Comments By Michael Y.

I start my training on the 17th, I already have my CDL A permit (passed first try thanks to TruckingTruth's training course). My biggest fears is the Pre-trip inspection test, double clutching, down shifting and backing, emphasis on pre-trip, I'm afraid that I'll forget a ton while doing the test. I have driven vehicles with standard transmission, but double clutching is definitely foreign to me. When I was a kid my step dad let me drive his truck from a stop, but had me float the gears, which I did well with that (needed to watch the road more than the RPM gauge lol I was 13 then). Downshifting I didn't do much in my cars/trucks, so I will need practice there, and the biggest thing I backed once was a 40ft goose neck travel trailer trailer on a Dodge dually within the parking lot of the RV place I worked at. I was given a tip by one of the salesmen that worked there on backing on how to hold the wheel, and I found that much easier than the way I was originally holding it.

I don't foresee a major issue while going forward, other than up and down shifting. I will need to learn where to start turning while making a right hand turn. I drove a 26ft (no CDL required to drive) box truck for a delivery company so a I have a small concept of turning a larger vehicle.

I'm sure most of my fears I will get over while doing it daily. I guess my biggest question would be, any advise on how to learn and remember what to say for the pre-trip test?

Daniel, are the LW trucks an option at Prime, or do you get assigned one whether you want it or not?

I was told by my recruiter at Prime that I will be assigned an LW truck. I asked him if I could get a standard sized truck, he told me that I would have to wait on one to become available or I could go for the lease to get one quicker. I said I would use the LW till one became available.

I wanted to start out in a standard tuck, but now that Daniel put it into $s difference. Ill stick it out in an LW for a year or so, need to get my financial life straight before I worry about comfort right now.

I have an auto start feature on mine. I set it and go to bed. When the voltage drops below so much or the coolant temp falls to a preset temp it starts the truck, then shuts off at another preset temp or voltage. The voltage part is for the EPC. First cousin to the APU system.

That sounds like a nice thing to have if your company does not allow you to idle. You would get bursts of hot or cold air, and use a fan to blow the air around the truck in between the times the engine was off.

Richard, I would really recommend that you go ahead and get your class A license. You just never know what opportunities might open up for you, and that Class B isn't usually worth a whole lot in terms of earning potential. Even if you already have a class B job lined up I would still go for the whole enchilada - you are already forking out the money and time, why not just go ahead and get something that will open a lot more doors of opportunity for you?

With all due respect man, I have a great job lined up driving a straight truck, I really don't wanna drive a semi if I really don't have to. In fact my employer advised me against it because of their hours and pay rate being worse. Strictly getting a Class B forces me into a certain route and truck type I and he would prefer I took.

I appreciate your concern though.

Just because you have your CDL A does not mean you are forced to drive only semi trucks. It just allows you to drive everything. I have spoken to someone with an excavating crew that required CDL B due to the dump trucks, but if they were to tow a trailer with a back hoe on it, they were required to have a CDL A due to the trailer putting them over the weight limit of their CDL B.

I start class on the 10th. I drove out to it earlier today just to find it. Found it and walked in just to make my intro. I am ready to start.

I start on the 17th, I will be getting bus info on the 12th for the trip up. I have been to their Springfield yard before back in 90-93 time frame, I was a kid then, step dad drove for Prime back then. I looked up where the yard is on Google Maps, it looks like it would be easy to find, just one highway all the way pretty much to their front door. Hope your training goes well

Great to hear you like Prime. I will be starting with them on the 17th. I did a bunch of searching and they have the best starting/training pay of any of the ones I looked into. You mentioned removing the seat in your LW truck, I had heard they did not have passenger seats. I have searched online for pics of them but cannot find any. Good to hear they are not as small as I feared, I am not a small guy.

@ Free Spirit - Good luck on your testing. I studied (not too hard) with the program here on TT, took my test and passed everything first try, even HAZMAT. Make sure to have an original birth certificate with state embossed stamp (raised imprint) on it.

I live in Arkansas and just took my CDL-A permit tests Tuesday 2/18. They allowed me to take the HAZMAT endorsement test even though I have not done anything with TSA yet. I guess each state is different.

Hey Ron,

From what I have read in my search about trucking, I have found that you need to be as honest as possible while applying to a trucking company. They will do extensive background checks, and if they find something you did not reveal yourself, they will pass you up. Also I have read that it all depends on the company and their policies, also dependent on the felony. Make sure to let them know about any possible issues while you were a juvenile as well, in case they go back that far. Also any traffic issues, minor or not. I am not a seasoned driver, still in the research and getting my CDL phase myself, but I hope that what I have read will help you out.