Comments By Smart C.

Yes. I've got my letters of recommendation from professors and everything else concerning the Law school admission Council in place. I Just need to take the LSAT. Let me tell ya, trucking while studying for that beast is the biggest challenge of my life. I'll probably have to drag it on longer than usual.

Law school acceptance test?

Hello everyone,

Was just wondering the average amount of time you have to be with Prime or any company in general before you can even hope to get a dedicated route. I hit my one year anniversary a few days ago. I've only been on my own however, for a little over three months (I trained a very long time).

I would like to have a more structured schedule. I'm studying for the LSAT and could use a chance to organize my weeks very specifically. My fleet manager has given me nothing but high praises quite often.

There's still too much uncertainty concerning the virus. If it becomes more wide spread, it could adapt... making it harder to develop a vaccine to really end this. The uncertainty makes it too risky.

Cases are suppose to spike mid April then level off. It's smart to wait for the level off. But yes....the US Treasury cannot float funds, buy back bonds, and lower interest rates for too long or we'll be living in the shadow of this virus much like the great depression for quite some time.

Hey guys,

I'm finally getting my own truck next week after upgrading a while back. I'm currently ordering/thinking about everything I want on the truck. I heard about the device called a MagnaStop from another recent upgraded newbie at Prime. It supposedly allows you to get the pins in the correct hole every time on the first try.

Does anyone use this? Its 50 bucks...not bad but still thought I'd get a couple other takes on it if I could. I've never guesstimated when sliding before. Not sure how good I'll be at it.

https://www.magnastop.online

I’ve never passed a sims test. Rather took a road test for upgrade. Did my annual safety last week. Mr Wally remembered me, and did make me do any sim stuff!

Why did you take a road test instead??

It's been good..a challenge. I went through two trainers. I didn't feel my first trainer was giving me enough backing practice. My fleet manager claimed the first trainer was better with more experienced drivers switching to Prime.

I've had no problems at all with the second trainer. They were both impressed by my work ethic. Nighttime driving is no joke though. I could have upgraded a while ago. I'm was just concerned about my backing even with the increased practice. I still am concerned to be honest. I really wanted another three weeks with a trainer just to get a little more backing in. My FM and trainer are saying I'm ready however. Maybe I'm over thinking it, not sure.

Smart C,

How was TNT?

Enquiring minds want to know (this is probably before your time).

Rob.

Hey guys,

I'm headed in to upgrade next week. I was wondering if anyone else who has upgraded recently at Prime could tell me what the simulation test is like.

Do you get to practice beforehand?

Are you still in school or doing this OTR? I ask because on the pad, it is about reference points. OTR it is about judgement and space. I thought you were in TNT now, if so, you need to tell the trainer to let you do it. If you have down time in a truck stop, practice backing.

It usually takes 6 months to get backing down For practice on the pad, some students 4 hours, others 12. It varies.

The real world is different, plus you are nervous cause that trainer is over your shoulder and you have distractions of other trucks cars and people.

1) You need to see it as a puzzle. "Now how do i fit this in that hole". Remove the nervousness.

2) GOAL often, even if the trainer complains. You will not understand the movement unless you observe it.

3) Ask when you can practice. If taking a 34, try to prod them to let you practice.

4) understand we all learn differently and at different speeds. I seriously felt behind in backing. At a year i felt better and at 18 mos i thought "wow i have this". At 3 years i didnt even flinch, i knew i would get it i even if i did 100 pull ups and blocked the whole highway.

Yes, I'm in TNT. Regarding that practice in a parking lot you mean motioned, I hear you loud and clear. Whenever I back in a lot where there is a lot of space which falls on a day where there is time to kill, I yearn to at least keep backing a couple more times. That's just not my trainer's style. He doesn't have that kind of energy or patience.

After not having me back at a dock for a month, he says "Ok..I'm going to let you back... if you can do it, fine....if not, I'll do it". I thought that was strange. He said this as if I'm supposed to have improved over that last month with no 90 practice. It's frustrating because he has told me I'm just about ready to upgrade with the exception of backing up.

He also mentioned that there is another guy on our fleet who is on a dedicated with a lot of extra time on his hands who happens to be the best trainer at getting students to back. He said if he and I can't get backing, (we probably won't...he still only lets me back every other time) that I should talk to our fleet manager about paring with this guy.

I think it would be a shame to have a second trainer essentially just for one aspect of training. However, if that's what I have to do, I'll do it with supreme effort. I know that all I need is repitetion. I'm simply not getting it with this guy. He'd rather me find an easy spot during my break than take the opportunity to back. So Frustrating

Thanks for the helpful advice guys.

Hey guys,

I have a question for trainers and a general question.

For those of you who train, I was wondering the average number of times it takes your students to become "good" at the 90. Due to my trainer having two family deaths, we took quite a lot of time off and my progress regarding backing really suffered. Not to mention my trainer usually just backs it in himself. I've attempted the 90 about four times now and am struggling more than I think I should be.

Do you guys start to chase at 90 degrees? Or slightly before 90? I've gotten contradictory advice on this.

Thanks!!