Thinking of prime

Excellent summary. Thanks for writing it. One question: Prime's school says that after training, a new driver can expect 4-6 months with a trainer before going solo. What do they mean by that?

 

And MICH, just so you know, here's the deal on surrendering your Michigan Operator's License in Missouri. When you return, you will not have to take more tests for it since you did not surrender it more than four years ago. That was a concern I had and getting that answer from the SOS was like pulling teeth. You will, however, pay for the CDL transfer and you have to take any other tests you want beyond the CDL...hazmat, for example...as well as paying for them. I added a long email answer in a previous post back a couple of pages or so.

Michigan still wants your money.

 

You will be with a trainer for a minimum of 30,000 miles. Usually running around 5,000/week.

During this time you guys run 'team', as in one person sleeps while the other drives.

You can stay longer with a trainer if you or he feels you should, or if you wish to stay with him through winter.

 

There's nothing about a chauffeur's license. From the SOS:

Thank you for using the Department of State's web site.

As long as you have taken the road skills test and received your full CDL and it is not a CDL permit, you will not need to take any written tests when you return to Michigan. You will be able to take the proof of this into your local Secretary of State branch office to obtain your full Michigan CDL license.

If they had only issued you the permit, you would need to take the CDL written tests, obtain a permit and then take a road test.

If you plan on adding more endorsements to your CDL license than what were issue, you will need to test for those endorsements. You do not need to take a standard driver license test since your license will not have been expired anywhere in the United States for more than four years.

You will need to bring the identification from the list I have provided a link to for your review since they are making you surrender your Michigan Driver License and issuing a License.

 

2-3 months is sure a lot different from 4-6 months. Good to know and it boosts Prime up the list a notch or two!

 

It used to be 60,000 miles. Hence why they said 4-6 months. They just recently reduced it.

 

I'm sure he is not the one who told you that you have to break something in the truck to get some downtime! lol How's your former student, now trainee/paduan doing out there with you? Since you are teaming, I am assuming he is out with you?

 

If they legalize it, I'm leaving too lol

 

Go to Prime. First week is a mix of orientation ending with working on Pretrip. When you get an instructor, you go out for 2 weeks minimum (75 hours driving minimum), usually come back and work on backing for a few days.

Test out to get CDL.

Then you team with a trainer for 30,000 miles (or more depending on what your trainer thinks).

Then you come back for another week of the same crap you watched during your first week. Then you get your truck.