Phew. Here I go! At 40 years old, I turned my entire life upside down. Left Montana for North Carolina, got my CDL permit with all endorsements except HazMat (oops. Going to retest that tomorrow.)
I will be starting orientation in Pittston on April 19th, and am a tiny bit apprehensive about it. I appreciate all the information everyone has put forth, and the time and effort it takes to moderate a community!
Glad to hear you are GOING FOR IT, Naomi !!!
If you haven't already, check out Kearsey's posts on this forum, and her YouTube channel. She covers EVERYTHING! Wish you well, girl. Hope to join the ranks of 'driver' myself next year when my youngest graduates. Just hangin' on the hubby's bootstrings for the last 20 gets tedious, Lol!
Here's a link to her channel: Truckin' Along with Kearsey
There's not many a topic she DOESN'T cover, and she's good at replying to comments there, as well!
Best of luck, m'lady!!! Start a diary, in the 'Diaries' section, if you feel so inspired; we'd LOVE it!!!! Thanks!
~ Anne ~
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Howdy!
Where in Montana did you live? The husband worked on cattle ranches in Sand Springs, Melstone, Ekalaka where two Traumatic Brain Injuries sidelined him permanently. In 2008, we moved to south central Idaho to be closer to one of his daughters and the other two when they came to visit. He died Sept 9, 2014 and I have been driving since.
Laura
Howdy!
Where in Montana did you live? The husband worked on cattle ranches in Sand Springs, Melstone, Ekalaka where two Traumatic Brain Injuries sidelined him permanently. In 2008, we moved to south central Idaho to be closer to one of his daughters and the other two when they came to visit. He died Sept 9, 2014 and I have been driving since.
Laura
Laura, I am so sorry for your loss. He may have run across my uncle in his cattle hauling career with Dennis Berger.
I was born and raised in Missoula, have family all over the state. Unfortunately, I was stuck in a dead end career, commuting 2 hours each day, and never getting ahead. My son left the nest, and I was left wondering why I was still fighting staying in MT. I looked into trucking, and was in the process of getting out of my apartment, and getting my permit, when I had to have ankle surgery, and scotched back my plans another 6 months.
I kept getting offered flatbed positions, which was awesome, but coming from the Workman's Comp side of things, and handling the adjusting of more than a few flatbed claims, I knew it wasn't right for me. Derek at Prime told me "if you can change DL and Permit to another state, re-apply."
Fast forward to a REALLY BAD DAY™ in the Work Comp world, I called up my friend, did some math, and put my notice in. 33 days later, I was on the road to NC. I haven't been here a full month yet, and I have already established residence, and been set for orientation. My friend thought she would have more time with me just hanging around, but nope. Onto working the plan!
Thanks Anne. 😆 she is my cheerleader
I just left Pittston yesterday morning. I have been negligent here and on my channel.lately. truth is after teaming or training for over a year and a half im.just tired. I need some time off
But with that said...I came to prime at 41. I did it. You can do it.
Thanks Anne. 😆 she is my cheerleader
I just left Pittston yesterday morning. I have been negligent here and on my channel.lately. truth is after teaming or training for over a year and a half im.just tired. I need some time off
But with that said...I came to prime at 41. I did it. You can do it.
Always, btw! Kearsey ! ;)
Update time!
As of Thursday May 6th, I passed my pre-trip, backing, and road test, all in one go. PSD was rough, and I was with a "pad trainer" so it wasn't much one on one, and very few loads hauled, but all in all, it was a great experience. I managed to trifecta it, which I was skeptical that I could. (Multiple students went down over parallel parking 😳 ) I scored perfect on pre trip, didn't touch a line or cone during straight line, offset left, and parallel left. Perfect score there too. I picked up a total of 7 error points on the road test (31 is fail.) Mostly turning off my signal too early. I am now in TnT training, day 2. So far so good. We are going from Eastern NC to near Salt Lake City. I think I'm getting the hang of it, but seriously need more backing practice. Some memorable quotes are: Uhhhh so we need to work on real world backing. Someone certainly taught you how to turn right corners! (Thank you Carbondale PA for being the nasty SOB that you are, and my evil PSD trainer for making me go through with the tandems all the way back!) Um, I'm thinking we don't need the full week of just you driving. You are maintaining lanes better than I do, and you haven't slacked on mirror checking at all.....
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
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.
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.
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.
Update time!
As of Thursday May 6th, I passed my pre-trip, backing, and road test, all in one go. PSD was rough, and I was with a "pad trainer" so it wasn't much one on one, and very few loads hauled, but all in all, it was a great experience. I managed to trifecta it, which I was skeptical that I could. (Multiple students went down over parallel parking 😳 ) I scored perfect on pre trip, didn't touch a line or cone during straight line, offset left, and parallel left. Perfect score there too. I picked up a total of 7 error points on the road test (31 is fail.) Mostly turning off my signal too early. I am now in TnT training, day 2. So far so good. We are going from Eastern NC to near Salt Lake City. I think I'm getting the hang of it, but seriously need more backing practice. Some memorable quotes are: Uhhhh so we need to work on real world backing. Someone certainly taught you how to turn right corners! (Thank you Carbondale PA for being the nasty SOB that you are, and my evil PSD trainer for making me go through with the tandems all the way back!) Um, I'm thinking we don't need the full week of just you driving. You are maintaining lanes better than I do, and you haven't slacked on mirror checking at all.....
Congrats, NaeNae~!!
I'm following~!!!!
~ Anne ~
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
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.
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.
Sorry for being MIA. I am currently in Springfield, awaiting my very own truck. It's been a heck of a ride. My TNT guy has nicknamed me the vulgar version of "Poo Magnet." When it was all said and done, 40k TNT miles, 2.5 weeks of hometime, zero accidents, three (short) shop times, one phonecall over a false "critical event" and one super nauseating trip in the simulator turned into a live road test for upgrade.
I am terrified, excited, nervous, tired, and I think I'm ready.
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.
Sorry for being MIA. I am currently in Springfield, awaiting my very own truck. It's been a heck of a ride. My TNT guy has nicknamed me the vulgar version of "Poo Magnet." When it was all said and done, 40k TNT miles, 2.5 weeks of hometime, zero accidents, three (short) shop times, one phonecall over a false "critical event" and one super nauseating trip in the simulator turned into a live road test for upgrade.
I am terrified, excited, nervous, tired, and I think I'm ready.
Wooohhoooooo!!
Congrats, you!!!
Did you have the pleasure to meet our own 'Kearsey?' She's quite the 'star girl' of Prime & Trucking Truth:
REAL Women in Trucking ~ Kearsey!
You should bounce her an email, if not: truckingalongfun@gmail.com & perhaps y'all could meet up!!!
I'll be looking forward to 'truck pix' when you're assigned, lol....
CONGRATS!
~ Anne ~
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.
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Phew. Here I go! At 40 years old, I turned my entire life upside down. Left Montana for North Carolina, got my CDL permit with all endorsements except HazMat (oops. Going to retest that tomorrow.)
I will be starting orientation in Pittston on April 19th, and am a tiny bit apprehensive about it. I appreciate all the information everyone has put forth, and the time and effort it takes to moderate a community!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations