Prime PSD Training, From A Trainer's Perspective.

Yup, I told him all of that. He's aware. It's his decision now. You know how them 21 yr olds are.

My good friend and former student Wiseman called me. He's the one who came from Ghana. He just called to say hello, and to update me on his progress. Of course he's still in TNT and plugging along nicely. As luck would have it, he scored a TNT trainer who was also from West Africa. Although from different countries, they speak the same tribal dialect, share the same culture, eat the same food, etc., so it's made his 2nd phase of training a somewhat easier process. I'm glad for that.

Anyway, he's still showing the same drive for success that I witnessed when he was with me. It's rare to see such pure desire anymore. I'm proud to have helped in on has way.

I know this will sound sappy, but it did my heart good to hear from him. We've texted a couple times before, but this was the first phone call, and the added context put the conversation in a whole new personal light.

There's maybe a side to us trainers that most don't see. The side where we genuinely care about the future of the student. So far, I've kept weekly contact by text with them all, and hope to continue.

Awesome that you shared this.

I will say this:

It's been very refreshing having my wife back on the truck with me. She's my best friend, and I've missed our daily interactions and adventures.

The increase in available free time is welcome also. There isn't a lot of downtime when I'm with a student, as I use those moments as an opportunity to teach or practice something with the students. If we're not driving or practicing, we're sleeping.

Wanting to keep myself in practice, I told my wife she should work on pre-trip and backing skills when we stop every day. She isn't buying it....

If you've ever seen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, you will remember Del Griffith's Motto: "Like your job, love your wife."

Great to hear a driver with a positive and balanced attitude.

In reference to the other thread, let me know if you rent a motorcycle from Eagle Rider.

And as always, would love to meet you, and the wife, if you make it through St. Louis. I'll bring mine, although she will look for you to talk me OUT of becoming a truck driver.

Not much has changed of late. My wife is still on the truck with me as we're winding down our anniversary trip/ working vacation. It's been absolutely incredible, more than I hoped for. But alas, we'll be home by Friday, and she'll be staying home when I return to work.

I won't be picking up another student immediately, however. Instead, I'll run solo until my next planned time off in early Sept. By then our new on-site training / testing facility will be completed, making it less of a hassle to get a student through the PSD program. Currently we're using an off site facility, and scheduling the practice and test time is difficult at best.

I'm contemplating taking a student from PSD all the way through TNT when I resume training. It's just something I want to try on and see if it fits. I won't know what it's like until I try. Again, if I hate it, I just won't do it anymore. Admittedly, the thought of team driving again isn't exactly appealing. But the satisfaction of seeing a student all the way through might overcome that. I don't know, we'll see.

It's also entirely possible that I'll change my mind by then, and just stick with PSD. Who knows?

Anyhoo, on to the main reason I'm posting this update:

My first student James completed his TNT a couple weeks ago, and was just given keys to his truck, a brand new 2020 Freightliner! He actually picked up his first solo load yesterday afternoon, a SAPA load from Spanish Fork heading to Denver.

I feel like the father you guys keep talking about, watching my boy move out into the big world, all grown up. He set the bar high, and I couldn't be more proud. What's especially gratifying is the fact that he calls/texts me regularly with updates and questions. It lets me feel like I made an impact.

That is all. Carry on.

That's great!

Question Turtle accepted to prime want to Flatbed. Packet recruiter sent says tanker and flatbed experienced only. Is this currently true? Do I have to pull refer 1 yr first.

That doesn't sound right. Two of my recent students applied for flatbed with no experience. Both were accepted. I'd have to see that literature.

Https://driveforprime.com/orientation/

Under Flatbed and Tanker bootcamp says experienced drivers only - check with recruiter. Ask her she said accepting for Flatbed. Not sure if boot camp different. I might be reading wrong.