Profile For Michael D.

Today was my test day. Got the trifecta. Just left dmv with my cdl a licence. Missed 1 item on pretrip. Zero points on backing. Drove like **** on driving test. First light I blew threw yellow and got all in my head and nervous. Hadn't drove that bad in weeks. Tomorrow starts my 30k tnt miles. First 1000 are back home for a week off to fish and .....

Awesome! I've been waiting for your update, haha. I got the trifecta a week ago. Missed two on pre-trip, you got me beat there. Spacing on the mud flaps, and indicator lights in-cab. Stupid, nervous mistakes.

It was pouring rain during my driving test. That, plus a terrible trailer with shotty brakes, made for quite the ride. Missed a couple things, like a gear coming up to a light, and something about how I should have moved to the right lane... Little stuff. Kept 'er 5 under the limit and slowed early to compensate for rain, instructor had great things to say. What a relief.

I spent three days at home near Springfield, started TnT with a trip to Minneapolis, and now I'm down in Los Angeles. It's been crazy.

I wasn't self-employed, but I was unable to obtain a W2. Prime accepted (actually required) transcripts from the IRS for a three-year period. I faxed them in without issue.

Sounds like you need to call and get a second opinion.

I've been in Springfield for a week now! You could have met the man who's material you've been reading! Haha. I'm still here if you are.

As a matter of fact we were in the same classroom today (East Conference Room) at 0630.

Congrats on passing sir!!

Thanks!

It would have been awesome to meet up, but I was either in my room hiding with my binder studying those small words like ripped, torn, worn, frayed, etc. or I was out on the pad backing up! I was a huge ball of stress.. Even in the conference room, I was sitting there fidgeting with my orange juice halfway in my own world thinking about the tricks and techniques to get my backing done smoothly. I was happy when my name popped up #2.

After testing, I went through the paperwork process - going to the DMV, applying for my TWIC card, getting my new badge... My wife showed up in time to bring me to the post office for my passport application so I didn't have to take the shuttle, and then head back to fill out my I9 (and get my free hat). After that, we skipped town! I live fairly close, so I got to come home to see my family for the weekend. I'll be back Monday morning though, for a very short time. I'll be throwing my stuff into my next trainer's truck and heading out for TnT.

By the way, I don't know how long it took you to put that pre-trip post together, but it is simply awesome. The video Prime has is a great resource, but it does miss a few things. The binder helped me fill in the gaps. Your post, though, was perfect for focusing on individual items I was having trouble remembering, or for studying the picture to understand how to recognize it on the truck. I'm not mechanically inclined, so that was a big deal for me.

I started utilizing this amazing resource to compare different CDL training companies. I read the honest reviews and lurked on the forums for insight.

I applied to Prime's PSD and immediately began going through The High Road material (twice). The result was passing my General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Tanker, and Combination tests the first time. I'll come back and use it again for Hazmat soon.

I continued to browse about the forums for insight into the company and industry, from the pre-trip walk thorough to the lightweight truck discussions, while out on the road for my first driving portion of training.

I came back to Springfield two days ago and spent some time practicing backing maneuvers on the pad. Today, I took my CDL exam, and got the "trifecta". My pre-trip was beautiful, only missing my indicators on the in-cab (silly, nervous mistake). I scored zero points on my backing with zero being the best score you could get, and my driving portion went very smoothly regardless of the absolute downpour I had to do it in. I got a few points, but it was minor stuff. The instructor said "I'm happy to say you are a good driver..." at the end of it, and I can't explain the enormous sense of relief I had that it was finally done, and done well.

Anyway, this material and you guys on the forums played a huge part in getting me her. A big, sincere THANK YOU!

I get to go home for a few days now, and then it's back out on the road on Monday.

Hope all is well, Ricky! My trainer and I have been in Texas since we left. Down in La Porte near the Gulf now after seeing Dallas twice, as well as Waco and Austin.

Driving through Houston was MY first city experience... Pretty dang intense, but now that we are sitting still I can say it was fun.

Good luck man, stay safe.

I'm with my trainer now hanging out at the terminal. First stop, Dallas. And I forgot to pack my swimming trunks...

That double clutchin took a minute to get the rhythm.

The simulators were open from 11-Midnight to practice, so I took advantage of that. I've officially double clutched myself sore...

I look forward to seeing how your experience compares with mine. I got to the Campus Inn about an hour and a half ago and just finished going though the paperwork.

Awesome. Sit by the door tomorrow morning and maybe you will have day like mine. When I left for my room at 4:30 there was still a good sized line for the doc. Good luck

Haha your day was much different than mine. Apex took about twenty minutes with the wait and all, then over to the drug test, where I waited for 45 minutes. The line for the nurse was another 20 minutes, and then another 20 minute wait to see the doc. After that, I took a couple of written CDL tests as I don't have my permit yet. I'm surprised at how many people came without studying - I used The High Road, and passed my Gen Knowledge and Combination first try. I'll do the rest tomorrow - I ran out of time due to having to be in the sim lab. I am group A, so I was done at 3:30.

After that, I made my way to the interview, which I didn't walk out of until 5pm due to the line - last one of the day, I believe. The interview itself was less than 5 minutes as I don't have anything on my records. I ate dinner, my only meal of the day, and did CBTs until about 7:30.

I don't envy group D, by the way...

Sorry to hijack your thread, just throwing out my contrasting experience. Lots of hurrying up to wait!

I look forward to seeing how your experience compares with mine. I got to the Campus Inn about an hour and a half ago and just finished going though the paperwork.

Tomorrow is my last day working for AT&T selling cell phones in a retail store. I've been doing this the last three years, but before I studied Aviation in Alaska. (None of this is even remotely close to trucking, haha).

I've never been so ready for a change in scenery. I'm heading to Prime on Tuesday the 26th, hoping it's the start of a lifelong career in the industry.