Prime Inc Flatbed Trainer
Topic 21135 | Page 1
Won't Prime assign a trainer to you? That's usually how it goes.
I'm thinking they do assign the trainers, but their trainers kinda pick their trainees too.
Obviously someone who drives for Prime would know more about it than me lol.
Yes they do. But, there trainer/trainee matching system is not the best.
They won’t force you to train with someone if you don’t get along which is good. The amount of horror stories out there about this is high.. I could explain further and give examples but I’d rather not post what I’ve seen happen to other students. It’s not my place.
In my training diary blog you could read more but I turned down my first trainer from the matching system and I’m glad I did. For many reasons. I ended up finding a trainer just by talking to random drivers in the terminal. He turned out to be awesome. If he was flat bed I would stay him with but he is reefer.
But yes.. that’s usually how it goes. It’s just not the best system, unfortunately.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
They used to allow trainers to meet/select random students, that's how I got mine when coming thru. We happened to meet on pad the first Friday, he liked what he saw, we thought would be decent fit, went to dispatch to be placed on his truck and rolled out first thing Sat morning. Got along fine and stuck together thru entire process. They would aslo try linking randomly when needed. They have since integrated a "matching" system, which utilizes a personality test that incoming students take and I, like all instructors take when going thru trainers course. I am just starting 2nd student, took both of the first match, 1st got along fine and 2nd is off to a solid start. There were "horror stories" the old way and they still exist now. The fact of the matter is, some trainers have no business training, some students just aren't built for this lifestyle or have no work ethic. The problems lie on both sides of the fence. General personality clashes do occur but if both can focus on the business at hand and leave personal differences at the door, they shouldn't matter.
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My name isn’t Ed Bamberger I’m currently in the TNT phase of Prime Inc CDL training program. At this point I am looking for a flatbed trainer to take me on for my last 20,000 miles of TNT training. Being from PA I’m looking for a trainer that mostly does the northeast, lives in the northeast and/or does a dedicated route in the northeast since that is what I want to be doing once I upgrade and go solo. I’m currently training in the reefer division and going home for thanksgiving. I am looking to get picked up by a flatbed trainer at the Pittston terminal that following weekend. If there are any flatbed prime trainers on here looking for a student that is a hard worker and willing to learn send me an email at edwardjosephbambegerjr@gmail.com.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.