Started Training With KLLM

Great to hear your update.

I'm six weeks into Prime TNT but only half way through.

Will you be team driving in training?

Heard from my trainer yesterday, was hoping to hook up with him tomorrow (Wednesday), however, Dispatch sent him south. Might work out if he gets a load heading north, I can meet up with him closer to my house rather than driving 3 hours to the terminal (I am outside the 150 mile radius, so once I get my truck, I can bring it home on my hometime - well, to a secure location closer to my house).

Still waiting. Hopefully soon.

Great to hear your update.

I'm six weeks into Prime TNT but only half way through.

Will you be team driving in training?

Not sure how he will do it, I imagine at some point we will doing some team driving. He did say he put the trainee in the drivers seat from the start.

Hey William. How strict is kllms background. Even if its 20 plus years since? Non violent.

Hey William. How strict is kllms background. Even if its 20 plus years since? Non violent.

I think they only go back 5 years or so. Not really positive on that

Hello again, it has been 2 weeks since I got on the truck. My trainer is great, he is an old school trucker. We have basically been running as a team since day 2. We have been to the following states thus far - Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa. Since we have been team driving, we have had to do a few swaps for hot loads. To date, I have 5830 miles driven (in 2 weeks). My best day was 683. Least was 90. We still need to do some Northeast (PA) runs, we were actually headed to one when we got intercepted for a drop and swap back to California. I have driven into Cali on I-40 and I-80 to get a feel for the downgrades. I have also ran the Grapevine in California. I feel more and more comfortable every day - Backing into docks and parking is getting easier, although I still have my moments - and thanks to the many truckers who have offered to spot for me when this has occurred. These are the kind of people I admire in this business. I hope to always be willing to assist in the same way.

I am learning the logging and the Qualcom we use on our daily business. I don't care for Opti-idle on muggy evenings and I really hate the top bunk on those nights. That is why I like when we team drive, the lower bunk is much more comfortable even getting bounced around like you do while driving.

Now the bad - I have seen some very "road rage" susceptible truckers (TNI). What gives you the right to pass me and then brake check me on an upgrade endangering not only me but 6 other big rigs and 7 or 8 4-wheelers? I got your truck and trailer number, but decided NOT to report you. You sir, are an ******* and need to turn in your license. I do not know what you may have perceived in your mind what I did to offend you, but really???

I hope to update this later when we next get some downtime (My trainer took some hometime for the 4th so I am sitting in a hotel at this time).

Be safe out there and if you see a KLLM truck out there, give 'em a wave, it might be me!!!

Great thread

Very good post. Sounds like things are going well.

Hello All - It's been a while since I updated this. My 6 weeks are done, I upgraded to solo. I got my truck and went out for a week before I went home. I did 3 trips the first week, one with 2 stops. I went home for 4 days, and then I out again, currently sitting in Ft Bridger, wy. This is my 3 trip this time, I went to Georgia from indiana the first day, from GA back to IL days 2 and 3, and was supposed to go back to Ga, but the load was not ready, so I got my wish and got a west coast run from IL (1900+ payed miles). I should deliver on Monday with a short run to complete, leaving me with time to start back with my next load, then start running on recaps.

My truck is a 2017 Freightliner and has been good so far. My only bad experience, so far, has been with our road breakdown department. I am a company driver, not a lease operator. My truck got an engine checklight which has affected the switches (including dome light, mirror heat, utility lights - if you are familiar with frieghtliners, you know the row of switches I am referring to) - it also has affected all the light controls in the bunk area, luckily I still have Opti Idle working. I expected, when reporting this problem, for them to tell me go here and they will fix it (as they said it needed a freightliner dealer), BUT apparently they expect me to find my own repair site?? for a company truck??? Others have said when they reported issues, they were referred to somewhere and fixed in a reasonable amount of time. - maybe its who I talked to, but anyway - not at all what I expected. I will take it to my local freightliner dealer when I am home next, from what I have researched there is a short in the wiring as these switches are daisy-chained together.

My backing is improving, I have even had to blindside back at a yard as that was the only setup available. We never practiced this, so I was very happy I did it!

I find I like leaving early in the morning and driving then shutting down around 3-4 in the afternoon, this schedule works best for me, I just need to keep in my time changes. I have to wait here until after midnight local so I don't run out my 70 hour clock. I have 20 + hours for Sunday and Monday, then I get good recaps.

Anyway, as this was a training diary, this is my last post here. I will perhaps start another thread in another area.

Hello All - It's been a while since I updated this. My 6 weeks are done, I upgraded to solo. I got my truck and went out for a week before I went home. I did 3 trips the first week, one with 2 stops. I went home for 4 days, and then I out again, currently sitting in Ft Bridger, wy. This is my 3 trip this time, I went to Georgia from indiana the first day, from GA back to IL days 2 and 3, and was supposed to go back to Ga, but the load was not ready, so I got my wish and got a west coast run from IL (1900+ payed miles). I should deliver on Monday with a short run to complete, leaving me with time to start back with my next load, then start running on recaps.

My truck is a 2017 Freightliner and has been good so far. My only bad experience, so far, has been with our road breakdown department. I am a company driver, not a lease operator. My truck got an engine checklight which has affected the switches (including dome light, mirror heat, utility lights - if you are familiar with frieghtliners, you know the row of switches I am referring to) - it also has affected all the light controls in the bunk area, luckily I still have Opti Idle working. I expected, when reporting this problem, for them to tell me go here and they will fix it (as they said it needed a freightliner dealer), BUT apparently they expect me to find my own repair site?? for a company truck??? Others have said when they reported issues, they were referred to somewhere and fixed in a reasonable amount of time. - maybe its who I talked to, but anyway - not at all what I expected. I will take it to my local freightliner dealer when I am home next, from what I have researched there is a short in the wiring as these switches are daisy-chained together.

My backing is improving, I have even had to blindside back at a yard as that was the only setup available. We never practiced this, so I was very happy I did it!

I find I like leaving early in the morning and driving then shutting down around 3-4 in the afternoon, this schedule works best for me, I just need to keep in my time changes. I have to wait here until after midnight local so I don't run out my 70 hour clock. I have 20 + hours for Sunday and Monday, then I get good recaps.

Anyway, as this was a training diary, this is my last post here. I will perhaps start another thread in another area.

Wow, congrats William~!!!

I'm known for following all training diaries, and not saying much... yet here I am! CONGRATS on your solo gig, finally and for sure!

Love to see another thread, good sir. Seems like you are getting into the groove, REAL WELL~!!

Best wishes,

Anne (and the hubby/driver, Tom!) :)