Leaving For Prime Training Saturday, Some Questions

Hello everyone, I am leaving Saturday for Missouri to train at Prime Inc. I am very dedicated and made it through grad school so I'd like to think I am no moron, however I feel like one when studying the pre-trip inspection requirements. There is just so many things that need to be inspected. I understand the reasoning for this and was just wondering how you all managed to learn and remember all of the different parts of the truck to inspect. Will the pre-trip inspection requirements be on the permit test? Will my trainer conduct a pre-trip each day so the procedure will become familiar to me? Any other pointers are welcome, especially regarding studying the materials and what I can do to ensure success at testing and training in general.

I'm an instructor at Prime, the Pretrip Inspection is a lot to handle all at once. But just like all things, practice makes perfect.

You should aim to do a full inspection of your equipment twice a day while on the road. You will be given papers that list everything on the inspection and what to say, read that daily when you're done driving or bored.

The Pre-Trip Inspection breaks down into several categories. You have the Engine Compartment, Drivers Side Door Area, Couplins Area, and Trailer. Here's how the exam will go. They'll give you one section plus the Coupling Area. You'll always test on the Couplins Area so memorize that one good. Then they'll give you one other section along with Coupling Area, it could be Engine Compartment, Drivers Side Door Area, or Trailer. They won't tell you, it'll be random.

Memorize all sections and you won't have to worry about it.

Pay special attention to the In-Cab Inspection and Air Brake Test. Believe it or not, but the In-Cab can be tricky to students.

You must absolutely memorize the Air Brake Test, any mistake or error is an automatic fail. Memorize this word by word and focus on what your hands are doing.

It is your Instructors responsibility to walk you through it a couple of times but eventually it'll be up to you to learn and practice it. The Pre-Trip Inspection is mostly self taught. Your Instructor should be very engaged with you when you're doing the Air Brake Test though just because that's the easiest to fail.

Remember, you're also going to be learning how to shift, drive a truck properly, and learn how to back the truck to pass the Backing Exam. You'll have a whole lot more on your mind than just the Pre-Trip Inspection. So take a deep breathe and prepare to absorb information!

For more information about the Pre-Trip Inspection, check out my thread below.

Daniel B.'s Pre-Trip Inspection

Martin, it sounds like you and I will be in the same group for starting the 15th?

I also start on The 15th and will be rolling into Springfield on Sunday

Martin or Chance have either of you gotten your permits yet? Im heading to test for my permit tomorrow and hopefully can knock it out so its done before I get there.

I wouldn't worry about pre-trip until the permit is in the bag. Inspection isn't part of the permit test. Memorizing a list of text so you can recite your pre-trip can't be a bad thing I guess, but in my opinion the best way to learn it would be when you're actually at a truck and can see and understand the parts.

I'm about 4 weeks into the training program and let me say I don't regret coming to Prime not one bit. The Pre-Trip does seem overwhelming at first, especially if your like me and didn't grow up working on Cars, but the good thing about having to wait for a trainer for about 2 weeks was that I got on that Pre-Trip everyday out there on the Pad. When you start to really get it and memorize it, you don't want to lose it so look forward to looking at it each and every day. I'm actually at a point where I enjoy everything about the Pre-Trip, it gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing that I've learned all these parts and how to do these procedures. I look at it first thing now that I'm on the Road with my trainer too. Pretend he's the examiner and go through it including the in-cab inspection and Air Brakes Test.

I went through Prime also, great company. I sweated the pre-trip also, so I know the boat you're in. What really made the difference for me was 2 things. !st, when you're out on the Pad, there are generally 'spotters' out there while you pull forward the 1st time. It the deep corner, there was a tractor with the hood popped, to expose the engine. They went through the pre-trip with us, and physically showed us where each piece was and what had to be checked. Seeing the part, and putting a name to it made a big difference for me, and allowed the memorization of the study sheet. So if at all possible, have an instructor or spotter or even another driver to actually show you where everything is.

The 2nd thing that made a difference was "A-B-C" and "C-B-B". Anything that holds air or fluid, is "A-B-C", no Abrasions, Bulges or Cuts. Everything else, "C-B-B", not Cracked, Bent or Broken.

If all else fails, stop in the tractor shop and ask if one of the mechanics can show you a few things. They probably will, some good folks in there.

Hope it helps, and good luck!

Yes, I will be starting on the 15th. Looks like I'll see you there Brent & Chance. I don't have my permit yet. I thought about trying it in NC but I heard I would have to transfer it to MO anyhow so since $ is tight I didn't want to spend more than necessary.

Daniel, thank you for the input. That sure is quite some thread you put together. Thanks for looking out for us newbies. I was viewing it even before you posted the link.

Check out "Heavy Metal Truck Training Inspection" by hmtt2012 watch it over, and over, and over again. The beginning is the engine compartment the end is the in cab.

I used to use a treadmill and just watch this video before class. Then at lunch i would eat and watch this video. Lol there's a lot of info you have to absorb so take it in pieces (i would watch the first portion back to back in case i missed something). Good luck