Serious Question On OTR Trainers ....

Ok, ok... Seems like all I read or watch on the YouTube are these crazy stories on mentors, trainers, etc from hell- trainers screaming, cussing, freaking out, force driving, and today - even punching someone in the face.

Come on- is this for real? If this is for real, I have a couple of comments:

1. I need to become a trainer and mentor for new drivers some day-

2. Make no mistake - that’s not ever going to happen with me and my trainer. Especially - punching in the face and you just what.. keep driving ??? Heck no-

3. I would like to hear - did anyone have positive experiences ?

I would think or maybe I’m naive - that if you’re a mentor/trainer/ or whatever for new drivers you are experienced, you have been trained to train- you want to help new people in this industry.

I promise you- screaming, cussing, and hitting this guy.... simply won’t fly.

This can’t be real ?

Ok, ok... Seems like all I read or watch on the YouTube are these crazy stories on mentors, trainers, etc from hell- trainers screaming, cussing, freaking out, force driving, and today - even punching someone in the face.

Come on- is this for real? If this is for real, I have a couple of comments:

1. I need to become a trainer and mentor for new drivers some day-

2. Make no mistake - that’s not ever going to happen with me and my trainer. Especially - punching in the face and you just what.. keep driving ??? Heck no-

3. I would like to hear - did anyone have positive experiences ?

I would think or maybe I’m naive - that if you’re a mentor/trainer/ or whatever for new drivers you are experienced, you have been trained to train- you want to help new people in this industry.

I promise you- screaming, cussing, and hitting this guy.... simply won’t fly.

This can’t be real ?

I had a GREAT guy at Schneider. His name is Todd Ward. I don’t know if he’s still with them, but it was southeast so I doubt you’d run into him.

No issues and certainly none of the drama like what we read about.

Keep on keeping on!

Looking at human behavior...

If someone has a bad experience they are going to tell the world.

If someone has a good, or an expected experience, they will tell if asked.

Same as business reviews, if a person has a negative experience, they on average tell 8 people. If they have a positive experience, they tell one. With today's social media, that is magnified.

Jared, there are thousands of trainers/mentors riding the road with newbies every day. The reason you don't hear about them is that they are getting there job done.

On this forum, you'll read about trainers and trainees who get along well, even becoming friends. The bottom line is that you don't hear about the ones who get the job done because that's how it's supposed to be.

Do not worry about the horror stories you read. Chances are you will get a motivated trainer who is very interested in your success.

Don't forget, the trainer will probably get paid for all the miles your drive in training, some extra in they're paycheck for their efforts in training, and later, extra bucks if you stay with the company for a year.

Rest easy.

And here is a thought....how often do nuts at of someone saying "I was a terrible student"?? You will run into good and bad trainers and students everywhere. Swap the bad and appreciate the good. Watch my youtube channel where you see a few videos of my trainee and it interacting.

Heres a couple remarks from two of my past students....both were members here. Years ago I went by Rainy on this forum.

Ok, ok... Seems like all I read or watch on the YouTube are these crazy stories on mentors, trainers, etc from hell- trainers screaming, cussing, freaking out, force driving, and today - even punching someone in the face.

Come on- is this for real? If this is for real, I have a couple of comments:

1. I need to become a trainer and mentor for new drivers some day-

2. Make no mistake - that’s not ever going to happen with me and my trainer. Especially - punching in the face and you just what.. keep driving ??? Heck no-

3. I would like to hear - did anyone have positive experiences ?

I would think or maybe I’m naive - that if you’re a mentor/trainer/ or whatever for new drivers you are experienced, you have been trained to train- you want to help new people in this industry.

I promise you- screaming, cussing, and hitting this guy.... simply won’t fly.

This can’t be real ?

For a positive story for you... I talk to my trainer from Knight two or three times a week still, and I left that company almost a year ago. He's been more or less a second father figure in my life (my dad's p cool, don't get me wrong, but it's sometimes hard to get what I need from him). My trainer kept with it after, and out of about 30ish students, has only had maybe 2 or 3 who were problems, and one to be frank basketcase.

I'm currently running team with my trainer and we have gotten along great. He's a chatty one, but that ain't bad. He also vapes, which I asked for a non-smoker/vaper trainer, but it was that or wait. Waiting was not an option. So I sucked it up and pressed on. Maybe a lot of the horror stories also can be attributed to the trainees perspective and that perspective can definitely be shaded for good and bad by the trainees attitude going in. I went in humble and with a "do what it takes to complete the mission" attitude I perfected in the military.

I personally lucked out with my swift trainer, he was a great guy, fun to be around and always patient even when we were team driving and I had to wake him up for help when I panicked over a botched docking attempt lol. Some of my classmates were assigned trainers who lived in another states but mine literally only lived a few miles away from me so home time was super convenient for both of us. I tested out to go solo in Memphis and I spoke with some other drivers who just went solo and they all had good experiences. It’s awkward at first but take full advantage of having them there, if they don’t wanna put in the work ask for a new trainer. Nobody is gonna save us once we go solo so we need to be equipped with as many tools in our mental skill set to succeed as safely and efficiently as possible.

Thanks everybody for taking the time to respond! Hope all is well!

My trainer was great. I am a trainer. My job is to teach hardheaded people like me, how to do this job. I have to adjust to each person's personality and attitude. I have a ton to teach in a short amount of time. The biggest problem students have is learning how to speak up. We are adults and must be able to talk to each other as adults.

Yes, there are terrible trainers.