Prime Refrigerated - Springfield, Missouri - Spring 2020
Topic 27950 | Page 2
Really good diary Mitchell.
Good luck, watch your wagon, and safe travels.
PSD Day 3, 4, and 5 - 4/13/2020, 4/14/20, 4/15/20
PSD Day 3 - 4/13/20
This was a bad day for me, Sharon and i took turns driving a specific route. She didn't have any troubles except for making turns because she's still driving like a bus driver. When it was my turn however, everything was going smoothly until a 4 way light. I was going about 45 and the light decided to turn yellow close to the point of no return. Me being used to being able to stop in my car did just that at this light in the truck. Next thing i knew Sharon came flying to the front dash because of the hard break i did. After seeing that, i kind of frozed and developed some sort of PTSD for the next 30 minuets. I missed the next exit my trainer told me to take. Then the collision warning came on and scared the crap out of me but my trainer said not to worry about it, it was a "Phantom 309". I was pretty much shaking until we got back to the training pad and they both tried to calm me down. I stepped out of the truck to get some air, then we all went to lunch break for 2 hours and came back at 13:00 for some backing practice. I went first, did 3 straight back and switched with Sharon. She wasn't able to do a straight back for 30 mins because she kept over-steering. After about an hour of her trying, trainer decided to do in cab and air brakes pre-trip. I already knew what to do but didn't have to wordage quite right so i was going over my sheet as Sharon did her pre-trip. She has a hard time understanding the steps and the entire process even with both the trainer and i helping. She's saying a lot more than she needs to and i'm sure that it's messing her up because she's not really saying the right things. Regardless we called it a day around 16:30.
PSD Day 4 - 4/14/20
Same thing as before, showed up at 7:00, today was just pre trip and backing day, no driving. Helped Sharon with her pre-trip since she only needs to do 2 sections. Engine and in cab since she already has cdl. After about 2 hours of pre-trip, we did some backing. He started me doing offset right since it was easier to see what was going on and i was confused as hell as what to look for. I did 1 offset right and 1 left and did straight back for the next 30 mins. Switched with Sharon, she still has problems doing straight back, and everything the trainer seems to be telling her is going in one ear and out the other. 11:45 came by and trainer told us to go to lunch, he waited for her to get some distance and told me to go ahead and head back to my room and study pre-trip. He knows i'm a clicker and says if it was up to him, i'd be testing out this Friday if he could just work with me. He said he'll train me from 7:00 to 12:00 and Sharon from 12 - whenever. Went back to my room and studied more pre-trip, especially the wordage.
PSD Day 5 - 4/15/20
Same as before, showed up at 7:00, we went out to the pad at 7:30 and trainer started me with just straight back, after 2 backs, he started training me offsets and what to look for. The first 10, 5 left and 5 right were not pretty. After a while it clicked and i was able to start doing them without having to get out and look. I always did a premature pull-up on offset left because i kept thinking i was going to hit the cone. After about 2 hours of doing nothing but offsets, he moved the cones and guided me to parallel left, saying the reason why he had me doing so much offsets is because it's pretty much the same for parallel except for 1 step. That step is having your trailer tire a little over the line and then just do a normal offset backing. Everything just clicked and went into place. Did more offsets and parallel and 11:30 came and he told me we're good for today. He told me he knows i'm a clicker and that tomorrow we'll do more parallels and start training alley dock. Got some dinner from terminal and headed back to room, it is now 14:15 as i write this but nothing much will happen. I'll just be studying pre-trip visually while working on wordage.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll 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, you’ll return to Prime’s 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.
Thanks for the updates, Mitchell. As someone yet to break into the industry, these are very helpful. Keep ‘em coming!
Thank you Mitchell for bringing us along on this journey, sounds like you're just about to knock this out of the park and get that CDL!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
PSD Day 6 - 4/16/20
Nothing to really talk about today, did pre-trip for 4 hours and was sent back to my room because my trainer knows i know my pre-trip. He said we'll refresh in cab the day before i test but he has faith in me lol. Gotta get that trifecta bonus!
PSD Day 7 - 4/17/20
Showed up at 7, trainer said we'll do the majority of my driving hours today. Got on 65 west or east or south, don't remember, i'm not used to driving on interstates and hit 2 TA's, took about 3 hours total; to and from. Got back to the training pad and did 1 straight back, 1 offset left/right and went for another short city drive where he taught me the safe stop. He told me to take tomorrow off because he's going to be working with Sharon all day because she's still struggling to straight back, it's been 4 days now. Anyways he told me to show up at 7 on Sunday where we'll do more driving and alley dock and some parallel and said that i shouldn't have any problems.
PSD Day 7 - 4/17/20 >Off Day<
Gonna study some pre-trip but other than that, i'm going to relax a bit, wingstop sounds good for dinner today.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
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:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll 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, you’ll return to Prime’s 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.
How ya hangin there Mitchell? Any updates?
How ya hangin there Mitchell? Any updates?
I know, right???
I've been wondering about Mitchell and Rob's updates for a few days, too. Must be worn out from all that new stuff they're learning, and turning lots of miles keeping the left door shut.
Yes, where did the two of you go??
Yes, where did the two of you go??
And where did you go, Spaceman?
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Great updates, Mitchell!