Prime Inc. CDL Training. Springfield, Missouri

CDL skills test trifecta" title="new truck driver with trainer after passing CDL skills test trifecta">

My trifecta photo with my trainer Danny. Yeah I'm proud!

FINALLY!! BEEN WAITING ALL DAY!!! lol. congrats man! Now that I am a bit more stressed after reading this...I know what to expect lol

Thanks man!

Please understand that when I say autofail, I don't mean you fail and go home. It just means you have to come back the next day and try again. You get a trifecta if you pass all three tests on the first try.

Oh I know, but is it like the CDL written tests where you only get 3 trys? or will they work with you more until you can pass, I would imagine there is a point where they would just say 'your hopeless' lol

I've "heard" you get 3 tries. But I've also heard they'll work with you if they think you're worth fixing. Also, there's no rule saying you MUST retake the test the next day. Tell them you need more time, and they'll work with you. Remember, they have time and money invested in you by the time you reach testing. They won't want to lose that investment.

Al is a perfect example. Been here 5 weeks, and they're still trying with him.

Don't stress on it. The vast majority of those who make it this far will pass the tests. It isn't really terribly difficult.

Hey turtle how come you chose flatbedding? I never thought about it until like litterally 2 hours ago, i think it would be really cool all the stuff you haul, not to mention help me stay/get in shape. Any pros/cons ect that helped you decide would be greatly appreciated. Its either this or reefer...and reefer sounds boring...plus im sure its a nightmare backing into a packed walmart ect.

I chose flatbedding mainly for the reasons you mentioned.

My flooring career was very physical, and I wanted to keep up with some kind of activity and exercise. It's not like you're out doing heavy cardio or weightlifting, but the activity and motion will be a benefit to me.

The variety of things you haul is interesting to me, along with the challenge of securing them. Also, the variety of places you go to interests me the most, perhaps.. You can go to a warehouse, construction site, farm, school, manufacturing plant, you name it. I want to see as much of America as I can, so this helps.

My dad drove a Werner dry van for 15 ish years, and he thinks I'm crazy for wanting to flatbed. I'll have to work in extreme conditions, hot or cold. Rain, snow, ice, or blazing sun, I'll have to be out there securing and tarping that load. Yeah but I've never been afraid of working, or of working in extreme conditions. It will allow me a certain level of freedom and excitement that I otherwise may not experience pulling a reefer or dryvan.

Flatbedders are a rare breed all their own. I consider myself to be a tad outside the norm anyways. So I hope it's a good fit for me.

Awesome job Turtle!

Very very cool.

Happy for ya.

Was the examiner watching to see if you were constantly on your mirrors? When I did school - they were telling us to make sure you check your mirrors every 10 seconds - and wear a hat, so the examiner can see your head moving (or exaggerate your movements). My school was a County VoTech - so we drove the route of the test almost every "road drive" day. So I got to memorize pretty much every sign on the route - I was only asked about one.

GOOD FOR YOU!

Keep us posted on your continuing adventure...

Rick

I certainly will. This diary is far from over, I still have 30k miles of training to go. I leave for Riverside, CA in about an hour.

Yes, some time ago I read the tip here on TT about wearing the ballcap in order to exaggerate head movements. I did exactly that. It was so dang cold out, I would have preferred to wear my knit hat. But I wasn't taking any chances, ball cap it was. Whether or not he noticed, I don't know. But I didn't get any points for not checking my mirrors lol. Thanks!

Get your 30k trainer already? I assume your pulling flat with someone? Cant wait to hear what you pull if you are.

Congratulations! Big Thanks for sharing your training experience in such great detail.