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When a new driver, fresh from driving school, is hired on at a company, they are required to spend a certain amount of time on the road with one of the company's driver trainers. Some driving companies require this type of training for new employees with limited or less-than-recent driving experience, as well. Perhaps your company has offered you a position as a driver trainer or you are looking for a way to increase your income and you are wondering whether it would be beneficial to give training a try. Before you jump in head first, consider some of the advantages and drawbacks of becoming a company driver trainer.

The added income is definitely a benefit to becoming a driver trainer. Many companies pay driver trainers team wages at their current solo wage, while others pay their trainers only for their own miles logged but with an additional weekly lump sum. Along with higher wages, becoming an experienced driver trainer will boost your hirability and may create more career options for you. While a pay increase and an augmented résumé may encourage you to aim for a driver trainer position, there are many points to consider.

You will need to meet certain requirements in order to become a driver trainer. These requirements vary from one company to the next, although most do not require formal training or any type of special certification. However, most trucking companies look for seasoned, stable, safe drivers to train new employees. If you are considering applying for a trainer position, you should have several thousand accident-free miles, experience in all types of weather and terrain, and a consistent work history. Most companies require that a driver be employed with them for at least six months to a year prior to becoming a driver trainer.

When it comes to accidents and moving violations, trucking companies prefer to hire driver trainers with records as close to spotless as possible. Companies want to know that new drivers are being shown the ropes by trainers who stick to the rules and will expect the same from their apprentices. Any safety awards you have earned will help as well, whether from your current employer, a past employer, or another organization. You should also be intimately familiar with FMCSR's.

Aside from having knowledge about over-the-road driving and company policies and procedures, you will need to possess certain personality traits in order to be a successful driver trainer. First and foremost, you must be patient by nature. As an experienced driver, you are well aware of what it is like to live in the close quarters of your cab. Now imagine residing in those same quarters with a complete stranger for as long as a month straight. Add to that the fact that the trainee will likely have little or no over-the-road experience. Patience and tolerance are imperative for this position.

There are many other traits you will need as well. You must be responsible, flexible, organized, and good-natured. You should be able to give instructions and tips in a clear, concise manner and be open to trying new ways to teach the skills your trainee will require if your current methods do not seem to be working. You will not only need to be accommodating to the needs of others and open to suggestions and new techniques, but also be capable of setting and maintaining boundaries. Your trainees need to understand that while you will consider suggestions, you have the final say.

If you decide to take on a driver trainer opportunity, make sure your truck is exceptionally organized. Make the most of the space you have and create obvious areas for yourself and your trainees to store personal items. Clarify which bunk is yours and establish rules and deal-breakers. For example, you might want to set up your own policies regarding smoking in the cab, trash accumulation, and bathing habits. It might sound funny, but having these rules prepared and laid out will help you avoid the trainee who fires up stogies every hour or only showers on Saturdays - remember, these are close quarters!

Above all, if you decide to become a driver trainer, take as much time as necessary. Make sure your trainees are confident, safe, and capable before you give the company your approval. While the extra pay may be helpful and the training period might be demanding, never give trainees a passing grade if it is not warranted just to get them off the truck. If you ever doubt a trainee's abilities after the training period is over, do not be afraid to inform your superior. You can recommend more training time or even termination, in extreme circumstances. Remember, you - and your loved ones - will be sharing the road with these new drivers.

For more helpful information on being/becoming a driver trainer, check out our monthly feature, "Tips from the Trainer," on Layover.com.