Who Knew To Check Trailer Registration!
Topic 23968 | Page 1
OMG! Your trainer needs some training. 
Hey Stephanie, I had a trainer like that too. I told him his brake shoes were getting thin on the front wheels and he wanted me to show him where they were so he could keep an eye on them! He didn't have a clue about so many things.
This has been a nightmare. But I have learned a lot. I just can't wait to get back to the terminal to learn backing this thing up. About 4 days left to go. My trainer informed me that I can't upgrade untill she says I am ready, she has already reported all my "problems" to the fleet manager. So I guess untill she goes on home time for the holiday (Dec 15) I can't upgrade.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
How did you get through it? Did he hold you hostage as well?
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
My trainer showed me the registration and sticker. Also the plate number for the trailer is on the registration. That way you can make sure you have the right one. You are also supposed to check your permit book on your pretrip. If you look in the front pages of your Rand McNally road atlas there is a list of what to check on your pretrip. Also, you probably got CSA points and not points on your license. Those drop off after 3 clean years or passing a highest level DOT inspection. Good luck.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
My trainer does not have a Random McNally Atlas. You can bet your patootie I am going to get one, though. Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate all the advice I can get.
How did you get through it? Did he hold you hostage as well?
Hey Stephanie, here's an article about how to handle your time with a not so great trainer. I went through this and it didn't hurt my trucking career. You want to take the right approach and realize this time is useful even if it's frustrating. Not all trainers are equal, but even a poor trainer can help you get where you want to be.
What Should I Expect To Learn From My Trainer?
I wasn't held hostage. I think that's a new strategy being practiced by these desperate lease operators. If it comes to the point where you've done the necessary miles, and your trainer won't get you in to upgrade, let us know and we can help you get it done.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I finally figured out how to get what I need from her by figuring out what she needed from me. So we came up with an agreement. I will stay on her truck till she goes home for the holiday for 2 weeks on Dec 15 (which is what she wants). So I am now dropping this load in PA and I am 300 miles past my 30,000 tNT miles. We will pick up a load and drop it in IL, then pick up a load and take it to Springfield terminal. We will then work on backing exclusively for 2 days and then get a short solo load for me to run by myself so she can make sure I can do it. Then she will let me upgrade and go home. Ten more days won't kill me, I think!!! And hopefully I can get from her what I need to know.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Buy yourself a present for getting off her truck...
A Rand McNally Trucker’s Atlas. Purchase the 2018 version, it will be cheaper. Walmart sells them..,way too expensive at a TS.
Good luck and Be Safe.
That sounds like a good plan Stephanie. I like it. You're going to love being solo. It will be stressful at first, but you'll be doing good after a few short weeks. It will feel like you're starting over, but you will learn so much. Congratulations for getting those training miles knocked out - you did good girl!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Prime Inc Company Trainers On The Road In Training Pre-trip inspection (PTI) Reports From CDL Training Trailers
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Ok, no one, including my trainer knew that you should include checking the trailer registration in the tube on the trailer. Got stopped at a weigh station and thoroughly checked out. First, I had no idea it was even there, then I pulled it out after waking my trainer up. The inspection report was from 2016. My trainer insisted we call road assistance instead of the fleet manager , which I said we should, but I am the trainee, so I go with it. Road assistance has no copy or record of it. I get a violation with points on my license, but no ticket. We call the fleet manager and he asked why we didn't show them the sticker on the side of the trailer? Trainer says, "there's a sticker?". She calls the weigh station and asks if that would have worked instead of the paperwork. They say yes. I call Citations at Prime and get reamed for not knowing that checking the trailer paperwork is part of the inspection when you pick one up. At this point I have a complete meltdown and let my trainer have it. I was devastated to get points on my license when I didn't have to had I been trained correctly. Lesson learned. So everyone, here's your heads up!!!!
Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated