Profile For Tater

Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!!

Knight in Indy gave a handout on the pretrip as well. It was also Indiana state specific or at least we were told as much. We were also told to learn it word for word. No adlibbing, no changing it around. I later found out from several students who PASSED that thats not true. What you DO have to do is hit at least two "descriptors" for each item. In other words say you're talking about the alternator. You should provide at least two descriptors like "properly mounted and secured" and "wires not cut damaged or frayed" "belt tension no more than 3/4in." You get the idea. Just make sure you know what to point out and how to describe it. The order you do it does not matter, the adjectives or descriptors you use, does not matter. One thing that will help is you are there looking right at the truck so if you just look and talk about what you see, that will help guide you. I mean the dipstick, the alternator, the gearbox pitman arm etc etc are all right there staring back at you. If it it mounted, say it should be tight. If it has liquid in it, say it should have no leaks, it it can crack or break say its not cracked damaged or leaking. Just look around. You have time, use it.

Tater

Pepper, hang in there sounds like you are right there in the edge. It will click!! I also grind when downshifting and it irritates me to death. I mean I have drove everything BUT a semi and thought I would get it but nope!! I talked to alot of seasoned drivers and they all say the same thing. No one starts out shifting smoothly right away!! I admire your stick-to-it-ness!!

Tater

Just finished up the first week of CDL school at TDI in Milton, fl.

Have my permit and we started doing straight line backing on Friday. Next week, we should start on alley docking and learning shifting as well. Might even be able to hit the road.

Looking forward to passing and getting my license and then being able to get to working again.

If I may, how much is the tuition and do they offer any assistance?

Wednesday Day 3 - So this day started out with a shock. I was told I could temporaily change my license to Indiana, do my training here and test for the CDL here. Then I only needed to visit a West Virginia DMV and have my Indiana CDL transferred to a WV CDL. Okayyyyyyy. What they didnt tell me at least at first was that I need to take an Indiana state driving written exam. Not the CDL but the standard driving test. THEN I also had to take Gen Knowledge, Air Brakes and Combo ALL OVER AGAIN!! My WV cdl permit was NOT transferable. WHAT?? Why the hell did I NEED to get my WV permit BEFORE coming to class if it does me NO good whatsoever?? I was, well..........****ED OFF!! After calming down I went to the DMV and of course I FAILED the Indiana state exam......Gggrrrrrrr. So back to the training pad and more offset backing practice. After lunch however yet another trainer asked me if I wanted to get some driving practice in. I was only too eager to do this!! So just the two of us went to another section of the huge parking lot and he began showing me shifting, double clutching and how to listen to the RPM's. Upshifting, no problem. Dowhshifting Whoa boy!! That one got me at first. I still was grinding a bit but I was shifting. So out on the road we went. I was driving a big rig for the first time!! WHOO HOO!!!! Wednesday ended on a good note!!

Thursday Day 4 - So today I went back to DMV and took the darn Indiana state written test again. PASSED!! Yeah!! So I went on to the Gen Knowledge Test.......Failed...........Dammit!! So I was on my way back to the training site when I got a call I was not expecting. This is going to seem sudden but in a swift turn of events I ended up driving home. Yes I went back home. I have something going on here that required my attention and there was nothing I could do about it. So I called my recruiter (Before I left Indy of course) and told her what was going on and she said it was not a problem, if I needed to be home then return next week I could absolutely do that. Whew!! What a whirlwind week this has been.

All I can tell you right now is I am waiting for some news that will determine what I do as far as returning to training or not. I know, crazy right? Hang with me folks I will fill you all in as soon as I can. It will all make sense!!

