My Story

Topic 28661 | Page 3

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Truckin Along With Kearse's Comment
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I agree with Donna. Hurry up and wait is trucking I was at the terminal 12 days before I went out with a trainer. Covid is making life difficult and prime is trying to arrange things for driver safety. Example... I am here in Sprimo and dropped an empty trailer at the yard. I am not allowed in because I took home time in NJ. So I cannot enter the terminal for two weeks. That means I had to call someone to arrange the trailer move.. he had to call a yard dog to move the trailer . And everything is in extra steps taking more time. Plus some trainers can't come back in to grab students.

He could have taken you bobtail for a bit or backing on the pad. But all trainers do it differently. I have set parameters for first loads out of the terminal I want for my students. Usually I get one that goes down US 65....a dreaded twisty hilly local road through lights and curves. Then we go through Memphis.... Then over Monteagle for the steep downgrade experience and finish it off driving Atlanta traffic. That is my preferred load. And I know what days I can grab that from the terminal.

It is also possible he came into town and needs to get his personal stuff done before heading out.... Tractor issues, laundry . Heck... I just broke my phone and spent 2 hours getting it replaced.

The law is that you cannot test until you have your permit for 14 days. It has nothing to do with sending you home

Keep going over the pretrip. If you are still here Sunday night let me know. Stephanie K and I are here and maybe we can go eat. I'm not allowed at the terminal... But there are lots of places here. She and I are teaming up and OMG my truck looks like a bomb hit it. And we didn't even add her stuff yet lol

Bobtail:

"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.

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.

Kj Bryant's Comment
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Lol My fault I read the 14 day thing wrong totally got worried fir nothing. He going to get me out on the pad this morning. Just i never drive a truxk wantes to get the butterflies over so I can manage on the road. For my sake lol and his. Ty for calming this country boy down. I really like this company so far.

40 Days's Comment
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Wow KJ been awhile since I’ve posted but you’re story caught my attention. Brought back memories good and bad and being on the road for a year forgot those training woes. I also had struggles with psd and it was stressful but looking back now Prime had my back and still does. I know the trailer problem as I’m on the market for an empty trailer myself in Oregon. I know it’s hard to do but Relax. I believe I’m the third primate to chime in here the other two helped me get through the anxiety and struggle. If you are currently wearing that prime badge you’re in good hands I promise. Enjoy the restroom and shower within a few feet from your bed you will miss these greatly. Soon you will leave and you will not even be the same person a month from now let alone a year. BTW Kearsey 65 then on to Atlanta your just mean lol. I don’t want to train so I guess I can’t talk. Best of luck KJ I will be following.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

PSD:

Prime Student Driver

Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.

The following is from Prime's website:

Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.

Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days

  • Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
  • Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
  • Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).

On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles

  • Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
  • Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
  • Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
Truckin Along With Kearse's Comment
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"BTW Kearsey 65 then on to Atlanta your just mean lol"

Lol lol. Yep. I get that out of the way early. But keep in mind I do TNT. I need to know they can handle all situations before I can sleep.

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.

PJ's Comment
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I was thinking that is plain mean to a brand new driver. I live in ga and avoid atlanta whenever possible, lol.

KJ don’t over think things. Sounds like your in great hands. As said in a month you will miss it. Things are always hurry up and wait. Welcome to trucking.

Kj Bryant's Comment
member avatar

Drive a seminfor the first time today. I did straight back and left and right offset. Trainer showed me a good set marker on the truck and trailer to hit the holes easy on offset. Did perfectish. He then took me to a industrial park where French's mustard is and have my drive around there taking turns and culd a sacs. I guess i was doing good he let me go over and over the route while he talked to his brother on the phone( im not sure if he was supposed to do that but everything was in a controlled environment) he a retired army vet,harley rider he barely had to repeat himself. I know first day but it started out great. More to come my fellow truckers.

PJ's Comment
member avatar

Military vet and rides a Harley!! Oh yeah he takes great pride in his work.. Keep up the good work!!

Kj Bryant's Comment
member avatar

Drove 250 some miles today down 60 east from Missouri. Trainer says if i keep doing good,he might have ne test early. All mu pretip good except in cab but he is going to go over that with me.

Anne A. (and sometimes To's Comment
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Military vet and rides a Harley!! Oh yeah he takes great pride in his work.. Keep up the good work!!

Heck yeah; isn't that protocol, PJ?

KJ, sounds awesome~!! Still following, and KUDOS~!! Don't forget, Daniel B.'s pretrip covers the in cab BETTER than any others~!! Right on HERE!

good-luck.gifgood-luck-2.gifgood-luck.gif

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

PackRat's Comment
member avatar

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

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.
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