I have been a tractor-trailer driver since 1982. My last driving job, I only missed two days in 7 years. I started with Werner, went to orientation and training and received my truck in November.
I went to trainer school in Nebraska and became a certified trainer for them. I picked up my first student trainee a month after Easter.
My trainee was a female, 49 years old, former prison gaurd. Driving forwards was ok, but difficulty with backing up, would not listen to me and wanted to do it her own way. Her medical condition made it necessary for frequent rest room stops which caused a delay in transportation time. She had one accident because of not listening.
She could only handle driving for the max of 5 hours. (That was pushing it!) She had to borrow money from me constantly. Her cellphone never stopped ringing with creditors calling her as she was in a financial mess, at least this is what I got from her whining and pouting. She would go for three or more days without showering as she would be pouting, saying she needed more money.
I called my night dispatcher and let informed him of what was going on with her, after 26 days of training, I couldn't see it happening for her. He told me to put it on the Qual-com, to let it be documented in the computer.
I was to contact the day manager and let him know, but because we were being diverted to Dallas, because of her driving accident, so that the report could be finished. I thought we were heading for Dallas, because of my report on her inability to become a qualified-driver, but I was dead wrong.
I got there and reports were taken, I went about my business, she was talking to the manager at Dallas. I received an assignment and was heading out of the terminal, thinking that I would get in contact with the appropriate individual with my evaluation on her at a later date. Things were being handled at the Dallas terminal and I believed my business with her was finished. As I was driving out of the gate, I received a message over the Qual-com, telling me to come back to see the manager at Dallas. I did.
This student who owed me money had a cooler when I brought her in to the terminal, she told me I could keep the cooler, as she could not take it and since she still owed me money. Unknowingly, she had beer in this cooler. I do not make a habit of going through her personal belongings.
She told the manager this was mine. He asked me if he could go through my truck and I said, "Sure, by all means!" I had no idea the beer was in there! The truck was secured, a meeting held, and I was asked about the ownership of the beer, I told them hers. She had also told the manager that she felt threatened by me. I had wrote her a letter asking her to become more cooperative and to respect me as a trainer, as I would her as a trainee. I made a statement, "Please, I do not want to get ugly, either."
This statement apparently made this former prison guard and tough woman nervous and made her feel threatened, but only after 26 days of being with me and only after I was dropping her as a trainee.
I was not given a chance to present my side. I had not told them about her problems, but should have told them I was dropping her as a trainee within the first week of training. But wanted to give her a chance.
Since I gave her a chance, she screwed me and my family. Werner took a student's word over my word. I never delivered a damage or late load, no accidents and just like that, they gave me the ax.
Anyone want to file a class action lawsuit, let me know, I am looking into it!
Bill
Brooksville, Florida
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