Comments By Dutch

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  • Dutch
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  • 8 years, 2 months ago
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Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Prime Inc. Orientation starts 8/15/16

Good Morning all,

In three days I will be boarding a bus to Pittston, PA for Orientation with Prime's refrigerated division. This will be my first job in the industry and first time away from my wife and two sons for long periods of time. I am anxious, excited and any other adjective you could think of to describe a moment like this.

It seems like a whole new world is on the horizon for and I can't wait to see what the journey holds for me and my family. I know that time away from them won't be great, and training won't always be exciting or fun. But, I am ready for the challenge!! I am proud of myself for getting through trucking school and earning my Class A on the first go around. Apparently the school I went to was having a hard time getting students to pass at the MVA.

There will be more to come on this new endeavor, but for now I have packing to do. Talk to you guys soon.

Joe Rayz

Opps my bad dude! I did not see you are going to Pittston, PA for Orientation! and that you already have your CDL. Well, I hope the information i provide does help! Again, good luck and remember take the bad in with the good!!

Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Proper Trucking Etiquette or a Whiney Rookie

My codriver is HUGE about helping out others and consequently taught me to be the same way. If we need to go inside for more than a couple minutes, we PARK the truck (and never use what he calls the lazy fat fcker parking (fuel island or no parking zones), pick up trash, and yes, help others.

Last week I was sitting, sweating to death in our non-idling truck wondering where on earth he was or had he "fallen in" lol. We were parked in a space, but 20 minutes later, still sweating, getting irritated, I finally spotted him standing a good distance away? Turns out a brand new solo driver from a different company was having weight problems and his tandems were stuck on top of that. He showed the guy how to get his tandems unstuck, using windex, and then taught the guy how to slide his 5th wheel, because apparently when that guy was being trained he was never taught how. He spent 40 minutes or so with the new driver and waited until he had rescaled again, to make sure he could get his load legal before we left. The driver was quite appreciative and it really makes me proud that even when we really needed to leave, he still took the time to help and teach a new driver, because in his words, "It's very important. "

I know when I was solo and needed help I was lucky enough to get it many times.

That is so awesome!!! I do hope to run into you guys on the road some day!

Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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2016 Prime Training Update I

Dutch,

I can't thank you enough for pointing me to this post you made!!!! Absolutely awesome. So much pertinent info I am going to look over it a few more times before Sunday. I have also been considering a lease option and have been weighing the pros and cons of doing this. Can you tell me what your experience has been leasing so far? Again. Thanks for pointing me to your post and thanks for your service to our nation!

No problem dude! First, I wish you the best of luck! Just remember take the bad in with the good! As far as the lease program, where do I even start! I guess the first question would be, what division are you planning on going into? I am part of the Flatbed Team, so our division runs a lot different than the other two.

The first rule of lease is to remember it is a business! You must run it as a business! No and if or buts about it! You will file your quarterly taxes, invest your retirement in a Solo 401k or IRA. You will have to put your money into different accounts, ie. tire fund, emergency fund, saving, and tax fund. Yeah, I know so many places to put your money and what is left? Remember your tractor is your money making machine!

Secondly, I highly recommend opening your business as an LLC, this will greatly help you with taxes and of course it will protect you if some try's to come after you.

Third, I would hire a CPA for truckers - you will have the opportunity to use our Company's CPA's. My thoughts - they are looking out for the best interest for the Company, not yours! The Company is a business too! and they want as much money as they can get! Turbo Tax also has a great program for truckers and they also provide help if you need it.

There will always be con's to lease and company! You must decide on what you want. As a lease operator I do make a lot more than the company drivers, however, I also must work as twice as hard to ensure my business is top notch.

The things I believe that are pro's are; I have my own freedom, I am not forced dispatched, I can chose the route I want to take, I can chose when I want to take home time, and of the satisfaction of running my business!

