Prime: Orientation and Training?

So, what dose the road test on a simulator involve? is it emergny conditions or just regular driveing, how many chances do you get to "screw it up" so to speak?

 

I didn't have to take it being that I am a PSD, but I talked to alot of the guys that had to take it and they said it was easy.

They said it was like 10 minutes long of highway driving... you just have to make sure you use your signals and watch your speed and such... there are a few hazards... there is a couple of cars on the shoulder and also a flatbed on the shoulder that lost his load that you have to slow and get over to get around... don't hit anything or anyone and you should be fine. There is a low bridge at the very end... you have recognize the low bridge signs and, when you do, take the exit immediately after the signs. You have to get, I think, a score of 60 out of 100 or something. If you fail the first time, you get 3 chances to pass. I didn't hear of anyone not passing in three chances.

Hope this helps.

 

wow, that realy eases my mind, i graduated dec,2 and dident get a hole lot of drive time in school,and now a month later im worryed about bein rusty, do you know if there 9 or 10 or 13 speeds? the only one i have any time with is a freight with a 9 and a 500cat it was a blast! but on the other hand thats all i know.

 

Dude, totally don't even worry about the simulator...seriously. They got the simulators when I was doing my 60,000 and I had to do my upgrade test on it. First of all, they let you do a practice mode first to get used to it. My advice, don't double clutch, just float the gears. They don't care if you do that and it is much, much easier. You'll see what I mean.

I first used the simultor to do the Smith System. Basically, you are paired in groups of 4. One person drives, and the others critique your driving. When you're driving, you have to say out loud what you are seeing and what you are doing. There are various hazards such as a swerving car, a road closure, and accident, a pedestrian walking, etc. Easy as pie, and even kind of fun.

The upgrade test I had to do consisted of driving through some cones, making a turn, then doing a 45 degree back inbetween some cones. Again, don't even sweat this. It's so much easier than real life it's not even funny. You can "GOAL" by going to the main console and they will show you an overhead view of your truck in relation to the cones. Otherwise, just use your mirrors and keep the cones within sight.

I was nervous too, but it is really nothing to be worried about. Much easier than I thought it would be. A monkey could do it.

Oh, and it is a 10 speed. That shouldn't throw you off too much. Just look at the gear setup, do the practice mode, and you'll get it. Have fun! They don't like you to call it a "game" while you're there, but at times it certainly feels like one. They are pretty neat.

 

I did the simulator today. Never shifted a 10 speed and I told the guy that. He ran me thru the gears and told me I could run thru the practice mode as many times as I needed to get used to the simulator and shifting on it. The practice mode has kids coming out of nowhere, cars and trucks coming out of driveways and a car that blows up. Kind of fun.

The actual test was actually easier. Just stuff you'd normally see on the highway and the guy basically told me what they were looking for, stay within the lines and don't hit anything, including that bridge.

I don't know how many points the test was worth. I was only told missing 0 was perfect and you could miss up to 50 and still pass.

 

ok, im on the greyhound now, yea buses suck. i feel a lot better know that i know that stuff, iv got this.

 

See you in class tomorrow.

 

Yeah, the guy and gal (can't remember their names) that run the sim room are great. If you need or want help from them, just ask them. They are really helpful and personable too.

 

Just got the call this morning from Prime that my application was approved. I will start next Wednesday (Jan. 13) in Springfield. Looking forward to finally being back on the road. The recruiter told me that I would possibly be doing a live driving test since I've been off the road for 9 months. Anybody know what the road test consist of? I know some of you test on the simulator, any of you test on the road?

 

seillerj,

Taking a wild guess. You were the fairly young kid sitting in the TWIC office late in the day in the middle seat from the room divider.