Well everyone wish me luck. Training at Jim Palmer

bigtssa · Oct 16, 2018

BlueThunderr said: ↑

Is it true that once you get your CDL that you have to go out with a trainer driving for 30,000 miles ? That seems a little on the high side.
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Yes. 10k miles (about) as D seat which is just permit
10k as c-seat
20k as b- seat

Mine took about a month and a half

Edit to add thats total miles between you and your trainer

BlueThunderr · Nov 3, 2018

Kodiakkodak said: ↑

Haven't had the chance to look them up but certainly will. So far day one down. I drove in Saturday and have been hanging in the hotel since. Really like the small class, just 5 without CDL and 1 with already. Already good people and all the drivers I've seen at the terminal have been very nice. The trainers are cool as well and I really like that the head of training, Shannon, is also the head of safety. It is a small looking op with a lot of open doors and I appreciate that.
The other recruits have all been nice as well.
Did dot physical and pee test today, and seems I passed both.
Hotel is fine. Next to a truck stop so easy to get food and with my windows open I guess getting used to the sounds I'll be sleeping with in the near fitire.
On the yard they only have peterbuilts and man they are pretty email inside especially as I'm 6'. I don't mind to much but I can see how one would want to get out often.
All the trucks are super singles an all the reefer are from prime. I still don't exactly get how all that works but I guess I will in time.
It is a very accelerated program. If all goes well tomorrow with my cdp test then I may well be driving tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday. So it's really on you to learn your stuff.
Everyone is personal and most seem to have been drivers before, well maybe not dispatch, but sadety and trainers which is nice.
Also most certainly a family affair, as far as the higher ups. I seen to like that but, honestly, dunno. I do feel like more of a person and less of just a number especially with only 200 some odd rigs in the fleet.
But so far so good and I'm all little intimated to be driving that much vehicle but at the same time not really super stressed yet.
I'll update as time and sleep schedules permit In case anyone else ever comes along looking for info.
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You mean the Peterbuilts are pretty small inside ? Are you able to lay fully across the bed ?and can you stand fully inside them ? How is everything going so far ?

Kodiakkodak · Nov 3, 2018

I can sends and lay find just not as tall as the freightliners is all. And the top bunk in them where I'm currently living is smaller than I'd like. You can only really lay on it. In the freights I've seen you can sit up

crazyrob79 · Nov 7, 2018

tscottme said: ↑

JPT has a driver Ellie O'daire that posts a lot of YouTube videos about the daily job. Of course their past YT star was Allie Knight. She had tons of videos. Some people didn't care for her high pitched voice but she had some great road videos.
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I hear Allie is going back into trucking

Eowyn · Nov 7, 2018

Good luck!

Kodiakkodak · Nov 7, 2018

Thanks all. Haven't much updated as been a little busy grinding gears and cursing about hills. But on the road with my trainer, who is awesome, and did and 2500 molde myself driving. Been from Utah to Colorado to Texas and then to Washington. Currently on the way back to Utah with a load heading to New York in the end .I kinda wish I could drive it myself. Supposedly next load takes us to cali and then Kansas. We shall see. So far so good. Haven't had any major issies yet areas from getting going from a stop but getting better at that as the days go. So far only one person has honked at me so I guess that's good.

BlueThunderr · Nov 9, 2018

Kodiakkodak said: ↑

Thanks all. Haven't much updated as been a little busy grinding gears and cursing about hills. But on the road with my trainer, who is awesome, and did and 2500 molde myself driving. Been from Utah to Colorado to Texas and then to Washington. Currently on the way back to Utah with a load heading to New York in the end .I kinda wish I could drive it myself. Supposedly next load takes us to cali and then Kansas. We shall see. So far so good. Haven't had any major issies yet areas from getting going from a stop but getting better at that as the days go. So far only one person has honked at me so I guess that's good.
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What's the deal with time waiting at shippers ? Do you get paid for time waiting ?Is it tough to get paid for time waiting ? How often are you waiting to drop and pick up loads ? Seems like in the reefer business you wait around a lot...I heard Jim Palmer does it on a "case by case" basis ? Seems like you may not get paid for time waiting or if you do it is difficult ?

tscottme · Nov 9, 2018

BlueThunderr said: ↑

What's the deal with time waiting at shippers ? Do you get paid for time waiting ?Is it tough to get paid for time waiting ? How often are you waiting to drop and pick up loads ? Seems like in the reefer business you wait around a lot...I heard Jim Palmer does it on a "case by case" basis ? Seems like you may not get paid for time waiting or if you do it is difficult ?
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I don't know JPT policy about detention, but most companies only start paying detention after you are waiting over 2 hours. And some big customers have a "no detention" contract. I believe Walmart loads don't pay detention. So when trucking companies say they pay detention what it means to the driver is "we'll pay you IF the customer pays us."

At the company I work for I earn about half as much waiting as I make driving.

BlueThunderr · Nov 28, 2018

Kodiakkodak said: ↑

Thanks all. Haven't much updated as been a little busy grinding gears and cursing about hills. But on the road with my trainer, who is awesome, and did and 2500 molde myself driving. Been from Utah to Colorado to Texas and then to Washington. Currently on the way back to Utah with a load heading to New York in the end .I kinda wish I could drive it myself. Supposedly next load takes us to cali and then Kansas. We shall see. So far so good. Haven't had any major issies yet areas from getting going from a stop but getting better at that as the days go. So far only one person has honked at me so I guess that's good.
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How's everything going out there ? Got any updates for us ?

meterman1976 · Dec 18, 2018

hey, hows everything been going on the road for you?

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