New to Prime INC - What to expect (Springfield edition)

We are heading back too sprimo so he test on Monday. So I'll be getting rid of him for sure, lol.

 

While you are training a student with an instructional permit, is the instructor supposed to be in the right hand seat doing instruction? At any time, is the student driving and the trainer sleeping in the back? Just asking because if I am under a permit for 4-5 wks, and something happens while the trainer is asleep......... well, you see where I'm going.......

I want a trainer who will train, teach, & answer questions (and I have allot), not get pi**ed-off if I ask a question .and stay in the sleeper while I drive... Now after I get the cdl, I can sort of see that happening I suppose, and we are more of a "team" truck, driving 24/7.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also.... about the 11/14/70 logbook thing... what is the "70" part? (I get the 11/14 part)

 

Yes to do have a lot of questions but that's a good thing.

During the PSD phase while you only have a permit the instructor is suppose to be sitting in the jump seat at all times and awake.

If the trainer is getting upset with your questions they shouldn't be a trainer at all. Now if it's the same question that you have asked 50 times already, then there might be an issue but they still shouldn't get upset. Before you get on a trainers truck you should interview them just like they are interviewing you to see if you'll be a good fit. You'll be in the PSD phase for 2-3 weeks once you get a trainer. You want to make sure it's one you can work with.

If something happens while you are driving it does go in your record. If your PSD trainer is sleeping in the back you need to pull the truck over to the safest place and call Prime and let them know asap. That is driving illegally.

The 70 is the total on-duty time you can log in a rolling 8 day period. Once that clock goes to 0, you can't drive until you either get a 34hr reset or you get reclaimed hours back from day 9, also called recap hours. What that basically means is your total on-duty time you had 8 days ago will get added back to your 70hr clock at midnight.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks RedOctober...

I only ask because I was an Oil & Gas industry Safety Rep/Trainer/Rescue Tech. I truly appreciated those students who asked questions, and even those who asked the same questions repeatedly... it told me that they were trying to do the right thing and get it right. It told me they had a desire to learn, and would be safe on the job...

I assume during the TnT phase, the truck will be rolling almost 24 hrs... one sleeps the other drives... right?

 

First off, during PSD you will be with a CDL instructor, and if the student is driving the instructor is required by law to be in the right seat. During TnT, you may stay with your instructor or go out with a TnT trainer. Some folks just do the PSD portion.

At this point you'd have taken your road test, and would be a CDL licensed driver. You're legal to drive on your own, but that doesn't mean that you will at first. Your trainer will have to be satisfied with your skill level before you start running as a team truck, and there will be situations when he/she will be actively supervising your driving from the right seat.

It was quite awhile before my trainer turned me loose in big city traffic on my own, and winter driving was another. You get your first shot at it on a rural interstate with very little traffic most likely.

 

Thanks ironpony... that answers my question completely.

 

One more quick question about the tractors.....

Being that it is winter, I assume that you are allowed to run a heater of some sort while you are sleeping/on down time... Do you idle the engine all night? or run an APU? Where is the apu located, and does it make allot of noise IN the sleeper? Not that it is a big deal, just curious...

Also... when you do finnally get your own truck, does it come with curtains for the widows?

 

You run the APU, comes with a bunk heater, you'll get used to the noise- its not like its a jet engine, and there are curtains.

 

Actually it's 70 hours in 8 days unless you reset. And you can run recap on the hours that drop off. You never have to take a reset if you don't want to...
You can work more hours with a reset but
there was life before the stupid reset rule the dot/megas keep fighting about...