Comments By Kori M.

You got this!!!

Congrats I hope to follow suit next week.

3/29/2017

Test day!! Ok here we go. Wake up dark and early! Go grab some breakfast before heading into the conference room to sign in for the drivers test. They also went over what would be going on today and what we and our trainers would have to do. I was 8th on the list. Wooo I was excited because I would be able to watch a few others go before me.

The first 3 set up and start doing their thing. One failed on the air break test, one pointed out on the drivers side parallel and the other pointed out on the alley dock... ahhh all 3?? One other student set up. The students that were numbers 4 and 6 on the list weren't there to set up so #7 went to set up and then my trainer said "ok you're up Yhe other guy isn't here yet" panicked a little bit because I thought I was going to get to watch one more round. So we get on the pad and someone walks up to the truck and says "what number are you?" We said 8 then he said "oh we are 6 we just didn't hook to a trailer yet" so we gave them the pad... so I did get to watch one more round. One of the guys I had class with was testing. He pointed out on the parallel. He used up a lot of his points on the offset first though. So I took the pad he was on.

There I am sitting in the truck alone facing the opposite direction of the only girl left still backing so I couldn't see her finish but I heard the whistle that no one wants to hear signaling you're over the points and it's over. So I was like "everyone is failing today" so I'm just alone with my thought for what seemed like hours but I know it wasn't haha. The examiner comes Timmy door and asks me to step out. I do coupling, trailer, lights and in cab. I finish the air brake test and hear "I don't get the pleasure of many perfect scores, but I did just now" wooooo hooooo! On to the backing. Straight line no points, off set no points. Drivers side parallel, I knew I was getting close to the back of the box but I still couldn't see where I was on the line on my side and I knew I had the points to spare so I kept going. I heard the whistle I knew was coming. Pull up just a little bit saw I'm in the box got out just to make sure got back in honked that horn with the biggest smile and sigh of relief. Made it to the road test!!! I'm counting in my head what I think he's writing down for my points but st this points I'm feeling pretty confident and my nerves had settled after how well I did backing. I knew I took a couple turns a little wide and I felt like I was grinding gears which was ok with me because I didn't have a lot of practice with shifting. We got back to the pad. "Does your trainer have an automatic is that why we are in pad truck?" I said yes she does" he says "wow that was impressive you didn't miss one gear" I was shocked when he said that I told him thank you. He said "tell your instructor you did wonderful, you are allowed 30 points, you got 6, thank you, you've been a breath of fresh air" we get out and he said "ok your trainer is coming look at the ground like you're dad "I said it's impossible not to smile right now" he just laughed. We got to my trainer and he said "she's a very good driver" and told her the great news. We high fived like little kids. I just breathed out a huge sigh of relief.

TRIFECTA BABY!!! Wooooo

Every time I think about it I just breath out a soft "wooohooo" my trainer just repeats it haha. Feels so good to be able to say I have my CDL, I am a truck driver guys!!! Big thanks to this site for better preparing me before I got out here. Such a huge difference maker!

3/28/2017

So I'm back at sprimo! I've actually been back since Sunday I've just been terrible about posting on here, I've been a busy bee.

So when we got back in Sunday there weren't any opening for practice pads or trucks so I could practice backing and shifting. So we called it a day and headed back to the hotel and got some much needed rest.

Yesterday we got a manual truck hooked it up to a trailer and I started driving it through town. Let me tell you... totally different driving that than my trainers manual. Having to plan the shifting and everything before turns. But I got comfortable pretty quick. It just started to rain on me towards the end so I got a little more tense. But all in all i felt pretty good about the driving part. Then we headed over to the practice pad to start some backing practice. It all came back to me pretty quickly. Every once in a while I got myself in a little predicament and my trainer would say "ok I'm glad this happened now so I can tell you how to fix it so if it happens on the test you will be ok" so I got some great experience yesterday.

Today we got a backing pad that was on the test pad so it was in better shape and crisper lines to look at haha. We did the in cab and air brake test then went straight to the backing maneuvers like I was actually testing. I went through straight back, offset, parallel and alley. And mybtrainer said I got 0 points! I guess I'm allowed 12 and I could still pass. So I'm feeling great about it! I am testing tomorrow morning. A few other people in my class are as well so it will be a fun day! I'm super excited and equally nervous!

Thank you! I'm glad that it's at least a little informative and not just me rambling about nothing haha. It's all exciting out here. So many new things daily.

Kori, I'm a year to 18 months away from making the transition and I'm loving your journal. Please keep posting. It's very informative and exciting to hear what you're going through, learning, etc.. Your excitement really comes through in your posts.

I've done a few night shifts my short time out there and they were rough at first but it did get easier.... somewhat lol

Looks like night shift for now which is nice. Trying to get used to sleeping in the day and with a moving truck

Thank you! Yes I'm liking prime a lot! I did get really lucky with my trainer as well. She's very informative. I think I'm going to like this life out on the road.

Kori it's really putting a smile on my face to hear you are having such a great start. Prime is an excellent company from everything I hear.

Personally I wouldn't want to trade this life for anything. Sounds like you have that same spirit of adventure too.

Oh yeah I hear you there! I should be testing Wednesday or Thursday. Then I have to head back to Cali to get my license as well.

Hahahaha I love the dungeon stories! I will be back tomorrow evening. How long are all of you going to be there?

Oh yeah the drivers are insane over here lol. Seeing everything from up high gives a new perspective that's for sure. And people trying to merge haha. It's crazy!

Congrats, happy to hear that your killing it.

All that east coast driving is going to pay dividends. Wait until you get out west. You'll be able to relax a little and enjoy the scenery, without someone trying to cut you off at every turn.

Cali!! Home sweet home! I know TNT will be much different! What shift will you be driving?

Good goin hun! Sorry for the late reply but yes stayin with the same guy we are headed out of sprimo tonight towards cali lol gonna be interesting now in TnT basically driving by myself gonna have to make friends to talk to on the phone while he sleeping haha!