Comments By Philip F.

This sparked an interesting question from me: When, while doing your pre-trip, is an issue enough to call and have them fix it?

How does "float the gears" work? I've seen that term a few times...

PR, Britton's 100% right. I'll also be there Sept. 3, and I just got my permit (with all the endorsements) so I could spend more time training and not have to spend the week studying for permit tests!

So I was wondering what you guys do for exercise out on the road? I could stand to lose a few pounds, and just want to know if there are good ways to get a workout.

In other news, I passed the general knowledge at the BMV today, but I didn't have time to take any of the endorsements, so I get to go back tomorrow to do that.

How much does everyone out there budget for food? Reason I ask is that I remember most people make around $800 (give or take) and I'm wondering how much of that gets put back into general expenses while out on the road.

Quick question: Do I need to get a physical BEFORE I can apply for the permit? I figured you just had to do it before you got your license, but now after looking at Indiana's CDL manual I'm not so sure.

I spoke with a lightweight driver many times and they say they can take up to 49k of freight

WHOA!!!!

That's incredible for reefer. No wonder Prime is so big on those lightweight trucks. That's a huge difference. I couldn't even pull that in a dry van. I'd be maxed out with a little under 47k in the box.

I didn't think those lightweight trucks would make that much of a difference. That's amazing when you consider the size of some of these refrigerated fleets.

Yeah no joke! I spoke with several and one was a 7 year driver who has been with Prime since they introduced those LW trucks and he's been on them ever since. Beer loads are always difficult to balance because I'm always at maximum capacity and its hard to imagine that even a beer load would be an easy load. I was actually curious what Prime would pay a driver with 1 year OTR experience driving on the LW fleet. That 7 year driver was making 48c per mile as a company driver because of his experience.

Daniel, a new driver makes 42c per mile in those lightweights.

Hey Britt, I'm hoping to start The week after you, so maybe we'll bump into each other. Good luck

Hehe...same here. Hope to see you guys there!

It isn't! It (the second violation) should be moved a half-hour forward...

some require you to obtain your cdl before you go and some dont.

You mean they require you to get your "cdl permit" before you go? I think that's what you meant.

I wouldn't expect they would require you to pay a permit fee if you already have your permit when you show up. They just didn't word it quite the way they should have would be my guess.

Brett's right. For example, with Prime (whom I'm going to go with by the end of the month) they want a $50 permit fee OR I can get a permit in my home state. Sometimes people don't have the time to study and get their permit, but the High Road program is pretty comprehensive, so I'm going to get my permit here in Indiana.

Some companies like Prime will let you choose to get a permit before hand. Some don't want you to have it, and some do. It all depends...