My company recently asked me if I would like to start training. Previous inquiries were declined as I was content driving solo. The change came when I discovered that my company has really been lacking quality trainers. I approach things the right way, and my first trainee had two previous trainers who really shouldn’t be trainers. One only has a year of experience and just lacks a demeanor that makes for a good trainer. Too long-winded in getting to a point. Too timid to speak up when something needs to be addressed. The other trainer presents a language barrier. I am not going to go further beyond that.
Anyway, trainee is overall a solid driver. Conscientious, aware, high attention-to-detail, willing to take correction. Well, there is one part of his driving where he refuses correction. He has developed a habit of going significantly below the speed limit, and by that I mean like 40-45 in 65 where curves are present. I am not talking about areas where slowing down to 40-45 would be appropriate. I am talking about areas where taking the curves at highway speed is safe and legal, i.e. gradual curves with little pitch. When telling him that he needs to stop being tentative in driving the truck, he gets defensive. Trying to figure out how to approach this where I acknowledge that going slow is normally a good thing, but in this instance is failing to operate safely with traffic.
One important lesson is that doing anything unpredictable is dangerous. If you’re in a 65 mph zone, everyone expects you to go 65. If he’s only going 45, no one expects that, and no one is prepared for it. That’s how accidents happen.
Not only that, but he could be liable in that kind of accident for not maintaining a safe speed.
I also like to take perspectives to the extreme when making a point. If going 45 mph in a 65 mph zone is safe, going 25 mph must be even safer, and going 5 mph must be safest of all, right? Obviously not. That would be dangerous as hell, which proves there is such a thing as going dangerously slow.
Finally, just reach over and slap him and say, “Wake up, b*tch! Snap out of it and let’s get this thing rollin!”
That last one is more ‘encouragement’ than teaching.
Brett’s comments are right on correct. Going too slow on a highway is just as dangerous as too fast in most scenarios. Maybe this trainee lacks the confidence in himself to handle a big rig at the posted speed. You need to ensure him that he is going too slow and that he is doing a fine job and boost his confidence level. You appear to be of a caliper of becoming a great trainer so just use your experience and confidence to help him gain the level of his own driving ability. I trained for over 15 years at 2 different companies during my career and most trainees went on to be successful and experienced drivers. You always get the one that doesn’t listen or attain the level needed to become a succesful driver. Good luck to you.
