Anyone Have Any Last Words Of Wizdom?
Topic 3632 | Page 1
Hi Kenny - I saw that this is your first post, welcome!
As a current student in CDL school, my first and foremost suggestion is this: High Road Training Program.
Study, study, and then study some more. You have some time before you leave, so take advantage of that. The pace is pretty fast at Prime from what I hear. You'll be a lot less stressed if you don't have to cram for your permit when you get there. I have no knowledge as to whether you should get your permit ahead of time or not. Check w/ your recruiter or another member here. There's LOTS of Prime drivers on this forum. Seems like everybody is going to Prime right now. They should call it Trucking Truth - A Meeting Place for Prime Drivers. And Prime should start giving Brett a company referral bonus, even though he doesn't work for them. 
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.
Only one word.... RELAX
Don't get frustrated in the truck. If one of the passengers in the truck are distracting you.... Duct Tape!
Forget everything you know about driving except that we drive on the right side of the road and red means stop. And when cornering remember SWIFT (Swing Wide It's a F&*(^%$ Trailer)
Welcome aboard Kenny!
Definitely stick with the High Road Training Program. You're going to be thrilled to death that you know that stuff so well when you show up there. It's a heck of a struggle if you show up unprepared.
Also, make sure you get your CDL permit before you go unless Prime tells you specifically not to for whatever reason. But for quite a long time now, anyone that shows up at Prime with their permit in hand gets started on other things while the rest of the class has to study the materials and go take their permit test. I wouldn't worry about a passport but it's a good idea to have one anyhow. Either way is fine.
And don't worry about the DOT physical. They'll give you one when you get there. Now your state may require you to get a physical before you can get your permit. Some states do, others don't. If so you can get a DOT physical for about $60-$100 or you can just wait til you get to Prime.
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.
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.
Agreed, wait on the physical. Even if you get one right now they'll still make you take the physical on day 1. They want all their recruits to have to go through their system.
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Im scheduled to ship out for training with Prime Inc on June 1st. Any of you guys and gals (rookies or veterans) of prime have any last minute advice that could make my time in training easier? Im going to be getting my learners before I leave so I know that will help. Will it also help if I get a DOT physical and a passport too before attending? Any useful advice will be greatly appreciated.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.