Prime CDL Training

Don’t look forward to the bus 😂 it’s the worst part of the entire experience.

As for the pre-trip the only real “secret” is memorizing the terms

Properly secured not cracked bent or broken.. for just about everything no abrasions bulges or cuts and not leaking.. etc

Once you have those terms it’s about going over one part of the truck at a time and being about to point and identify the parts - get one section burned into your mind at a time and eventually the entire truck will flow. Go over it every day.

The only big piece of advice I can give you is if you have a laptop - take it and use it at campus to do your CBT’s on, you can relax and kick up your feet in your room while mostly everyone else is stuffed into the no food or drinks computer lab. The cbts often come up early as well.. check the portal on your way in, check Sunday, I had all my CBTs done before the end of the day Monday Best thing you can do Tuesday is get on the 1st shuttle to the dmv .. even better if you have the finances to do so Uber there and back. Being ahead of the line is critical, everyone will take the elevator.. take the stairs. I was back 90 minutes earlier than anyone else from the DMV first because I Uber’s with a permit all CBTs done at 10:30am Tuesday, allowing me to just focus on simmlab and pretrip for the rest of the week.

Good advice on the CBT's. Some even did them in their rooms on their smart phones. I'd already had them did and done by the time I had I had discovered this option.

They said to bring two weeks of clothing. I found that by doing so I had way over packed. The trainer I'm with runs hard. We've been either running, waiting at a supplier or receiver, or sleeping (ANY Opportunity you have? You should be either studying or sleeping. NEVER pass up an opportunity to sleep. You don't want to build up a sleep debt)

Not a whole lot of time to stop and eat. We got showers about every two days. The rest of the time, cleaned up with wipes and such.

If you smoke, stock up at the gas station across from the inn. They're $11 + a pack in some of the North East

Wide turns and mirrors will become your best friend!! The first time you sit in the passenger watch your mirrors and the tires of the trailer when your trainer makes WIDE turns. Nor a whole lot of room back there, even though it seems like it when your in the truck.

Meal cards, they'll give you a meal card to eat at the cafeteria 3 x a day. $5.75 for breakfast, $7.25 for lunch.

Doesn't sound like much, but it was adequate. My point is to use ALL of it! (The staff will even ask you, and guide you on it) if nothing else? Get some fruit or a candy bar or a Danish to take back to your room for a snack later.

Once you get Badged, you catch the shuttle to the Millieum building, where the selection is better.

There's a microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker in each room. Wash clothes, towels, hand towels and a fresh bath mat is provided fresh daily along with small samplers of some, shampoo, and rinse. There's also coffee in filters, creamer, and sugar packets and stirrers provided in each room. There's also an ice bucket in each room, with an ice dispensing machine down the hall. (Free, works with the ice buckets or individual cups and mugs)

There's washing machines and dryers down the hall on the first floor. $1.50 per load each. Recommend you wait until you get there and pick up some detergent pods at Wal-Mart (Really just a stroll up the street, be fired warned though they close at 12 midnight)

I didn't stock up too much on groceries, and what I did turned out to be too much, and I had plenty left over. Then again I'm a retired Marine, so it doesn't take much to make me a happy camper.

When packing, think "Single item, muti purpose " In other words, a single item that serves multiple purposes.

One item I ended up buying was a $5 compact folding umbrella. Not because of just rain, (Again being a retired Marine. Doesn't bother me getting wet) because of the sun beating down on you on the 12 acre pad. You can stand on the grass in the shade of the trees some to observe or wait to get on one of the trucks. WHATEVER you do? Don't sit down on the grass, the chiggers will eat you alive!! I won't even stand on the grass because of em

I'll post more as I think of it or comes to mind.

Well I’m not really looking forward to the bus but it’s part of it so...

I’m starting to hear ‘properly secured not cracked bent or broken’ in my sleep. 😜

I will keep in mind your advice about the CBTs and the DMV. Any advance information is always appreciated.

Thanks!

Get plenty of sleep and rest before getting on the bus. Virtially IMPOSSIBLE to sleel while on the bus! Also eat a big meal just prior to getting on. Take some snacks, but keep your carry on to a minimum, otherwise you'll have to put it between your legs and be even more cramped then you already are. Have a large cup or mug to keep hydrated.

I overhead some of the guys talking about getting to the DMV other than the shuttle.

Uber $6 Bus (No.#5, but double check) $1.50 Taxi $12 to $20

All one way

Dan, that’s some really good, practical information.

If all goes as planned I will be leaving here on the 18th around 2300 and getting to Springfield around 2220 on the 19th, with a 5 hour layover in Columbus. I’ll never understand why they will take me north to go west. lol The last time I flew to Toronto the flight went to Atlanta, 8 hours south of me, then headed north. Yes, I know they have their reasons but, oh well, I’ll get to sightsee as much as possible in the dark.

I’ve heard it’s better to take a duffle bag instead of a suitcase because a duffle bag can be squished into smaller spaces. Regardless, I will probably use one of my son’s duffle bags that he used while he was deployed to Iraq...if he still has them. And I have a backpack for carry on.

I’d rather not take my laptop at first. You say I can do the CBTs on my iPad? I think that would work better for me.

I’m trying to quit smoking so I have my vape, a box of coils, two sets of rechargeable batteries and charger, juice, etc. I think I’m good there.

Please let me know if anything else comes to mind.

Thanks!

Answer ONLY the ones your 100% sure of. The ones your unsure of? You can hit the skip button, they'll come back around when you completed as much as you can. However, once you've reached 80%, it moves to the next module.

Hi Kim, I just want to reinforce what Dan said here. Many people fail the permit tests because they give too many wrong answers before reaching the easy ones. The system is setup to auto fail you once you have too many wrong answers. So like Dan said, skip the ones you are unsure of and move on to the easy ones. It'll come back to the hard ones again. However, it only allows you one skip per question. So when the question comes back again, you must answer it. With the HRTP it'll be a cakewalk though.

It sounds like you're doing your homework, so you shouldn't have any trouble at all. Good luck and welcome to Prime!

Thank you, Turtle! Yes, I am doing my homework, lots of it. As a matter of fact I am taking a break from writing down the PTI steps and language...again. I learn best by doing but if I can’t do that then the next best is to write it down. It makes it stick better.

I’m sure there will be questions that I will have to skip. Going through the High Road program there are still a few that I stumble on...is it 3/4 inch or 1 inch. That button controls what? I’ll get it though.

Thanks again and be safe!

The iPad should prove more than adequate for the Carl's.

You can't smoke nor vap on the bus

I wouldn't recommend a military duffle bag. I went with a 33"Coleman with handle and rollers, with a deep side pocket, and an9thrr to the front and a zippered bottom. $33 @ Wal-Mart.

I wouldn't bring but one towel and wash cloth. They'll provide them at the Campus Inn and when you shower at the truck stop

Had I to do over again, I'd brought one weeks if clothing , but TWO weeks of underwear and socks.

Your going to need a cheap back pack for going to and from the showers ($5 plus tax at Wal-Mart) some shower shoes (.98 cents at Wal-Mart, just for showering not for walking)

Yeah, I won’t be doing either on the bus. But I have a 5 hour layover in Columbus and a couple 1 hour layovers on the way so I will be prepared. 😁

What you bring with you? You sleep with in your bunk.

I bought two small travel pillows + a throw and travel pillow (for use on the bus). Ended up stuffing all three into a regular sized pillow case. Works just fine.

Bought a warm weather sleeping bag for adults with slip case for $8 worked just fine