Profile For Jeremiah W.

Next up was combination test and again, not what I have been studying (failed). Prime requires tanker endorsement so I take the test and you guessed it, missed it by one (awesome). I go back out to the lobby and see a random Missouri CDL manual laying on the table. I grab it and take it with me back to the room. At this point it's about 5pm and I start cramming and reading and highlighting and taking notes. The next morning (Wednesday) the highway patrol would be giving the test on paper at the campus inn at 8:45. We attend roll call at 8:30 and then we're over a couple rooms where the instruction is giving on what is about to take place at testing. After waiting about an hour in line, I'm next. I give them birth certificate, drivers license and yesterday's print out from the DMV, he hands me the air brakes test, I find a seat and get started on the 20 question test. 15 minutes later, I received a 95 on that test. He asks if I'm ready for combination, I say yes, he gives me the test, I go back to the same seat. 15 minutes later I received a 91 on the test (80 passes). He then asks if I'm ready for tanker so I grab the test, head back to this lucky chair and score another 95. I take all of my documentation down to the DMV and pay my $32.50 and have my class A CDL permit. The others had to wait until 1pm for the shuttle to take them down their. The rest of the day was to kill until around 4 when we went into the sim lab where we took a series of 7 tests/practice situations on Wally's simulators. We finished this around 6 and we're done for today. Tomorrow morning we are in the orientation room for roll call and an insurance class, those who still need to get their permit will be off to the DMV to test again (they give you 8 tries). I will keep you all posted on how the rest plays out but so far so good as long as you stay focused and remember why you're here. I've noticed a lot of folks like to talk, a lot!!

I'm currently in day 3 of prime orientation for company sponsored CDL training. I elected to drive my own vehicle from South Carolina all the way out to Springfield, Missouri. I got here about 10 Sunday night and got checked in (elected to get my own room). They gave me a map of the campus inn, orientation schedule, and an application packet to be filled out that night. I finished that around 12 and had to be in class at 7am the next morning (Monday). I arrive in class around 6:45 and wait. They went through a program review, etc. After this the nurses office comes in and tells us about the drug test and physical that will be done within the next few hours. We are all taken to the nurses office where we wait, wait and wait to pee in a cup for the nurse. After this we have blood pressure, height, weight, eyesight, pulse and BMI checked. After this is complete we wait for the doctor to take us into the exam room one by one. Off with shoes, socks and shirt (ladies keeps shirts on). We have to have reflexes checked, bend both knees and take a step, then pull down your drawers, turn your head and cough. After all of this you go into the office at the campus inn where all of this is taken place and meet with the office folks for your final interview and get your temporary badge. In between all of this you can go to the 'cafe' for lunch and use your breakfast/lunch/dinner card that they give you to get something to eat. That pretty much sums up Monday. Tuesday we are to go down to the DMV and take our permit test (boy was I in for a suprise). We had roll call at 8am and for those who didn't finish medical or interviews had to get that completed before doing anything else. Have to have temporary med card and temporary residency along with drivers license and birth certificate or passport to take the permit test. Them the folks who rode a bus here got to wait until 1pm to catch the shuttle to the DMV to test, me, I hopped into my car and rode over to test. I get there, they get me set up and I start general knowledge, no problem, I passed. Next was air brakes and BOOM, nothing I studied! I failed miserably. (BTW you can test twice per test)