My Journey With Wilson Logistics/Jim Palmer

Great job, man, and great diary. I too want to go with Jim Palmer and have learned, I believe, from your posts that I can train in Springfield, MO for Jim Palmer instead of going to MT. (I live 90 miles north of Springfield). Do you happen to know if all test-takers get to test in a manual? I do not want the restriction.

Cowboy, I was the only one who tested in a manuel and the only reason was I had been out with my D seat trainer in a 10 speed. They did however tell all the other students that they could redo the test (just the driving test and maybe the backing test) at a later date to get the restriction removed. Hope this helps.

UPDATE!!! Merry Christmas everyone! I am currently home with the family until January 2nd. Once I get back on my trainer's truck I should have approximately 2 weeks or so before returning to Springfield to begin my solo week. Once that is complete, I will be a full fledged company driver. Since my last post, I left out a week before Thanksgiving with my new trainer and we have been running hard until yesterday that we got home for the holidays. I have learned so much in the past month or so and my brain is still trying to process some of it. This truck is an automatic 2018 Freightliner Cascadia as opposed to the 10 speed 2015 Freightliner Cascadia I was in with my previous trainer. Oh, I suppose I should clarify that I got a new trainer not because I was having problems with my first one, but simply because he was offered a job that gets him home to his family every night and he could not pass it up. Going from the 10 speed to an auto is kinda nice cause you dont need to concentrate on shifting, but the jake brake is deffinately something I am struggling to get used to. The transmission has a tendancy to shift wheather you want it to or not, but thats why I'm out training. I am loving the job so far, but I am also super happy to be home and get to spend time with the family. My next update will probably be after I get to Springfield to start my solo week because running as a team doesn't leave me much time as I'm either driving or sleeping. Hope you all are still enjoying the updates. Stay safe everyone, and once again, Merry Christmas to you all! Matt

Good luck! I leave out on the 30th time do my 19 day phase 2 with an OTR trainer.

Quick update, my trainer and I are currently waiting to pick up a load tonight that gets us routed into Springfield for me to start my solo week. I'm excited but really nervous. My trainer seems to think I'm ready and will do fine. Hope he's right. I'll probably be in Springfield a couple of days at least getting some paperwork and other things out of the way and getting into my own truck. I don't wan to start a debate over what's better, but I'm really hoping to get a Freightliner and not a Peterbuilt. Only reason is I've been in nothing but Freights since I started. But either way, I'll be in my own truck. Stay safe everyone. Matt

Congratulations Matt!

Man let me tell you, we've all got some crazy stories about our first solo week. It's an adrenaline rush with some serious embarrassment thrown in to keep you humble. You'll not only feel like you don't know what you're doing, but it will be obvious to everyone else too! Take it in stride, it's all part of the process.

Relax, be willing to laugh at yourself, and realize you are entering a new level of the learning curve. I couldn't wait to be extricated from my trainer, and then I found myself wishing he were there to tell me what to do. It's a big adjustment at first, but in a few weeks you'll be getting things done on a different level. Just stay calm and teachable, you'll get to where you're an old hand at this after a few good years.

Focus on these three major things your first year...

ALWAYS BE ON TIME

DON'T HIT ANYTHING

BE KIND AND HELPFUL WITH DISPATCH

Those three pillars will see you through your rookie year and help you build the foundation for your advance to a higher level of performance as a driver.