As for my experience a am i "rookie" in this industry, however, I have plenty of successful business experience - I believe that helps me out a lot! However, I know of some drivers who have never ran a business and are doing great - it comes down to common sense and knowing to always ask questions!

You will always here lease is not the way to go, they steal your money. For those folks - I believe they are wrong! Somewhere down the line they made the wrong business decision or didn't want to put the extra work in to ensure their business is running top notch! One day I heard a driver talking bad about our company, I sat there and listened - he stated..he told his fleet manager he wasn't going to run the east coast and he doesn't drive at night....and I thought to myself, you just made the worst statement and you wonder why you are not making money! You have to remember, trucks go where the money is being made, we are the United States mobile warehouse. People rely on us to bring them their goods. If you have to drive downtown NJ - guess what do it!

But the one thing to remember - understand how your logs work!!!!! Know when to take the 8-2 spilt, know when you will receive hours back! Know how to play the e-log (I can give you tips). Your logs will also make you or break you!!! Know when to re-power that load - because the customer is first period!

I hope this info will give you a better understanding! If you choose to go lease let me know. I can tell you have to save some cash on your start up and some of the do's and don'ts! Again, good luck! Maybe I will run into at the Campus Inn....on a reset and tractor going into the shop no leaving until Tuesday!

Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Flatbed Variety

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Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Flatbed Variety

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Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Proper Trucking Etiquette or a Whiney Rookie

Ok, so I am still a rookie within the trucking industry and I still have a lot to learn. I know this conversation will probably heat some drivers up or they will call me the whinny rookie! What is proper trucking etiquette? Is helping each other on the road? Being courteous to each other at the truck stop? or is it just a term and a way of life that was used when the Knights of Highway existed?

This last year I have noticed many things in regards to lack of proper etiquette; from taking the 30 minute break at the fuel island, not pulling your truck up after fueling, stealing the parking space when the other driver is backing into, throwing your bags of trash and body waste on ground, and most of all tampering with each other loads and/ or tractor.

But the one thing that bogles my mind - inside the truck stop, drivers are mostly respectful! I can remember holding the door open for another driver on the way into the building - that driver made a comment that will stick with me for a while - "why can't we all do this on the road?" I wish I had an answer for that! Why can't we?

Now don't get me wrong - I have been helped by some great drivers out there - from backing into the truck stop while other drivers giving me the extra eyes or letting me get into the center lane to make that pass.

Was the trucking etiquette always the same or has it lost it's meaning? Our we not being trained right? Or is it the new generation? Or am I just that whinny rookie?

Posted:  7 years, 8 months ago

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Prime Inc. Orientation starts 8/15/16

Check out this... should help you! Good Luck!! https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-14807/Page-1/2016-prime-training-update-i

Posted:  7 years, 10 months ago

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2016 Prime Training Update I

Opps...sorry about the spelling...

Posted:  7 years, 10 months ago

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2016 Prime Training Update I

30,000 Mile Run - Congrats you passed your CDL test and you are now an employee of Prime with pay! Now it is time to drive! During this time you may or may not be with the same trainer, if you are with the same trainer, that is awesome due to the fact you two have started building trust which is needed during the period of the training. The truck will be dispatched as a team truck - so what does that mean? The truck doesn’t stop unless for scheduled stops! Here are some tips to help ensure you are comfortable.

