GEAR SHIFTING

Thank you so much Robby. Wow unlearning everything seems even more confusing. So since you have been at prime which is one of the schools I considered But after watching a few YouTube videos and doing a little more research I've heard they train you by simulator and then You go on the road to learn actual gear shifting by driving? Is this true. Since you've been a training since last month. How true is this? Is gear shifting thoroughly taught? I would greatly appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance. Danielle

Danielle...I've driven standards off and on for over 40 years. I started with Prime last month. I, as you and so many others, believed I had a leg up by having experience driving a stick. I was wrong!! lol. I had to "unlearn" virtually everything I knew about standard transmissions and learn a whole new way of driving. My humble suggestion would be to forget about needing to know how to drive a stick before you get to school. The trainers have tons of experience in teaching those who have never driven a standard...and have tons of success in doing so! Don't sweat it...they want you to succeed so they are very patient. And, as I said, you already have an advantage that those like me didn't have...having to unlearn then learn all over again! You'll do great! 95% of the things we worry about never happen! Just sit back and enjoy the ride!! Best of luck to you and God Speed!!

Thank You John. Great advice. I appreciate you.

Lisa said:

My point with her learning to drive a stick is only so that she would be less nervous when learning to drive a big rig.

Lisa,

More than half (perhaps as many as 75%) of my classmates never drove used a manual transmission before. I think that most of them learned to operate the big truck faster than I did, simply because they did not have to unlearn any techniques they knew from driving cars or pickup trucks with manual transmissions.

The best thing to do to remain calm or avoid being nervous is to remember this:

Your instructors know what they are doing. Students that came before you have already made all the same mistakes that you will, so your instructors know how to deal with them. All you have to do is trust your instructors; listen to them and do what they tell you, when they tell you to do it.

I saw my classmates struggle the most when they failed to listen to our instructors. Some even tried to negotiate with them to explain their errors. You don't need to do that... Everything that you need to know and everything that you need to learn, they can and will teach you.

I was not born a truck driver. I had no a priori skills for operating the truck or maneuvering a combination vehicle. I watched, listened, and learned from my instructors - that's how I passed my exams and obtained my class A CDL.

Danielle, I leave for prime this weekend. I spoke to my recruiter about traing with sims as I've read and watched the same videos. They will place you with a male or female trainer its up to you. If you prefer female trainers you may have to wait until ones available. I also found out they were sued for their policy of not placing trainee females with males if no female trainers were available. I don't care which one I get. But we shall know when I get there. I've also checked into male trainers their of course getting paid to train you but they're professional in how they treat you. If there was a complaint of sexual misconduct they act immediately.

Lisa I meant to say the simulator is the only practice you get. Sorry I just reread my comment. You simulate to learn and that's the only practice you get. meaning no real training in the trucks only on the simulator and then you're on the road driving. I didn't understand that. Well let me know how it goes. I wish you the best of luck and many miles. Stay focused.

Danielle, I leave for prime this weekend. I spoke to my recruiter about traing with sims as I've read and watched the same videos. They will place you with a male or female trainer its up to you. If you prefer female trainers you may have to wait until ones available. I also found out they were sued for their policy of not placing trainee females with males if no female trainers were available. I don't care which one I get. But we shall know when I get there. I've also checked into male trainers their of course getting paid to train you but they're professional in how they treat you. If there was a complaint of sexual misconduct they act immediately.

