The adventure begins

Discussion in 'Prime' started by dadischeap, Feb 13, 2014.

  1. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    Still waiting for PSD instructor, so been doing pretrip, pretrip and more pretrip. I'm hoping to get some more time on the simulator tomorrow. One thing I have noticed is there is no shortage of advise from people around here and much of it is incorrect. In many ways it reminds me of the military, but people that have been here one week longer think they know it all and are eager to share their "knowledge." I'm not sure if they are trying to help or want the recognition of knowing something. Maybe my thinking is incorrect, but unless it is said by an instructor, or is in writing take whatever is said with a grain of salt. I don't mind being corrected if I missed something on the pre-trip because I can confirm that, but I'm going to listen to some guy that's been here a week longer than than me on how to drive.
     
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  3. Chucktaylor

    Chucktaylor Road Train Member

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    get used to it. Those guy eventually get behind the wheel on their own.

    Im still laughing at the "3 year Prime driver" that told me I had to stop at every open Wyoming Port of Entry regardless if I got a green light on Pre-Pass. Told me I had to stop every time.

    Says Ive been lucky that I haven't been chased down by a trooper. I told him, really lucky, considering how often I cross back and forth in Wyoming.
     
  4. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    Met my instructor this afternoon. We'll spend four hours on the training pad in the morning to get the basics of shifting and backing then we are off to Oklahoma. Sounds like runs hard, which is a good thing, so I should have one heck of time the next couple weeks.
     
    thelastrebel and TNhellbilly Thank this.
  5. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    First run from Springmo to Walmart DC outside Tulsa, then empty 103 miles to a egg plant near Joplin that took 4 hours to load 5 pallets that is supposed to make it to harrisonville, mo by 2030. Preplanned trip from outside KC going to Target DC in Texas.
     
  6. YYZ

    YYZ Light Load Member

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    Congrats and good luck!
     
  7. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    The days fly by and run together out here. I think we went from outside KC to Denton,TX then took a load to Lubbock and now we are in Kansas on our way to Detroit.
     
  8. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    Things are going good. Currently getting unloaded in Detroit. Didn't get much driving time on the trip do to the weather conditions. We hit high winds and dust storms with an empty trailer in Texas and the snow/wind storm with a high value load majority do the way up here. We're hoping our next trip will be much more accommodating as far as weather goes to get my shifting down and confidence up. I want to get as much experience as I can out here before I go back for my testing and on to my TNT phase, but at the same time I understand Prime is a trucking company first and training second, so I don't want to jeopardize being late or the load itself.
     
  9. Highway101

    Highway101 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like your trainer is being smart, unfortunatley your driving time is suffering for it, but better to be safe than sorry. Do not go back to test untill you fill you are ready and make sure your trainer is getting you some backing time, while daily is best, sometimes its not possible. DO NOT fall for the , when we get back to Springfield you can back, line

    Good luck, have Fun and BE SAFE
     
  10. dadischeap

    dadischeap Bobtail Member

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    The journey continues... From Detroit, we got a load to PA, but had to drive 120 miles west empty to pick up the load. From PA we had a preplan for MA and then back to NY to goto Chicago. During my pre-trip to pickup the load in NY I noticed the coolant was really low, but didn't seem to be cracked, bent or broken (had to put that in there). About 10 miles down I-90, the check engine light came on and the engine died about 2 minutes later. We coasted to the side of the road popped the hood and coolant was low again, so we put was coolant we had left in, but still couldn't see where it was leaking from. Fast forward about 20 miles and the same thing. We were out of coolant, so we put a gallon of water in. Ran fine for about 20 miles then started again, but we were able to keep it moving by restarting it while we were still moving and it would go a couple more minutes before dying. We finally got to a service plaza just inside NY and added another gallon of water, this time we noticed that the water was coming out the bottom of the radiator almost as fast as we were putting it in. We asked road assist if we could take it to the TA in Fultonville, but they directed us to a freighliner dealer in Albany, but they said they didn't have room for our trailer and couldn't get us in until maybe tomorrow afternoon, but it could be until Monday. So road assist suggested the TA in Fultonville of all places. We make it to Fultonville around 10:30 and it will only be two hours to get us in. They get us in and sure enough it needs a new radiator. They say they have one upstairs that will work and we'll be back on the road in about six hours and still be able to pickup our load to Chicago. The radiator they have is for a 2012 Cascadia, we have a 2013 which has a rock guard on the bottom and Prime says it has to be the exact replacement, so even though the radiator they have will fit, they can't use it. So TA sends the estimate for the repair to road assist, so we take another nap parked in the shop waiting for the response and since we have until 2359 to pickup our load and Chicago doesn't deliver until Saturday, we can still make it. At 1630, one of the mechanics comes and asks us to move because they still had not gotten a response authorizing the repair and at that point the part wouldn't be in until tomorrow morning at the earliest. So now we're sitting here in the TA parking lot waiting. What is a real bummer is that since my instructor drove this morning, I will get a reset, but because of the new HOS requiring two 1-5's he won't get one unless we stay here another night. I know this is part of trucking so not upset at all, just bored. I splurged $5 for some slow wi-fi to alleviate some of that boredom.
     
  11. Highway101

    Highway101 Road Train Member

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    Fallon, Nevada
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    Oh don't feel bad, I had RA hold me up for 2 hours once over a disagreement with TA for a 4.99 Valve Stem, once I found out what the hold up was I paid the measly 4.99 and went on my way. Later contacted my FM and he agreed it was BS, and put the 4.99 on my check LOL. Welcome to Prime RA.
     
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