Thank You Trucking Truth

Just came back from the DMV with permit in hand because of the practice test information. Never been in a truck, or around them but the information that you gave made me understand names of items and/or how they worked or why they were important. For you that are just starting you have to get your DOT medical before they will give you permit. Well at least in California, not sure about other states. Again I just want to say Thank you. Now I am off to school. See you on the road.

Welcome! We are glad that you availed yourself of the training materials and got your permit.

Below are some links that will help you with your next steps:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Paid CDL Training Programs

I understand not wanting to go into cities, especially the bigger ones. There may be some jobs that you will find that will not have you going into or through the larger cities. The picture below you may recognize. That is what I see every week when I go into the Port of Oakland to drop my container. Real pretty place from my view across the water, but my company knows not to send me over the bridge into that mess. Fortunately we don't go there for any reason anymore.

Laura

Congratulations, Polar Bear! Please stop in as often as you want to ask any questions you may have or just to update us on your progress.

Cool pic of Oakland, Ms. Romper! It's a shame it is so difficult to get a clear picture of a city's skyline at night due to the lights, unless you stay perfectly still. I've taken many pictures of cities lit up at night. Very few come out the way I wanted them to.

Congratulations Polor Bear!

Thanks for introducing yourself! We always enjoy hearing from each of our members. We especially enjoy hearing from the new ones just getting started. So... please don't be a stranger.

Where are you going to school?

Cool pic of Oakland, Ms. Romper! It's a shame it is so difficult to get a clear picture of a city's skyline at night due to the lights, unless you stay perfectly still. I've taken many pictures of cities lit up at night. Very few come out the way I wanted them to.

RD,

I was sitting in Oakland, looking across the water and that photo is San Francisco. I decided not to park last night down in my favorite spot, so I didn't get a better picture. I looked through all my night time SF photos on this new phone and they are all blurry when they are enlarged 😝

Low hanging clouds on 5 July 2023.

Laura

Good day to you all. I hope you are getting plenty of miles. I start school with Prime Trucking in a week, so I am getting ready. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with. 1. I am 6'2" tall will I be able to fit in the sleeper, or will I have to put my feet out the window? 2. I was in prison in 1974, so I don't think I will get my TWIC card. Will I still be able to drive? Or should I not say anything about it, and hope that the search doesn't go back that far? 3. I will be driving an automatic transmission, should I ask if I can learn stick? 4. As I said I will be going to work for Prime, can you tell me anything about them and their driving record, and if they treat drivers well?

The sleeper in my Frightliner Cascadia is 7’4” wide, so Giannis Antetokounmpo could sleep in it. Other makes might be narrower but you will not have to stick your feet out and freeze you toes. This is so you will not have to call a toe truck.

You will, in all probability, not even be given the option to learn on a manual. Most new drivers today will never drive a manual, especially with bigger companies like Prime.

I don’t know much about TWIC cards except it doesn’t hurt to have one but is not essential for most drivers In most situations. I don’t have one and my company doesn’t do work that requires one. If you need one, I’m sure Prime will let you know.

Prime is a fine company. Just don’t let anyone push you into a lease.

Best wishes for your training!

Welcome aboard, Polor Bear, and congratulations.

TWIC - you want to avoid going into the ports anyway.

Good luck on your journey! Try to embrace every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. And remember to stop by TT and check in often!

TWIC - you want to avoid going into the ports anyway.

Come on....if I can do it weekly as a 72 y/o female, where's your spirit of adventure 😉😂🤣

2. I was in prison in 1974, so I don't think I will get my TWIC card. Will I still be able to drive? Or should I not say anything about it, and hope that the search doesn't go back that far? 3. I will be driving an automatic transmission, should I ask if I can learn stick? 4. As I said I will be going to work for Prime, can you tell me anything about them and their driving record, and if they treat drivers well?

NEVER, EVER omit information because that is like lying. If you "lie" about that, what else are you lying about? Plus, these companies have the ability to find info on you.

I don't know the disqualifications for a TWIC card, even though I do have one, because I really haven't done much with my life that the feds would be worried about. Plus when I was on active duty, for some strange reason I had a Top Secret clearance. I do know that when they did my original TWIC check, they went back to my Air Force days which were the 70s up until 1988 when I got out. TWIC cards are good for 5 years and mine just renewed last summer. It didn't take as long because they just checked the last 5 years. I've never seen Prime haul containers, so you more than likely won't need one.

While we recommend getting all the endorsements you can get to be well-rounded and to drive a manual if possible, pretty much all the schools are now strictly automatics. There are companies that still have manuals, but the mega companies are pretty much all automatics. As BK said, DO NOT get into their lease program. Kearsey is an instructor on occasion I guess and has been with Prime I think for seven or eight years now. She has compared lease operator income to company drivers and company drivers make out far better. Prime pushes the lease program real heavy. I believe she said 80% of Prime drivers are LO's. I've talked to lease drivers at other companies and they talk about the thousands that they make every week, but the true picture is after paying for repairs, permits, full taxes, etc. I make more money than they do 😁

Here's Kearsey's YouTube link: Kearsey's YouTube

Pretty much all companies are good companies and treat their drivers well. Those that complain about a company usually are slackers, driver lounge lawyers and just didn't know what they were getting into. Prime is a really good company. Many people stay there after doing their one year obligation. It's all what YOU make of it.

Laura

The fact that you've been in prison does not automatically disqualify you from getting a TWIC card. There are some specific felony convictions that will disqualify you. Those can be found online rather easily.