Comments By Clay Knight

I was hoping for a new update. Hope things are going well.

Well, sounds like you're learning some things. Not all personalities jive with each other. Hopefully you get what you need from your time with him in regards to driving the truck and pass your tests. Moving forward I hope you get a trainer for next phase that you mesh a little better with. No matter what as you learn and get better things will get easier for you. I'm nervous to get started pretty soon. Hoping to get my permit pretty soon here in California and head to Utah after that. I think my blood pressure is stable in a good range and I'm wrapping up a few things here at home before I begin my journey. I've really appreciated your updates and information during your training. It's very helpful to get a glimpse of what a student goes through. Keep your head up and eyes on the prize. Best of luck.

Once again thank you for that knowledge. These diaries really do help guys like me who are preparing to come to orientation and school.

That would definitely be a deal breaker for me too. I don't smoke and would not be able to be around a smoker in small spaces. I can't stand the smell of cigarette, cigar or pipe smoke. I'll be sure to let my recruiter or whoever is in charge of such things know this. I don't want to be assigned to a trainer that smokes. Just couldn't do it.

So I met my trainer today and I’m not 100% sure if we’re going to click. He came on pretty strong with enforcing that he’s been driving for 19 years and he knows what he’s doing and not to tell him he’s inexperienced. I understand that he wanted me to be confident in him, but it was borderline hostile sounding. He assured me that he would yell, but then would explain why he yelled and he’d go right back to being a nice guy.

What are yalls opinion on this? I know I’m new so I could be reading him really wrong, but it was kind of hard to read him. One minute he seemed hostile and the next he was being cordial. I thought maybe I would give it a week at the least, but I also don’t want to waste his time if I’m already having second thoughts after talking to him for 30 minutes.

From a lot of the diaries I have read it seems like that's how a lot of the trainers are. Heck, a lot of truck driver's in general seem to be that way. Type A personalities. I say stick with it and see how it goes. Hard to tell a lot from a 30 minute introduction. Of course if you are with him for a week and simply can't stand to be in the truck with him then speak with your recruiter and see if you can get a change. It will most likely slow you down a couple of days waiting for them to find you a new trainer but what do I know LOL I'm not even there yet. If he's been driving 19 years and is a trainer with Prime I'm sure he knows his stuff and could impart a wealth of knowledge if you can get along. Just my 2 cents. I'm sure a veteran will chime in with some sage advice for you. Best of luck.

Yeah according to other diaries and the Prime Inc website of you are attending orientation in Utah you must obtain your CDL permit from your home state prior to coming to Utah. I will double check with someone at Prime before I head to the DMV but from everything I have researched that is how they do it for the Utah facility. I know if I were to go to MO I would get my permit in MO. Unless things changed in the last week I think I have to get my CA permit then setup my orientation date.

I realize this is an older diary and has not had any updates for quite some time but I just wanted to say thank you Eric G. for your comprehensive documentation of your journey. It really helps guys like me get a feel for what we are going to go through. I hope your journey is going well.

Thanks for your insight INIKITS! I appreciate any and all input I can get. I've heard the bus rides are pretty horrible especially for larger guys. I'm 6'2" 215 lbs. If prefer to just fly out provided I can afford a ticket when the time comes. I'm working on losing another 15-25 lbs if possible before I apply and making sure myg blood pressure is in the acceptable range. I'm right at the cutoff right now. Testing about 130/90 sometimes 140/85. I know extra weight makes the heart work harder and I'm taking a bunch of supplements and eating a super low sodium vegetarian diet. Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll be looking better and I can get my physical done so I can go to the DMV and get my permit. Could be another month though. I'm exercising every day doing pushups, sit ups, and riding my recumbent bike or indoor recumbent exercise bike. I've come down from 250 lbs so it is working.

I was thinking along the same lines as you regarding the reefer division. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your journey.

Quick question. What division do you plan on going to? Reefer, flatbed or tanker?

New to the forum and I've really enjoyed reading these diaries. they really help give a prospective student an idea of what to expect. I too am going to go to prime. I'm just trying to make sure my blood pressure is exactly where it needs to be so I don't have any hiccups once I get to the Prime facility. I'm in California so I will be attending orientation in Utah instead of Missouri though.

My question regarding your question is: What is best in your opinion and why? I'm going after all my endorsements so I can with any of them.

To INIKITS, congrats on passing your permit tests! I too am not keen on the bus ride thing... I may opt to fly myself out there if I can afford a plane ticket.