Danielle...yes you will have three or four class sessions with the simulator which will help a lot when it comes to shifting and backing. With that said, we also got the opportunity to go to the "pad" (a rather large concreted area much like a parking lot) where we drove a bobtail truck (a semi with no trailer attached...sorry if I'm being a little too elementary in my descriptions...just don't want to assume anything...lol) around. Plus, at the pad we also got the opportunity to practice straight line backing with the trailer attached...all of this under the watchful eyes of patient trainers. The pad is a closed off area where there is no public access or traffic. That practice coupled with the simulator will give you a great "running start" at driving a big rig. They may look big and scary, but they really aren't that hard to drive...honestly. As for the male vs female trainer, as was previously mentioned, you'll have the opportunity to request either. It is my understanding that, due to the fewer female trainers availability, Prime has what they call a "local PSD" program that is based out of their terminal , where you don't actually go out on the road with a trainer, instead you stay at the Campus Inn and train there. You still go out driving on the road, but are back at the Inn each night/day. I believe many of the female recruits that could not be matched up with female trainers as per their request, were placed in this program. I hope this helps. One more thing...everyone here WANTS you to be successful and will go out of their way to help. Don't stress too much about...trust the process and yourself and before you know it, you'll be a Professional Truck Driver!

Bobby, Thank you for clarifying primes training. They out of all of the companies seem to really care. And I like their training practices. My husband drove for a couple of companies and he was miserable. Of course there are ppl who gripe but this is a career not a job. You have to put the time in if you want to be a good driver. I'm excited and scared but I'm going to do exactly what they tell me to.

Thanks Robby :) I appreciate your advice you give me courage and hope! I cant wait to actually start driving and learning about life OTR. I don't really have an issue with a male trainer I just want to drive. lol Show me what I need to do and get me out on the road please. Im sure Ill pick everything up . Ill update you guys as soon as I can I planned on going to a technical college and getting a head start since prime participates in tuition reimbursement. Starting 01/2017 I plan to have all paperwork and documents ready to enroll but then I just said prime will pay me to train. So I'm still undecided. But ill definitely continue to post in the forum and I would appreciate if you ladies do the same for new drivers or for people like me changing careers and interested in trucking. You ladies & gents have made me understand so much more than I did at first and definitely encouraged me tremendously. I appreciate ya! :)

Danielle...yes you will have three or four class sessions with the simulator which will help a lot when it comes to shifting and backing. With that said, we also got the opportunity to go to the "pad" (a rather large concreted area much like a parking lot) where we drove a bobtail truck (a semi with no trailer attached...sorry if I'm being a little too elementary in my descriptions...just don't want to assume anything...lol) around. Plus, at the pad we also got the opportunity to practice straight line backing with the trailer attached...all of this under the watchful eyes of patient trainers. The pad is a closed off area where there is no public access or traffic. That practice coupled with the simulator will give you a great "running start" at driving a big rig. They may look big and scary, but they really aren't that hard to drive...honestly. As for the male vs female trainer, as was previously mentioned, you'll have the opportunity to request either. It is my understanding that, due to the fewer female trainers availability, Prime has what they call a "local PSD" program that is based out of their terminal , where you don't actually go out on the road with a trainer, instead you stay at the Campus Inn and train there. You still go out driving on the road, but are back at the Inn each night/day. I believe many of the female recruits that could not be matched up with female trainers as per their request, were placed in this program. I hope this helps. One more thing...everyone here WANTS you to be successful and will go out of their way to help. Don't stress too much about...trust the process and yourself and before you know it, you'll be a Professional Truck Driver!

I've never been mistaken for normal, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt! I feel like having experience with manual transmission 4 wheelers actually helped me catch on quicker than anybody else in my class. Think about it, shift points sound the same, shift pattern is the same (just remember to move the button), the only thing I had to do was remember to double clutch going up and rev the engine while downshifting.

I say that on this thread for 2 reasons:

1.) I don't understand how it hinders someone who has experience with a stick from catching on faster.

2.) If you are starting school soon and have never used a stick shift, don't worry about it. Listen to your instructors. I would NOT recommend you going out and have someone train you on a stick right before school, that I can see giving some problems!

All that said, good luck and keep us informed!

Here's a weird question... if you have to un-learn your habits as a manual driver to drive truck, how badly do you mess up your car on home time?

My Little Jack is a 5-speed manual transmission, I hope decades of driving it will keep it second nature! lmao