ask your questions about prime inc here

Ok... one for Sazook.

But we get to take that one back if ya throw in the towel without convincing U2 to come over to the "dark side!"

 

FYI I am going in for my test in a few days. We were told that the MODOT folks monitor the testing much more often then a few times a year it was more like every couple of weeks. The Feds come by a few times a year. MODOT and Prime take it very seriously. but I am just a PSD repeating what I heard when they said not to worry if the state person is in the bunk seat as they are evaling the tester not me and to be prepared for it as it happens often like ever few weeks.

This is not like some of the private schools or company where you drive the eval couse over and over for two weeks then get your CDL. In my training to this point I have driven mountains, rain, back roads, fuel islands, shippers/receivers, construction, loaded heavy, empty, interstate, night, day. No snow in Aug but if there were I'd learn that too. I've had scales, Ag inspections, tight turns. I could go on but suffice it to say that by driving real freight in real situations I should have no issue driving a course with an examiner by my side no matter the road. I also should be prepared to get in a truck with a trainer/mentor for 30K and fine tune the skills and gain the experience. In my opinion this is how one should get their CDL. Did we do some closed course first? Yes the same as I did with my son teaching him to drive. Once it was clear that I could start stop shift and control then we took a load out and drove it.

My Instructor is great about allowing me to drive and taking over when it would not be safe as a new experience. Like the road near Vail. He demo'd it for me then let me take the less aggressive mountains. Or for instance we got to one Walmart DC and it was slow and I did the backing. The next DC was slammed and He did it. Now i know how to handle both situations. If the TS is not jammed up I back. Move to another spot and back. Repeat until we need to leave or it gets dangerous due to so. Can I do the alley dock as laid out on the pad? I don't know we haven't tried that but I can back the trailer from various setups and get it in the hole. That is the skill I need as there are no cones in the real world only trailers, tractors and angry truckers. LOL

One TS when I got done practicing a couple of drivers from other companies were inside and asked if I was a student. I was ready for them to tease me but they were respectful and said it was great to see a company that taught skills in the real world. I know I rambled but on a 34 with nothing to do.

 

It sounds exactly how my training went. Unfortunatly you are not going to see every situation... be it customer, on the road, or in the truckstop...

That would be impossible, unless you never leave your trainer... However, it sounds like he is giving you a good foundation and will probably continue to do so.

By the time you are done and on your own, you will be able to make sound decisions yourself, or have to tools to contact individuls in the company to guide you through whatever problem you might face... be it safety, claims, payroll, Road Assist, your trainer... and your #1 guy, the Fleet Manager.

 

FYI I am going in for my test in a few days. We were told that the MODOT folks monitor the testing much more often then a few times a year it was more like every couple of weeks. The Feds come by a few times a year. MODOT and Prime take it very seriously. but I am just a PSD repeating what I heard when they said not to worry if the state person is in the bunk seat as they are evaling the tester not me and to be prepared for it as it happens often like ever few weeks.

This is not like some of the private schools or company where you drive the eval couse over and over for two weeks then get your CDL. In my training to this point I have driven mountains, rain, back roads, fuel islands, shippers/receivers, construction, loaded heavy, empty, interstate, night, day. No snow in Aug but if there were I'd learn that too. I've had scales, Ag inspections, tight turns. I could go on but suffice it to say that by driving real freight in real situations I should have no issue driving a course with an examiner by my side no matter the road. I also should be prepared to get in a truck with a trainer/mentor for 30K and fine tune the skills and gain the experience. In my opinion this is how one should get their CDL. Did we do some closed course first? Yes the same as I did with my son teaching him to drive. Once it was clear that I could start stop shift and control then we took a load out and drove it.

My Instructor is great about allowing me to drive and taking over when it would not be safe as a new experience. Like the road near Vail. He demo'd it for me then let me take the less aggressive mountains. Or for instance we got to one Walmart DC and it was slow and I did the backing. The next DC was slammed and He did it. Now i know how to handle both situations. If the TS is not jammed up I back. Move to another spot and back. Repeat until we need to leave or it gets dangerous due to so. Can I do the alley dock as laid out on the pad? I don't know we haven't tried that but I can back the trailer from various setups and get it in the hole. That is the skill I need as there are no cones in the real world only trailers, tractors and angry truckers. LOL

One TS when I got done practicing a couple of drivers from other companies were inside and asked if I was a student. I was ready for them to tease me but they were respectful and said it was great to see a company that taught skills in the real world. I know I rambled but on a 34 with nothing to do.

 

Not sure why that double posted.

That is the point I was trying to make thanks for the help. I almost paid for a CDL school but was leary of only being taught the test. I know I will never stop learning but the things my instructor is showing me is how to put myself in a good situation and stay out of a bad one. Even about walking around TS lots at night.

We had to sleep at a rest area on I10 in TX for a few hours. Before we went to sleep he even took the time to mention the snakes and scorpions if I had to wet a tire in the middle of the night. Sure enough the scorpions were there poor fella never got rained on like that before

BTW I came here with some good knowlege from reading yours and IP and Sazzoks posts here. Thanks again for your sharing.

 

Good luck on the tests man! Let me know how it goes, you got my number. Hard for me to get on out on the road.

 

The MoDOT auditors have to audit 1 in every 10 tests we do if I'm remembering the numbers correctly. That usually means they are out there at least 1 day a week.

 

Ive seen them out there atleast once a week.... Sometimes more

 

Remember when people thought you and Ironpony where recruiters in disguise? Now there will be rumors that you own stock in the Leasing company !!!!!!!!!! Hope all is going well & Take Care!!!

 

Really??? Well, dang! I should be rich any minute now!!