenario, ask for a company trainer. Not my truck, so scratch it and i dont care, it only affects your license. Kill me and ill haunt you forever.

Take everything off the truck when you go home and call to request a new trainer. easy break.

Thanks everyone for the very helpful replies. It's been a rough go, but I'll take the advice given and keep on trucking.

My Hubby just went through a bad trainer with Prime this week, very unhealthy and unsafe. He hesitated just like you are for 3 weeks until he finally got out of the truck when they went to Springfield during a trip. Everyone he spoke to could not have been nicer about getting him a new trainer. The head of the Fleet managers, current Fleet Manager and the new Fleet Manager all met with him within hours and were very apologetic about the working conditions and the bad trainer. They were grateful someone came forward with how this trainer treated trainees. Again they could not have been nicer, gave hubby all of their contact infos and told him to contact them anytime if needed. He met his new trainer within an hour of the meeting and could not be happier, great guy. He now wishes he had requested a new trainer in the beginning. This guy you have is definitely crossing the line over into your personal life, I would absolutely let them know what he and his buddy are up to ASAP. Good Luck

The sad fact of the matter is that there will always be bad trainers mixed in with the good. It's well-documented that some L/O trainers are solely motivated by profit. Their people skills can be lacking, and you will often be the unfortunate benefactor of that.

My usual advice is typically to stick it out if you can. The training period is a tiny blip in the big picture of your overall career. In most cases it may be best to just put your mind to getting the job done. Your day will come. And who knows, your next trainer could be worse. He may smell, or talk to his coffee cup, or want you to play dress up. You never know what you're going to get.

However, if you just can't make it work then by all means email your FM to explain the situation. Be calm and professional, state your case and concerns, and request a new trainer so that you can better focus on learning. It's that easy.

It's completely understandable in your case to want to get off that truck. I could put up with a lot of things, but disrespecting me or my family would not be one of them. Prime takes training seriously, and the complaint never spoken will never be heard, or remedied. They will absolutely take you off that truck and put you on another if need be. Be warned that you may lose a few days waiting for a new trainer though. Good luck and let us know how it's going.