Going "Prime"time

Only had one place tarp a load for me. American Gypsum in .... Gypsum. I can tarp better than that...

 

If the load needs tarped, Id much rather just do it myself also.

 

Thats my philosophy lol Like... Um.... The tarping King n Prince. HAHAHAHAHA

 

I hate tarping, but would rather do it myself. Just like securing the load. they put the straps on. I dont want anyone messing with my load. Im responsible for that load til its dropped at the customer.

 

Well... One year ago today I became an official Prime employee. I began orientation on May 17th 2011. On June 23rd, I passed my tests and received my CDL becoming an official member of the Prime family. I now have finished my one year commitment and am free n clear. Its been a long journey since then. A couple days after earning my CDL I left with my trainer to begin TNT. I completed TNT phase on September 20th 2011. In that span I learned a great deal. Had some great experiences, and some not so good. Getting lost in Oakland being one of them. Coming up on an accident in Montana that just recently happend certainly tops that list. Getting caught in LA rush hour traffic on side streets wasnt much fun neither. The training did prepare me for the responsibility of running a truck solo. I spent over 50,000 miles with my trainer learning the ropes. Granted, not everything transfered over since I was on a reefer truck. So far Prime has been good to me. Everything I was promised has happened. Not always as I wanted it to happen, but it did happen. When I needed to get to the house, I got there. Was it always when I wanted to be there, no, but I got there.
Once TNT was finished I went back to Springfield for upgrade. While I was there I went up and spoke to the head of flatbed dispatch. Expressed to him my desire to switch from reefer to flatbed. That Saturday I was leaving the yard on a flatbed truck for 30 days of securement training. Scared the crap out of me learning the responsibilty that goes along with flatbedding. Unlike a van, our loads are just sitting on the trailer. I have the responsibility of ensuring said loads STAY on the trailer. Learning to meneuver a spread axle was also intersting to say the least. They are not the same as a trailer with tandems. Once my trainer felt I was ready for my own truck we headed back to the yard so I could finish my upgrade.
After completing my securement and Smith system classes, I was ready for my own truck. What a feeling when leasing handed me the keys to my own truck. After all the work, I was finally an "A" seat qualified driver. No longer a trainee, but a driver. It took a lot of work before Prime felt comfortable enough to allow me to run one of their trucks. Ive had some bumps in the road since being handed my keys. Truck issues, weather, roads, shippers, receivers... Now I have to deal with all these myself. My FM and R/A helps, but I have to do my part. No longer is it up to the other person on the truck, cause there is no one else. Im in charge of the truck now. So many times during training I thought about quitting. Lost faith that I could handle running one of these trucks a few times. But I kept my eyes on the prize and listened to those who offered sound advice. Now I sit in my truck.

 

He would be if he could drive... Hes still working on control.... lol Thanks!! Been a long road.