I am training a couple new guys and my first rule is about phone usage.From the time you arrive at the yard in the morning they can check their phone once before they leave the yard,once before they get out ready to set up the pump,and once when they leave the job.Zero phone usage when riding or waiting on concrete,period.i mean check the phone and not spend time talking to your boyfriends.When arriving at the yard they cannot play on their device at all,they are required to get out of the truck and begin the end of day routine.Does this seem like reasonable treatment and training method for a possible future operator?

i suppose you are payed by your company to train them.then train them by company rules, no more no less. Remember when you learn a monkey to climb you get the coconuts on your head. 

Cell phones are a ticking time bomb.  Were all guilty but when it's your business your butt is the one on the line.  Seems like a signed company policy rule sheet would be good back up for liability.

Constantly being on your cell phone ,whether at work or not,removes a person from being aware of what is happening around them. I live in SE Louisiana which is full of people who will either run you over or worse,I need to pay attention to what is going on around me,

I am in total agreement. I don't even let my guys keep them in their pockets when pumping, it stays in the cab. They can go back to the cab to check it between loads.  Don't forget there's a guy at the end of that line whose life can be ended in a blink if something happens. Even if they aren't going to answer it the ring or vibration can distract an operator and that's all that take for tragedy. I don't even take my phone out of the cab. 

Good work Train them all like that, I do and I have sent several good operators out there and the phone is sitting on the dash while they pump. oh and those machines are 500k.

as I do not usually agree with Bis , but Dipstick and pumpnfinish you are taking for granted that these operators/trainees will do as you do and not have the phone hanging from their ear while pumping a elevated deck or a wall with a hoseman walking it , yes in a world where guys acted and did things the appropriate way this is way to strict , but from what I see everyday it is a policy that needs to be in place , the good always have to pay for the bad.

https://www.facebook.com/johanolie/videos/10208439905146918/

The worst example an operator using his phone to film his own work. so yes Dipstick we are the last boy scouts

Guess i just care more about the poor guy at the end of the hose hanging from the boom i'm controlling than the damn phone.