TRIFECTA BABY!!
Topic 3937 | Page 1
"You know who you are"
I know you're not talking about me!
Great job my friend. I saw it coming a month ago! Really wish you didn't have the setback otherwise we would have been on the road together for sure.
I'll drink a cup of tea to celebrate your success as well as Randy's succuss!
Congrats! I look forward to reading more about your training as you move forward. Prime is a school I may apply to, but there is one much closer that sounds appealing too. Reading about yours and Randy's experiences is truly helpful and i look forward to reading more!
Contrats, that's great! And the extra cha-ching has to be good news for your instructor too!
Congrats Jopa
Congratulations... Way to make it... I'm looking forward to hopefully posting something similar here in a month or so. Currently I'm just trying to settle after my ride on the dog.
Ahbleza, I second what Daniel said about the pre-trip: they will give you a copy of the pre-trip info and it's about five pages long. MEMORIZE IT!! You will have lots of opportunity to practice the pre-trip during the PSD phase - use it. My instructor never did pre- or post-trip inspections himself and only quizzed me a couple of times. Make sure you memorize ALL of the info verbatim and don't change the verbiage as the exact wording will be VERY important on your CDL license test. Also, be prepared for a complete culture shock when you do go out on the road for your PSD gig. And be patient - be very patient. Resist the urge to complain about anything or "set things right" with your instructor. As I have read elsewhere and love to say now myself: "Suck it up!" Humility will be the best atitude to adopt as you WILL encounter situations that may discourage you. Interesting word, that: dis - courage; as in removing your courage. Don't let anything bother you very much but if it does, call a friend or relative who will let you vent. Don't allow tension to build between you and your instructor. That's the best advice I can give you. Good Luck,
Jopa
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.
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.
CONGRATS! Having that behind us is an awesome feeling. Well done!
I agree about the "sucking it up".........for the most part. There are some things that do NOT have to be tolerated because they are told to both the instructor and the student BEFORE going out. I will "suck it up" when it comes to the petty things that come with the territory, but I will not be grossly mistreated, I will not tolerate someone who does not bathe, and I will not tolerate unsafe driving practices that jeopardize my safety. However, I will NOT argue with the trainer. I will DISCUSS it and if it cannot be done so with mutual respect and maturity then I will contact my dispatcher and request to be put with a human being who honors that there is another human being involved that deserves theses fundamental things.
Being a trainee does NOT equate to being the trainer's door mat or servant. Respecting his rig and gig is one thing, but that does not mean we have to forfeit the basics, not any more than if I were reporting to any other job. Yes I need to abide by the rules and do my duties, but that does not open the door to my employer abusing my human rights. And as TNT trainees, we are as ASSET to that trucker. We make it possible for them to make MORE MONEY. They are an ASSET to us. We get the miles and added knowledge we need. It's a mutual business deal and should be treated as such between two mature adults. That's the way I'm moving forward with it and that will be discussed BEFORE we leave Prime, Inc.
Dispatcher:
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.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.
Jopa, congratulations!
I know you went through a trying time to get to this point - I kind of know what a struggle it can be for some of us to get into this trucking career. I'm so glad to hear you got that bonus money, because now you can afford to buy another jar of peanut butter that might hold you over until you can start making a real paycheck!
Seriously though, I know you had to hang in there to get this done, and you are really getting close to the final goal now. Hang in there, the worst might not be over yet, but you're getting real close to the goal. Again, my hat's off to ya, Congratulations!
Jopa, congratulations!
I know you went through a trying time to get to this point - I kind of know what a struggle it can be for some of us to get into this trucking career. I'm so glad to hear you got that bonus money, because now you can afford to buy another jar of peanut butter that might hold you over until you can start making a real paycheck!
Seriously though, I know you had to hang in there to get this done, and you are really getting close to the final goal now. Hang in there, the worst might not be over yet, but you're getting real close to the goal. Again, my hat's off to ya, Congratulations!
Thanks Old School . . . it means a lot coming from you and from Daniel as you are two of the first people I ever "connected" with on TT. There are a bunch of people on this forum and there is lots of good advice. I like the humble attitude and sage advice you always give. Anyone reading your posts should be aware that you have experience beyond your driving years (which make you a "cognoscente") that can be applied to life in general and should take everything you say very seriously . . . especially when you are teasing "the kid," Daniel . . .
Jopa
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For you non-Prime people, that's what they call passing all three segments of the CDL license test the first try. I get a $250 bonus and my instructor gets a $750 bonus . . . bottom line is I AM OFFICIALLY A TRUCK DRIVER as far as the state goes . . . now 40,000 miles in the TNT training program and I will REALLY be an official truck driver. Really and truly folks, this website had a WHOLE LOT TO DO with my success. Thank you to Brett and every person who took the time to chime in with advise. This is such a supportive place and it really goes a long way to making people successful. God Bless every one of you and I won't make a list because I'll forget someone. You know who you are
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.