PAM Questions.

Hey brother, I'm going through the same quandry. I graduated from C1 Feb. 24th. Had a great time there. Met a lot of great folks. I'm going into this ....a lighter shade of green, if that makes sense, having turned wrenches at PTL and also at Wabash Trailers.

Getting picked up by my trainer on Wednesday. Seems like a cool guy from talking with him on the phone. He said he's been with PAM 15 yrs. I'll do my best to keep my "lucky trainer" thread updated as I go through the process.

What C1 school did you go through? Arkansas?

 

Don't worry, everyone was green once before. I'm a fairly dark shade of green myself and I'm anxious to be getting on the truck to start my new learning experiences.

I graduated from C1 Feb. 23rd in North Little Rock, AR. Met some cool people as well(including some instructors), got a few of their phone #'s and will try to keep in touch with them.

My trainer has been truckin for 19 years, so that made me feel a hell of a lot better... I was so worried I was going to get someone nearly as green as me for a trainer lol.

About a trainer sleeping in the sleeper berth while you're driving... you contact your fleet manager as soon as you can and inform them of the situation. It would definitely prolong you getting your training time in for your upgrade, but no way a rookie should be forced to deal with that.

Goodluck to you and your significant other. Be safe

 

Sometimes your trainer has to be in the sleeper while you're driving...and you'll be doing the same while he's driving. They will run you like a team if they can, especially if your trainer is pulling a reefer...you have just enough time plus 2 hours to run the load at 48mph, so you basically keep moving. And, starting next year, they(you) HAVE to be in the sleeper while not driving, or you will be required to log on duty not driving...

 

Due to HOS yes, sure, that is to be expected... but for training they(insert company here) still run you like team? Hmm, why am I not surprised.

 

It takes no more than a day to learn how to drive straight and change lanes. Then as a trainer it gets really boring watching trainees drive straight. I would never let a trainee drive over Donner without me watching. I know when the boring roads are coming up and when to take a nap. I really don't get much sleep behind a trainee.

 

Now thats what I'm talking about! Donner pass or any other beast of that nature would require me to pull over and make sure the trainer is ready for that ride.

 

Oh come on Rollin, ....where's your sense of adventure?

 

It really depends on the trainer. I no a trainer that will not run his truck as a team, tells dispatch that he is a trainer not a team truck, then there are other trainers, mine included, that run their truck like a team from the first day a trainnie gets on the truck. Just make sure that you ask questions about anything that you don't understand, and keep asking until you do understand. Make sure that you get some phone numbers at PAM that you can call if you have any problems with your trainer. Now that said, trucking is not easy, it can be very demanding on you. Your trainer may do things that you think aren't right, but you may find out that it is just part of the job. Most trainers want you to do well. They get bonuses the longer the trainnie stays with PAM and is accident free. So trainers do have a long term incentive to help you learn the ropes.