Starting With Pride Transport SLC On 15 Feb 2021 Ask Away!

I begin Pride Transport's training 15 Feb 2021 after a 14yr break caused by returning to active duty. I've kept my CDL current since 2001, knowing I'd return. I started as a Navy Seabee in 1994, ended as an EO2 before I became a civvie/aggregate hauler until late 2007 when I had to return to the military. I retired from the USAF last year and after some time off and research I start down the road again. I will drop in some experiences as I go. I'll try to answer direct questions if you have them. See you and the black top. MSgt C

Pride is paying for a rental car to get me from home to orientation, where I'm getting a single occupancy hotel room. After 3 days orientation, I roll into phase 1 where I drive under the eye of my trainer. So far my biggest wonder is if my trainer will/can get the company to fast track my training. I think my trainer will feel bored the 1st phase. The driving will not too much to remaster. Everything else involved with OTR will be new as I only had local experience. So I look forward to phase 2 where we run as a team. If my trainer has a similar work ethic, we could be juggernauts.

You KNOW I'm following, good sir~!!!

I'm intrigued, and excited for ya~!

Best of luck,

~ Anne ~

Thanks Anne!

Today is Saturday the 6th and I am trying to tie up loose ends at home before I leave. Similar to prepping for deploying in many respects, but no pre-dep live fire range day. Latest word from the recruiter is I'll be get notified this coming Wednesday by email of my rental car and receive the rest of what seems to be a "welcome aboard" package.

A Mod on the site pointed me to

Dave Reid's experience

If I can, I'll find a way to match my experience to it and highlight any significant differences. That being said, my own personal research of the company has been positive as has my recruiting experience. I am in my deployment mindset...expect the best, prep for the worst and never fail the mission.

See you on the blacktop!

I'll be following too. That company looks interesting for sure.

So far my experience has mirrored Mr. Reid's. Pride did offer to fly me but I'd rather drive. I initially contacted the company and one of the recruiters send me a very in depth email about their training setup and I sent back an equally lengthy email with follow up questions after I had scoured the internet about the company. Those answers came within the hour of being sent. All the calls between me an the recruiter have been great. Very helpful and very professional. I am not a fan of the Driver's Pulse website application to apply, which you can access from the company website without talking to the recruiter. But I want to speak to a person before I go creating accounts and all that jazz. According to an email I got today there is a new payscale and they still have a 10k sign up bonus, restrictions apply. But new 2021 truck are coming in and will have APUs where they didn't before. So all in...I think I made a good choice.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

So far my experience has mirrored Mr. Reid's. Pride did offer to fly me but I'd rather drive. I initially contacted the company and one of the recruiters send me a very in depth email about their training setup and I sent back an equally lengthy email with follow up questions after I had scoured the internet about the company. Those answers came within the hour of being sent. All the calls between me an the recruiter have been great. Very helpful and very professional. I am not a fan of the Driver's Pulse website application to apply, which you can access from the company website without talking to the recruiter. But I want to speak to a person before I go creating accounts and all that jazz. According to an email I got today there is a new payscale and they still have a 10k sign up bonus, restrictions apply. But new 2021 truck are coming in and will have APUs where they didn't before. So all in...I think I made a good choice.

Mr. Reid has been through much, since he departed Pride, and TT. I spoke with him last night on FB, and he's planning on stopping in here to update y'all that are interested in his experience. He's a great guy!

~ Anne ~

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Can't wait!

Monday 8 Feb 21, excrement has contacted the rotary cooling machine.

Lessons learned....

1. Make sure you and your recruiter are speaking the same language. Then say it all again in a different language. Lol 2. Never trust that DMV is setting up your license correctly. 3. When one thing goes wrong expect CMSgt Murphy to hand your backside to you.

What happened. In early 2018 while still active duty I changed my home of record and my CDL. Told DMV I was active duty and not currently driving so I was MEC excepted. But wanted to retain interstate self certification. It didn't turn out to be that way. Nothing on the license to indicate one way or the other. Plus any change other than submitting an updated MEC MUST be accomplished in person. Thank you DMV phone operator, that I was on hold for 30 minutes to get an answer from. That's 1.

When talking with my recruiter he thought I just needed a new MEC. Which is just part of the indoc anyway. Well come to find out we had a miscommunication. No harm no. Foul there, it happens. Called him up gave him a SITREP and I was put at ease and told just handle my stuff an keep him updated. That's 2 but less stressful than 1 thanks to my recruiter.

As I am finishing the call, I get word my horse lost his mind and got into something, now has several severe lacerations. Scared horse, blood, triage, gotta load the horse and get him to the vet. Got that handled. That's 3... BP/HR is through the roof.

Mad search to find a doc that does MECs, find one, beg for earliest appt. Seen same day. Did I mention my BP/HR? Doc is. concerned, I tell her what happened, she takes mercy on me, lays me on the exam table and helps me with some deep breathing for 5 minutes. BP now better than average for a man my age. So I just spent $129 for an MEC that will be updated next week, lord be on my side. That's 4...

MEC in hand, rush to DMV while checking in with Vet. "Horse will live, bring your credit card." Get to DMV by 1300 and they're "at capacity" not taking anymore customers. Was told to "come back in the morning and wait in line, get there early. No we don't make appointments." Nearly lost my military bearing, I can feel my BP/HR in my eyes. They were elevated...that's 5.

Updated recruiter again, he's not the least worried. "Keep me updated, let me know what you need that I can provide, everything can be shifted if things go south. Just take care of you and your horse" where his words to me. "I committed to start on the 15th and I intend to honor my word." Was my reply. He laughed and told me he'd be ready no matter what. This guy gets it and there's a tall cold one with his name on it, on me!

This evening got an email from him outlining what to expect from him, day by day for the rest of the week and what could change based on my updates to him. I gotta say, that Intel Update was as thorough as any. I was left with zero questions and I know exactly what to do.

Tomorrow I'm up with sun with a mission at the DMV. That'll be 6 I'm sure. Look for an update then.

I WILL see you on the blacktop. ;)

MSgt C... Out.

Tuesday 9 Feb 21 it's 0845 been in line outside since 0650 40+ people ahead they opened at 0800 and a employee came out and asked folks their bbn purpose. People testing stayed in line people making change put on a list, have there cell phone numbers taken and told to wait in their cars for a call. I'm number 18 on that list. No one goes inside until called. Thank your governors for this.