Comments By Lemmy_Lives

Day One of orientation:

Nothing much to report really. We had 3 people who had to redo their physicals and do a driving test, so the rest of us spent much of the day sitting in a classroom doing not much of anything. We did fill out some paperwork and take a open-book HAZMAT test as well as watch some videos but other than that....

I'm currently sitting at the Days Inn in Oklahoma City; tomorrow I start orientation at the OKC terminal. Kinda nervousness but I'm also ready to get this show on the road. I'll post an update tomorrow.

I already plan on doing getting the tank endorsement.. The permit cost $76 which I hadn't expected. Ill probably do the physical too to remove the k restriction too. I was already told by prime that I'd do a DOT physical in Missouri regardless of if I did one in Oklahoma since I was going to Prime to learn to drive a truck and wouldn't have a commercial driver's license already.

David, why don't you just go back and get it? It will only take a few minutes of your time to take the test. You are going to want to have that already out of the way, and it is so much easier to do it now than after you are on the road. You need to get it because there are times when you will be hauling those containers filled with liquids - you are required to have the tanker endorsement to be able to take those loads. You sure don't want to be that driver that has to say, "sorry, I forgot to get my tanker endorsement, I can't take that load."

I'm not sure what Prime's policy is regarding permits but what they told you doesn't make much sense. Like I said, if you don't get a physical the K restriction prevents you from driving outside of Oklahoma. When I went to school the only ones who had to retake the physical were people whose paperwork wasn't correct.

Was it a recruiter telling you all this? If so you might take what they said with a grain of salt.

Are you from Oklahoma? If so you probably have a K restriction on your permit which prevents you from driving outside of the state. I went to school in Tennessee and all of the people with K restrictions were sent right back home to get their DOT Physicals and remove the K.

Nice road rash!

It's all good though. Chick's dig scars. :-)

Mac there will also be opportunities to explore some neat places while in the truck too! We stopped at a little spot in Geary OK that was truck friendly. Cherokee Indian art, crafts and other cool stuff plus they had live buffalo and buffalo burgers at the diner.

You can find little cool spots like this just by watching signs and looking on Google maps and street view to find out if they have truck parking.

Cherokee truck stop, right? I just ate there 2 days ago.

Welcome to my neck of the woods! Lol

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention...

The drivers (4 wheelers) in Memphis are borderline suicidal or just simply insane. You've really got to keep an eye out for them. Not a boring moment to be had on the streets of Memphis. Lol

I just graduated from the Memphis academy last Thursday. Expect to have a lot of information fed to you at a very fast pace. However, if you take notes and pay attention you will do well. Also, DO NOT give up. The class after ours lost 7 or so people when backing training started...one guy just said I can't do this and quit. Don't be that guy. :-)

The instructors are passionate about the industry and want you to succeed, but they won't hold your hand either. You are expected to figure it out using the information given. In time, you'll figure out what works best for you.

Great!! I know what you went through. I'm there now! I test Wednesday, I'm struggling with shifting, and the skills. The off set, and straight or the only two we know will be required. The other will be the 90 or parallel . Only two days to work on skills. A couple road trips are scheduled. I know one includes u-turns, going north on four lane then u-turn south. Already did three road trips and feel my shifting is awful. Yesterday instructor had us skip from ninth to seventh, then on down to fifth, and back up to ninth, repete to fifth. Wish me luck Wednesday, if I don't pass this, next test is a week later. Only test on Wednesday. Keep us posted!!

Good luck on your test! You're actually learning more than I did in regards to shifting...we weren't taught how to skip gears. At least you'll have time to sharpen your skills if you don't pass the first time. I had 3 chances to pass the test, and I tested 3 times in 3 days.

I'm back home! Can't wait to hit the pillow...I've been up since 3 am yesterday.

Looks like I'll be going to orientation a week from now and the second chapter begins!