Too Much Baggage To Take To Prime Training?

I'm going into training with Prime and I was told to bring 2 weeks worth of clothes, sleeping bag, pillow, towel etc. I cut my clothing down to 7 pairs of pants and 14 shirts but I still have a huge duffel bag and I also brought a small laptop bag. I this going to upset my trainer bringing this much stuff on his truck? Should I cut my clothing down to a week?

Rbrady johnsen did an funny but informative story on this, look in the tags section of this forum and or just go to the search bar and type in "packing list for truck driving school" Good Luck to you!!!! MRC

I'm going into training with Prime and I was told to bring 2 weeks worth of clothes, sleeping bag, pillow, towel etc. I cut my clothing down to 7 pairs of pants and 14 shirts but I still have a huge duffel bag and I also brought a small laptop bag. I this going to upset my trainer bringing this much stuff on his truck? Should I cut my clothing down to a week?

Shoot, when I first started out I took more than that. I don't really see the big deal is about luggage, its not like you can't simply put it on your bed which is usually the top bunk. I'm not overweight so I was able to fight two bags, sleeping bag, back pack and a laptop case up there and it didn't get in the way of anything. At first my trainer was freaking out but its not like he ever had to deal with it.

I may have brought too many clothes but I guess if it stays in my bunk it shouldn't really matter.... I hope

When I did training at swift, I had a backpack, medium sized duffle bag and my blanket/pillow rolled up. I left everything on the top bunk and pretty much just used my stuff as a head rest. Everything worked pretty well.

You'll probably be sleeping on the top when the truck isn't moving, but I'd pack a sheet too so you can toss it on your trainers bed when he's driving and your sleeping. Just a hint.

David

I'm an Instructor/Trainer at Prime and I would have no problem if my student had what you're bringing. You're definitely fine. We don't want students bringing bags and bags worth of stuff because the space is tight as it is, but at the same time we don't want you guys to wear the same clothes for 4 days. What you have is a good compromise.

About your laptop bag... Do you have an actual laptop inside there? You won't have time to go on a laptop believe me. If you're going to drop anything then drop that laptop.

I think you're fine though!

I'm an Instructor/Trainer at Prime and I would have no problem if my student had what you're bringing. You're definitely fine. We don't want students bringing bags and bags worth of stuff because the space is tight as it is, but at the same time we don't want you guys to wear the same clothes for 4 days. What you have is a good compromise.

About your laptop bag... Do you have an actual laptop inside there? You won't have time to go on a laptop believe me. If you're going to drop anything then drop that laptop.

I think you're fine though!

Everyone's got time for a laptop. :) lol.

I'm an Instructor/Trainer at Prime and I would have no problem if my student had what you're bringing. You're definitely fine. We don't want students bringing bags and bags worth of stuff because the space is tight as it is, but at the same time we don't want you guys to wear the same clothes for 4 days. What you have is a good compromise.

About your laptop bag... Do you have an actual laptop inside there? You won't have time to go on a laptop believe me. If you're going to drop anything then drop that laptop.

I think you're fine though!

Everyone's got time for a laptop. :) lol.

Ask Ken if he had time for that.. Not in my truck! :)

Remember laptops need power to charge the batteries and the inverter is only powered when the apu is on and it does not run while the truck is moving so that means no laptop.

You may ask what about first phase training when you both sleep at the same time? Since the trainer does not drive and the student does then when it's time to sleep you better get your rest. Want to stay on the computer or phone all night then stay home BUT remember when it's rest time your trainer is also trying to sleep so you need to be especially courteous to them since they have the say so on whether or not you pass. Might be a good idea to for go a little entertainment until your sure that it's the right time for it.

When I was still training for another company I had a student that loved to stay up all night an text. Finally I got tired of tell him over and over to go to bed cause he would be driving in the morning. So the next morning when it was time to leave we sat there and did not move till I felt he was rested. Then his Training Coordinator called me on the phone asking why the student was complaining about me not letting him drive his shift and I told him that no one will drive my truck on 4 hours of sleep cause they were up all night on the phone. They had an hour conversation about it and that one time is the only time he stayed up all night texting. Not sure what they talked about but his attitude changed quickly.

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.

I didn't really bring the laptop to bring on a truck. I'm using it to study for the permit exam and I've also been hearing that non smoking trainees usually wait a long time for trainers.

I'm already on the bus so I'll just fedex it back when I get there