Try to stay on a driving schedule (example: I drove nights for two weeks, then we switched). Night driving for us was a bit harder due to delivery and pick times during the day (flatbed). Don’t be afraid to wake up the trainer!! For any reason!! Trust me, they will want you to wake them up and will appreciate it! Instead of yelling the trainers name, we established we would turn on the lights in sleeper, it worked great! During your downtime you have 10 -11 hours off, can you sleep that long? Plan your downtime according to your schedule. I would take a baby wipe bath, mess around on my phone, go to bed, wake up about 45 minutes before shift, dress and eat. Worked great. Have a drivers bag. What that? I carried a back pack which I put all my snacks in, baby wipes, cell phone charger, sunglasses, basically everything I needed for my shift. So you do not have to go to the sleeper and wake up your partner. Treat the truck as if it is yours! Ensure you take out the trash, clean the cab, at a truck stop?clean the windows at the end of your shift - show respect! Food - Plan wisely - I ate out once a week. Don’t be surprised if the trucks stop and you trainer wakes up and sees what is going on through out your shift. They are doing their job and still building trust. MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Don’t be afraid if you cannot complete your shift due to exhaustion or not being comfortable driving due to the conditions! You are trusting each other with your lives!!! One night I only completed 7 hours of driving - I was exhausted - I pulled over and told the trainer. Expecting the trainer to be ****ed off - instead i received a thank you and that built our trust even stronger! No load is worth your life!!!!! Now, I was thankful to have a great trainer during this phase of the training - the trainer and I worked as a team. There were many teams I saw where the trainee did all the work and the Trainer sat in the truck - my opinion that is BS! You are a team and the trainer should be out there with you ensuring you are doing it right. Don’t be afraid to speak up - do it respectfully - no results call your fleet manager.

The Upgrade - You completed the 30,000 with your trainer and now you are ready for own truck! Congrats! You will spend 3 -5 days at the Campus Inn, cool thing you will get your own room! It’s nice to have that privacy! ( there is no hurry up and wait actually, you will have a lot of down time!) Just like at the beginning of your training you will be required to complete the following:

CBT’s Simulator Classes

CBT - Yes, I know! Bring your computer you can have them done in a day!

Simulator - I know I told you it was about shifting pattern at the beginning - well it still is! You will complete 2 exercises. One graded by your group and the other graded by the computer. The first exercise - you will crash!! Second exercise, watch for people and you will be completing a backing exercise, not bad at all! Yes, you can float the gears!!!

Classes - Depending on your division and going company or lease will depend on the classes you will take. I had to take one class and then I was waiting for my truck! I am currently a lease operator for the flat bed division and love it. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me!!

Timeframe for program: Orientation: 1 -2 weeks (depends on when you hook up with a trainer). 10,000: 2- 4 weeks (depends on you, the Trainer will give the go if you are ready to test). 30,000: 5-7 weeks (depends on season - remember winter means snow - spring construction is starting (flatbed).

I hope this helps!

Posted:  7 years, 10 months ago

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2016 Prime Training Update I

10,000 Mile Run - Now, your 10,000 mile run will be ran mostly by you with the trainer in the passenger seat. Your job is to drive the truck and study your pre-inspection (you will need to know this for your CDL test - word for word! TIP: drill yourself on paper - write it over and over, like spelling words). Do not worry about backing the vehicle - your backing practice will be conducted at the training pad. You will be receiving a loan from Prime Inc. during your training, 200.00 week. Don’t spend it all - save what you can, again, it is a loan and you will repay that loan. TIP: save 70.00 you will need this for your CDL, grab this before you pull back into Prime Inc. Showers will be given to you - and they are free due to the truck getting fuel. Laundry - bring enough clothes for 7 days! TIP: You will have the top bunk - it is not very big and it is also your storage area! Be wise when you pack. (if you would like details in what to pack for food and clothes, i can provide that)

CDL Test - you have completed the 10,000 and feel pretty comfortable with driving the truck. Depending on your trainer, you should come in two days before your test. You will spend a lot of time on the pad. TIP: Listen to the trainer! There are certain techniques used to back the truck to meed the CDL test. (example: pull truck forward until yellow line is under 10- 2 spread. Turn wheel to the left 3 times….understand what I am saying?). If you pass your backing practices which will be 3 exercises, you will be doing your drivers test. TIP: Drive the truck just as the same as you did on the road! You will go over a bridge, drive on the interstate, drive through town, complete a emergency stop. This can take 15 - 45 minutes. Again, don’t change your style of driving!! TIP: ask your trainer to remain with you while waiting for the examiner to come test you! If not, you will start changing steps in your mind!

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