Hello and thanks for accepting me to the forum!
I have recently started doing my HGV practical lessons and my third installment is tomorrow.
Trouble is, I am not getting on very well with my instructor. I understand the need to appear professional, but does this mean not making the effort to make someone feel at ease??
I passed my theory and hazard perception with flying colours and i realise the practical side is a completely different kettle of fish.
But i really don’t understand people who have no social skills who take up jobs working with the public??
I’m sure i can’t be the only person who’s had their confidence knocked by a poor instructor…any advice on how to confront this issue?
Many thanks
Richard
MrSnappy:
Hello and thanks for accepting me to the forum!
I have recently started doing my HGV practical lessons and my third installment is tomorrow.
Trouble is, I am not getting on very well with my instructor. I understand the need to appear professional, but does this mean not making the effort to make someone feel at ease??
I passed my theory and hazard perception with flying colours and i realise the practical side is a completely different kettle of fish.
But i really don’t understand people who have no social skills who take up jobs working with the public??
I’m sure i can’t be the only person who’s had their confidence knocked by a poor instructor…any advice on how to confront this issue?
Many thanks
Richard
You are 100% correct you should feel at ease whilst learning.
My suggestion would be to speak to the owner/ boss of the training company( assuming the instructor isn’t a 1 man band) and explain your feelings.
I would hope this would be addressed by the company immediately.
If the Instructor is a 1 man band then it’s a little more difficult- but you still need to broach the subject, maybe before you start tomorrow say you are concerned as you don’t feel like the training is going how you hoped it would be.
Best of luck with it
John
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Thanks John,
fortunately he’s part of a large well known training school and i think you’re right there.
I have a lesson at 6am tomorrow morning and will see how it goes and if he still sits there tutting and sighing, i will contact them later in the day.
I’m actually paying for this out of my own pocket and it’s very important for me to pass!
Thanks for the advice!
If that is how he is behaving then you really should speak to a manager and explain how it is affecting your confidence.
Best of luck with all your training
John
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Yes I have had this a few years back when I originally took lessons for CE I had done my C with same comp no prob there
But the instructor for CE was a different matter anyway I failed ( although long story ) but was never going to pass with him as said this was few years back but I have now re started it up again ( was supposed to have test on 4th May but was cancelled ) I have gone to a different provider
If you dont get the result you want then may I suggest that you look for another provider might be worth it
I would tell him. Your his boss and paying his wages. Id go mad with that attitude for sure.
Trouble is you have left it abit late now. When is your test? Do the test and when you pass throw it back at him and say that you wont be recommending him to anyone.
Also you wont be doing yr C+E with him.
I wish you the best of luck this week. Remember your employing him!
Who are you training with ?
Totally agree with John’s Chevron) remarks. A properly trained instructor (of which there are few) is able to present himself and the training in a manner which is acceptable to the whole spectrum of candidates.
It has to be said that some candidates present challenges that are unusual but I still maintain that the top instructors can cope with this and get the result - albeit not immediately.
I’m not suggesting that the OP is a difficult candidate, simply showing the other side of the coin.
DSA registered instructors have been tested on their ability to deal with “interesting” candidates. On one of my re-registration tests the “trainee” (played by a senior instructor) was so argumentative that it took a great deal of patience and skill to get him “on-side”. Many untrained “trainers” would have been drawn into a fruitless argument. When I train trainers, I spend a lot of time teaching them how to be in control of the session/situation but remaining calm, professional, reassuring and friendly. It is an art that many “trainers” have yet to master.
Sadly this situation will continue until the happy day when LGV Instructor Registration becomes compulsory. In the meantime, be aware that the person sat at the side of you need have no more qualifications than the driving licence and absolutely no training.
Buyer beware. Pete 
Hi Mate
yes i know how you feel I had the same problem last year and it took me two attempts to pass my C then i failed my CE twice all down to the fact that i had a bad instructor but i didnt have a say in who trained me as i was funded although i did complain to the relevent people who gave the funding it fell on deaf ears ( at the time i did put some post on here ) in the end i was actualy close to breaking point and didnt wanna go on the course any more it ended up one day in a shouting match with the said instructor who was also the owner of the company … after my 2dn fail on CE he just said oh well we will see if we can get another re test paid for ( easy money eh ) there and then he was told NOT A HOPE no more money from me …in all he got about £2500 in two weeks to make my life hell .
So in the end I took a cat C job saved a few months and got myself a good trainer and passed my CE with him and what a difference i was a lot more relaxed had a laugh and actualy looked forward to my lessons …
If You Have problems with him mate have a word with the company and tell them how you feel ask for another instructor dont go throwing your hard earned cash away . you are paying his wages so if he cant respect you then you will never pass .