Profile For Trucker Kearsey

At Prime it is just a matter of notifying our road assist dept. The trailer or truck would be out of service and not dispatched until we explain the situation

But also the law. You will find people talking about "deleted teucks" where the system is removed.

If caught it is a $10,000 a day fine, plus will cost that much to replace the system.

Just go company and forget buying a truck. If yiu know so little that you have to ask about the DEF, then you arent ready.

Every customer is different. you park, check in at a guard shack and ask or find a shipping office and they tell you. Always wear a safety vest or some will turn you away. Fill the reefer before you go in if u r reefer.

As far as your company, yes that is different prime has a slew of steps, and if u miss one there is an automated message that you get. Your dispatcher will explain when u upgrade and get assigned.

Time management is something that takes a year to learn. The HOS are confusing. And even in my team training, the understanding is limited because teams always have hours.

Try this video. I took great care in making it. It will help with HOS

HOS Explained

You said you ar e a teacher. I assume that means degree and certification real teacher. If you are expecting the same from a mentor, forget it. We are "trainers" which is different. Many get classes for a few hours to a week to reaffirm certain policies and expectations. So do not expect the same structure or planning you get from a teacher.no one will live up to your standarss or expectations if you compare the two.

I have been both a CDL Instructor and team trainer. Once someone has a CDL, the team training puts them in the driver's seat while I am sleeping and vice versa. Although I make it a point to be in the passenger seat for hours at a rime during my 10 hr break, many do not. So at my company, this phase of your training you would be mostly alone while gaining driving practice. Be glad you aren't on the truck with this person 24/7. It can be rough.

You need to be communicative. Tell him you appreciate his experience and want to do a good job but need to know his expectations. You know.when you are about to find a trailer cause you are bobtail, so stop and ask him "which one are we getting? Which space do you want?"

The mirror thing, just stop the truck and tell him you cannot see. I have been in his position myself and done this. It is his job to make sure you do not hit anything. Believe it or not, using mirrors is a skill and most students do not use them properly. I have stopped people from hitting cars, concrete barriers, road signs and signals.

The moving over for cars on shoulder... that is the law in some states. Merging.. i have heard trainers tell students not to slow down because people behind them may not be paying attention. A car rear ended a tractor trailer last year cause the 4 wheeler had been drinking AND texting while driving. When the truck slowed to allow a merge from a ramp, the 4 wheeler driver got killed. Guess who got blamed? The CDL driver always gets blamed.

One thing about merging is, yes, you have the right of way.... but it is easier for them to slow or speed up than you. And often when you slow down, they do as well... and even flashing lights to tell them to speed up doesnt help. So the car remains along the side of.your trailer and they run out of room. Just assume all drivers are morons and make the best of it.

No one feels confident going solo. No one understands backing this early in the game. It takes 6 months to click and 2 years for the fear to go away. Anyone who tells you differently is a liar. Get Out And Look. Backing is about angles and in general, men grasp this quicker. Look at it as a puzzle. If he yells, he yells.

Here's a question...do you think you could make mistakes, have an accident, be late, or waste fuel getting lost?

If you answer is yes.... the. Leasing isnt for.you yet. Cause all of.those things cost money and eat yiur profits.

You did not include in your calculations:

Company paid health insurance:

$8,000 a year

Worker comp: $8,000 a year

Employer 401k contribution:

$5,000.to $10,000 a year

That is $20,000 a year in benefits you wouldnt have as a lease op.

Also realize a cpm wont be taxed while on the road away from home. At prime it is 8cpm. Wilson could have a different amount. Its "per diem". Prime calls it "travel allowance".

Small mom & pops in NJ were just hit with a huge jump in insurance liability limits ergo premiums.

I'm from Gloucester County originally. My friends couldnt hire newbies before the jump due to high insurance.

Keep applying. Do u have felonies? Tickets? Accidents? There must be something

Animals can react differently too. Some get sick. One of my cats did not care. The other hid behind the refrigerator for a week. Some.get sick. My cat use to chew wires out of nerves.

I uses to rescue Damlatians. I love dogs. But personally it would drive me nuts to be exhausted and have the dog wake me to go out into -20 degree winter in WY. Or trying to park close to grass so the dog's paws dont get burnt on asphalt in 120 degree phoenix.

If the air or heat break, i can deal with it temporarily. I would feel guilty if my pet suffered. Prime will take the passenger seat out which allows more space. Not all companies will do that.

9 yrs.. never had issues.

You are also talking two different lease options. One is a lease.purchase and one is a rental with no money down and you never own.

The lease purchase you put $12,000+ as a down payment up front. Then at the end of the 3 years, you own it.

The 50cpm probably has bonuses added to it.

Wilson pulls prime freight and cannot haul our hazmat, high val or fedex loads. Which means their revenue is less than prime lease drivers on average.

After 9 years of studying lease vs company, i have yet to find a lease guy that makes more than me when you add the benefits & 401k. I have been company all this time because i read the contracts and learned to read the 20 page lease weekly settlements.

Some things to ask in your class:

1. What does the accident insurance NOT cover? Prime has a negligence fee of $10,000. So jack knife and u pay the $2k deductible plus that $10k. It is also possible that the tow bill and highway cleanup / personnel are not covered. So it may not be $2,000 deductible for an accident. It could literally be $20,000+

2. What does cargo insurance cover? Some policies will not cover YOUR negligence. Therefore have a hard brake and you didnt secure load properly... you could be charged $100,000 for the damaged product. Do not washout the trailer and the load is rejected... you could be charged $75,000 for a load.

3. What does the warranty entail? Some warranties do not include labor. I have seen instances where only the parts were covered. And realize just because it is new does not mean everything is good or covered. Freightliner just claimed my friend's $26,000 transmission was not covered. They claimed either she put the wrong trans fluid in (done at terminal) or the tow truck damaged it. Another friend paid $20,000 for his downpayment due to options on a lease purchase... and in the first 18 months paid over $17,000 in repairs. There is no lemon law on commercial vehicles.

4. Ask about workers comp and what is covered. Many policies may only cover medical bills and not provide for pay compensation, hotel, rental car, or more. The #1 injury to a driver is falling out of rhe truck. And many do not have insurance for it.

5. Learn to read the settlements. Ask some current lease ops to teach you. Wilsons looks different than Primes. I had some wilsons but cant find them now. They still only averages 60 to 65cpm. Before taxes with no benefits and a ton of repsonsibility.

Good luck.

Hi. I did a video that explains HOS quite a bit including splits. Hope this helps

HOS Explained

Hi. Congrats on wilson.

1. It is an overreaction to plan years of security with a dog. If you always have pets, that is one thing.. but needing a dog for protection due to fear is another.

2. Trucking life can be very difficult for newbies. Add pets and it can be more challenging. Winters are exhausting. Rotating schedules can be exhausting.

Add the needs of a pet and you could be more exhausted. Getting pets to hotels when the truck is broken down... getting to a vet.. having proper food. Having room on the truck for a large animal.

Trucking with Pets