Tater

Tuesday Day 2 - So today we went right into pretrip practice again. It was ALOT colder this morning and I did not dress for it. I thought I was going to freeze my nads off! After about an hour of pretrip practice we were back in the truck doing more straight line backing. My trainer said I was ready to try offset backing and I was up to the task. So he explained the best he could and I gave it a shot. Well I got it in there but it was NOT pretty!! I mean it took some finagling and I used two pullups before I was successful. I kept at it though and it got a little easier. Still not super confident but better. The other two guys needed to practice more straight line backing and so they did that for about an hour and a half while I stood there freezing again watching them. When I finally got back in the truck I tried another offset and failed miserably at it. The lead instructor saw this and came over. He asked me how I was doing and I said that I WAS doing good but not so much now. He assured me I just needed a couple pointers and he got it. Now then, this guy explained things TOTALLY different than the other trainer and using his methods I was able to throw that trailer in there first shot with NO pull up!! Fantastic I thought!! I was really happy and did it a couple more times for a total of 5 tries. Three of the five I used a pull up, the other two I did not need one!! The rest of the day was spent watching the other two in my group do more straight line.....sigh...The trainers told me they were probably going to move me up tomorrow so I could practice with the two week students. Cool.

So thats the end of day two, more tomorrow!!

So I have been ROTTEN at keeping this updated. So darn busy I just didnt seem to find the time. Its been a hell of a week and lots of things have transpired so Ill get right into it.

Got to Indy on Sunday, checked into the hotel (nasty hotel) and decided to check out the Indianapolis Speedway since I was only 5 miles away. Turned out to be a good decision and I had a great time!!

Monday Day 1- Got to the training site and they divided us off into groups by how long we have been here so I was grouped with the only other two new arrivals. It was just the three of us in my group. Great!! We watched a few more movies on human trafficking, driving while drunk and some other safety things then got into the pre-trip inspection list. This was a three page list they gave us and said "learn it word for word, do not add your own spin and do not ad lib". Oooookay then!!

We were told we probably wouldnt be in a truck till late Tues or Wed morning maybe. I was disappointed to hear that. We worked on pretrip and a couple other things until lunch which was at 11:30 to 12:30 a full hour. When we returned one of the instructors asked me if I have ever driven a truck, I replied not a semi no and he said "well lets go then!" No better time than the present right? We got in and after showing me a couple pertinent things I fired that mutha up! He said I was going to do a straight line back first. He explained the ball room dancing method of turning your head to look at your mirrors. It was left mirror 1,2,3 right mirror 1,2,3 and so on. The idea being you are constantly watching both mirrors and not depending on just one side. Well this clicked with me and I had no trouble at all backing up about 300 ft in a perfect straight line. I did have experience with trailers so this wasnt a new concept to me just longer.

The other two guys in my group werent so quick and I spent the better part of the afternoon watching them kill orange cones. This got really boring really fast. About an hour later a new trainer showed up and my trainer left my group and the new guy took over. Didnt care for that, I would have preferred to have stayed with one but not my choice soooooo....

That was the end of day one. So far so good actually and I was really impressed with the knowledge and professionalism of the instructors. These guys are REAL drivers. They dont just play one on TV!

The other groups all went about their business practicing, parallel, offset and 90 deg alley dock. More tomorrow!!

Good luck Barbara and keep us posted on your progress!!

Tater

Thanks for the review , I was looking for a refresher course at this company or kllm. I heard that Prime doesn't have a truck for you unless you lease one, I'm still researching.

Check out Knight Transportation, they have a refresher course. I just went through orientation with 5 guys who were in it. They will all get a trainer for a min of 4 weeks and more if they need it. They make $400/week flat rate while in training no matter the miles or breakdowns etc. Then you will be issued your own truck and can choose between dry van or refer. Not sure where you live but here is the info for a great recruiter in Ohio.

Jackie Fondriest Knight Transportation Columbus, OH Recruiter Phone: (614)-308-4958 jaclyn.fondriest@knighttrans.com

Hope this helps!!

Tater

My last night in Ohio for a while. Tomorrow I head to Indy to start Squire training with Knight Transportation. Cant wait to get in a truck and get going man its killing me sitting here all weekend!! Wish me luck!!

Tater