Daousts New Adventure
Topic 13310 | Page 1
I'm on my way to Springfield too. I'm flying in, but currently on a 4 hr layover in Chicago. Hope to see you there Daoust!
3.6.2016
Well we made it 10 minutes early! Woo but I forgot to account for time zone going back so that set me back to 32 hours darn it... Anyway we got in got our DOT paperwork to bring for tomorrow and went back to the desk to get some more paperwork and fill it out... Paid our 100 bucks and got our room number. Got a room with my bus friend so that's fun 0655 comes pretty early, until tomorrow drive safe!
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
3.7.2016
Little delayed... So yesterday we got up at 5am walked down to McDonald's and came back for breakfast got two orange juices here for breakfast you get 4.75 for breakfast and 7.00 for dinner and lunch. We made it to class early because early is on time and on time is late at prime. Then we got put into our groups and told our assigned groups and what we had to do for the day. Nurse for drug test nurse to take weight height and blood pressure as well as your sight and whisper test. From there we see the dr. Who does your physical turn and cough but surprisingly we keep our unders on! From there we went to APEX quick physical activity with range of motion. Then finally your file review and face to face interview which is basically them talking about any records you had which for me was just a traffic infraction so that went quick.
After all that I dropped all my stuff off in my room grabbed lunch and then went to sim lab. Different, not easy not hard just different... Went to take my CBTs which I only knew about because of here and did a bit of studying before bed.
I'll tell ya I did not feel well after the end of the day thought it from from the pink hamburger but i went to sleep and woke up feeling much better here comes day two logging and go take my permit test talk to you soon.
3.9.2016
Not good at this remembering thing... Mainly I was a bit stressed out because yesterday I found out that my birth certificate was a transcript so I had to get a new one, thought for sure I was going home. Luckily family from home was able to overnight a new one and just got it today, passed all my tests the first try even triples thanks to the high road training, thanks so much for that... A lot of people here are struggling and I know this would help them tremendously. So my recommendation is even though it's pretty lengthy do it. You won't regret it...
On my way to the DMV to get my permit them back to campus. Nothing to do until sim lab at 830 so I'll likely review the pre trip flash cards on here. A lot of people went home for prescriptions from their doctors even though they had a note from their doc that said it would have no adverse effects on driving... Noticed a few people got picked for the Sleep study, generally larger people large neck circumference or high BMI. Mine was a 29 so I think I squeeked by but it could be higher... Also people with high blood pressure were chosen.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
3.16.16
Okay so I've skipped a day or 7
After the first day I had everything complete except my permit, for some reason on day two I went to the DMV to take my permit test and I apparently received the wrong birth certificate from vitalchek (70 dollars later) in fact it wasn't even a certificate it was a transcript. I thought I was going home! Well luckily it was early enough in the day and my amazing fiancƩ bought one from the city hall and overnighted it to me (should've done this in the first place dangit). Well I finally got my certificate and took the test right here at the campus as the sheriffs came to administer it for a few hours, passed all four and my doubles triples on the first try with no problem thanks very much to this high road program you guys have, for free!!!! Thanks so much. I didn't take hazmat since it wouldn't transfer back to NY. From there I finished up in the sim lab quickly and they asked me to join the accelerated night class where we skip the first 10k miles and do training here in Springfield for 2 weeks then we test out. Then into TNT. Let me tell you guys, this night program is amazing. This whole experience so far has been great. I definitely chose the right company. And for all the new people doing research, those awesomely high CPM are usually including and extra .05 for driving a lightweight truck that they will try to push on you (or so I'm told) I'm going to be asking for a full size condo simply because my old lady will be coming with me full time and we need the space. I'll probably update at the end of this week as the rest of this week is simply training on the pad and sim lab....
Safe miles everyone
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14Ā¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
I'm glad you got into the accelerated class like you wanted! It was perfect for me, hopefully it's great for you as well. One thing to keep in mind though ... they're training you primarily for the test. When you go out on TNT you'll need to trust your trainer to teach you how to drive appropriately for the job. Example: in local PSD when driving an empty flatbed & they tell you not to use your brakes until you're completely within the off-ramp, that won't fly when you're under a heavy load. So I learned it their way, and now I'm learning some things another way, being adaptable. I bet you're doing great. Cheers!
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Primeās PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then youāll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, youāll return to Primeās corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14Ā¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Hey Daoust!
Thanks for sharing your journal. I'm interested in that accelerated program when I come back on the 4th of April. Just got cleared to return today. You'll probably be on a trainer truck by then, but maybe I'll bump into you.
Any words of wisdom for getting invited to the accelerated program?
Any words of wisdom for getting invited to the accelerated program?
I'll share what I was told, what I've guessed, & what has worked for me. (1st) It depends on how many openings there are in the program between the end of your orientation class & the entire following week, as there can only be so many people in this class, around 18 if I remember correctly, all learning & "evaluating out" at different speeds. (2nd) You must show yourself to listen carefully & catch onto things quickly, as the Accelerated Program graduates may have to pass the driving portion of the exam with as little as 3 hours of total previous driving instruction, & it seems that they look most closely for this quality in your time in the Sim Lab. (3rd) I hear again & again that of all the promising students, they choose among those with the best attitude. They're sick of explaining themselves to embryonic super truckers, I think.
Small tip: before coming to Orientation, watch shifting & pre-trip inspection & driving & backing videos to open your mind to some of these things if you haven't already.
During these night classes you'll have to take extra care with your health -- I don't know if you've ever had to work graveyards, but it's a common problem. Rely for this time on melatonin to aid your sleep pattern change to their 7pm to 7am schedule, get at least 20 minutes of facial sun per day but as little as possible before bed time, use a good multivitamin, & I think I've seen that you have an excellent handle on nutrition otherwise so I'll end my rant here.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it āout of serviceā until it is repaired.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Oh, also, bring a supply of ear plugs & a pillow case or eye mask. The curtains don't block all the sunlight, the hallways are uncarpeted and full of noisy students, there's a 1 to 1.5" gap between the bottom of your door & the floor, you might have a roommate with sleep apnea , & your rest must be kept sacred, haha
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
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3.5.2016
Well I'm currently on the greyhound from buffalo, NY to Springfield, MO... Only 31 hour trip š I had to start this now to commit to doing it as much as I can while I'm there. No kids but FiancĆ© at home staying strong during this long Prime process... Hopefully I can get into the priority student thing that J.Johns was referring to... Good luck to anyone else coming in Greyhound, pack some food in your carry on!