Jim Palmer Trucking In-House Training In Montana

Update PS:

Stuck the onion dumpster door 90 in the dark....!!......

Update PS:

Stuck the onion dumpster door 90 in the dark....!!......

I find that following my nose in the dark yields a successful outcome.

Good job adjusting to the unexpected and maintaining that positive attitude; never letting the highs getting you too high,...and the lows, etc. You got this.

Thanks G-Town!..

Paying dues hurts and feels good all at the same time...like watching kids grow. I'm fortunate to be where I am.

Professional reinvention is entertaining, at very least to the drivers at fuel island watching me and trainer set cones. ;)

2,592.08 miles driven in 8 days. Training day #14 (day 8 of driving OTR)

My trainer: 751.4 miles..

City driving: Seattle, Salt Lake, Dallas, Austin, Houston.

Mountain passes: a few..lol..

Night: 90% of time

Rain: 2 days

Rural highway the majority...

All going well.

Update: Got lucky, didn't expect it, with a couple days home as my trainer had obligations in his neck of the woods.. We live fairly close to each other.

Don't feel as if we lost momentum and back to it tomorrow. Looking forward to miles, practise and a bit of sensory overload...lol...

Scheduled for my drive test back up north in a little under 2 weeks time.

Training has been fast paced and challenging. Great to get the old juices flowing learning a new trade craft... Feeling honored to be given this unique opportunity no doubt.

Thanks for taking the time to do your blog. I will be heading to JPT in July and you have done a great job in giving an idea of what to expect.

Hey, congrats!! Great group of folks.. Its a challenging process, as I'm currently in the fray, but defiantly doable and the support systems are built in. Study up!

Update: On the road. Trainer pushing hard (HOS, driving, admin, customer service, professionalism etc etc)

Just what I wanted / need... Here to learn a trade craft!...I came in already knowing full well How to " hold a steering wheel"...lol...

Keep in touch Jimmie D....

Thanks for taking the time to do your blog. I will be heading to JPT in July and you have done a great job in giving an idea of what to expect.

OtrEscapeArtist, I'm really enjoying your training diary. I have a tentative start date of 31 July with JPT, and your posts have helped to shed a lot of light on what I can expect. I'm really looking forward to starting a new career, and JPT sounds like a great place to do that. Good luck to you!

Hey Barry,

Thanks.... Training is really geared as on the job training. No real hand holding, but again, responsive support and feedback from HQ.

The way this is structured the student is also encouraged to be proactive with the process, take initiative, be proactive and stay engaged.

I believe all trainers have their own style. Of course there are markers, goals and defined milestones. That being said its real time " live truck" training so as an apprentice we must be flexible and adaptive...

I had a rough day today preparing to return to Montana for my drive test. Seems I could back this rig into an airplane hanger if I tried!! Its an intensive process but that makes the small daily victories and setbacks worth the effort.

Time to get a few hours rest. Up at 2am to hit the road...

Ok, back to biz...

Slam dunked the CDL A drive test...Thanks ALL who made possible.

Now driving team with my same "D Seat" coach... I'm learning from a true "HOS Ninja"...

Tid bit: With the right company a reefer can be utilized as a dry van.I would say that's added value coupled with resource utilization....lol...

Be safe!!