My journey with Jim Palmer Trucking

Totally planned on it Jay. Thanks

 

Latest update.

Arrived in Missoula Mon morning, having completed 28k miles in C and B seat in 5 weeks. We arrived not knowing if I was getting off for solo week or continuing, and he had a pre plan.

My trainer spent 2 hours or so in the yard having me do various backing maneuvers multiple times. This was more time spent on helping me improve than in the previous 5 weeks combined. I immediately saw improvement.

Late afternoon we had a meeting with training staff and I'll continue with trainer for a little bit. They said they could call on me at anytime to pickup a truck needing a home or returned to Missoula, but focus on backing and trip planning.

So that's what I've done the last few days. It's Thursday morning and parked waiting for consigned to open, trainer in sleeper. They opened and I asked sleepy and he said go ahead and dock. He never got out of bed and I got it fine. Not a hard one but at least signs of confidence.

I also did some written trip planning with atlas, and to my surprise trainer loaded up same locations for fuel and driving swaps. He didn't believe I had them also and I had to show him in my notes.

The last few days he's been very cool and actually agreed with me a couple times on my general trip plans.

I think I'll be ready, not ####y or even "good". But "able" and capable of doing the job when they call me up for solo week.

 

Overdue for an update.

My B-seat training with a trainer is over! On our last day, we had a split load to drop from the same shipper. Trainer told me the entire day was on me. I'd drive, dock, unload, etc. Just like solo. Except that we were on a semi tight schedule with not a lot of time to spare getting to 2nd vender. Up jumps the squash on that hour. I arrived at

Got to drop #1 @7am for a 0830 appointment and they tell us they won't take us till 9am, and we can't park. So we headed to an abandoned kmart and parked. Arriving back at vendor 5 minutes before directed time, only to find two trucks unloading ahead of us. Not only that, it's hand/forklift unloading with no docks. Fiberglass showers and tubs, with only two employees unloading. Every item has to be inspected for flaws, or dmg as well. Long story short, it put us about 15 mins past drop dead time for 2nd stop. They won't pay overtime to unload. It took 3 calls to them over a 5 hr period giving updates to get a little leeway. Arrived 10 minutes late and they took us. We assisted in the unload also.

On to Missoula yard and getting the hell off this truck! It's not fun living with someone you don't know, hate their music and politics, in such a tiny space for basically 6 weeks. We had our moments, to be expected really. Farewell and a handshake, and I drove my car (parked in a locked driver's lot) to the hotel, where my reservation was waiting.

Next post will update the transition to solo week. I'm on a 10 hr on day 3.5 of solo week.

 

I tend to think each case is it's own. In my case, I was leaving my apartment and had nowhere to park the car for extended months. It's been very convenient for me so far. Freedom to go anywhere for dinner beyond one blah spot and McDonald's within walking distance to hotel. Plus trips to Walmart or wherever for supplies before hitting the road makes it easier.

That being said, if you take home time with the truck, your car could be 1000 miles away at the yard.

Decide what's best for you.

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