Prime, Inc. / Do I Have A Choice?
Topic 7675 | Page 1
Christopher, they will teach you, but be prepared to have to catch on face. Company-Sponsored Training is sort of like trying out for a team. You need to show them fairly quickly that you've got what it takes. You are actually better off not knowing how to drive a standard transmission - the big trucks operate very differently than a standard car or pick-up that most people drive.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Chris, you made me come out of hiding :). As a fellow youngster, I have nothing but respect for you and your willingness to go out of your way for your grandfather. That's something most of my cousins wouldn't do, they're too busy drinking. I applaud you big time.
Here is the Prime hiring requirements.
The best thing you can do is be completely honest with them. If I were you, I would gather notarized letters stating that you were doing what it is that you were doing. Provide them proof to back up your history. List exactly what you were doing on your application and be straight forward with everything, giving them misinformation will destroy your chances.
And by the way, if I'm ever going to go back to training I'll be looking you up.
Not to bash anyone, but I read a forum on here from a driver who said that he only got 1500 per week at .26cpm with c.r. England while other drivers from c.r. England are complaining about getting too many miles. Isn't that supposed to be a good thing? I mean at .26 cpm I wouldn't mind hauling 3000 miles in a week. Run me till I can't run anymore please. Or at least run me till the point just before I legally have to do a 34 hour reset. "Not something I wanna do"
1500 miles though? That seems like a driver problem not a company issue..
I see it this way, If you are working for me and you are on time all the time, and you are being productive, I'm going to give you more work to do so you can get a better wage, and eventually i'm going to give you a pay raise.
If you are late consistently, depending on the circumstances, you are not being productive, and obviously those miles can be going to more productive drivers who are ultimately going to make me money rather than the unproductive driver costing me money.
Being unproductive i'm gonna cut your miles so low that you want to leave, or till I have to terminate you, unless you start figuring it out how to earn my trust back, and be more productive.
Productive = more miles aka more monies Unproductive = less miles aka less monies
I know I am not a driver "yet," but I don't need to be a driver to see this from a employers few in any industry.
I mean heck look at some of the fast food joints now! They are hiring folks that are educated now. There is a McDonalds here in Virginia where every single employee is either a college student somewhere or has a college degree. They get started at $9/hr and after 6 months, if you make it, you get raised to $12/hr. Let me tell you this place is CLEANNNN AND PACKEDDD every single time I drive by.
Better employees attract more customers is the moral of that story.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Be sure to tell your recruiter and your instructor. They'll hook you up with a TNT Trainer that does Flatbed after you pass the PSD phase and get your license.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
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.
Be sure to tell your recruiter and your instructor. They'll hook you up with a TNT Trainer that does Flatbed after you pass the PSD phase and get your license.
Thank you! I have another question, and I am not thinking about doing this anytime soon, but I have been self-employed for the past couple years, and I enjoy being my own boss, well generally other than taxes lol. I plan to give this a go, and 2 year from when I start if I like it still, I would like to look at becoming a lease operator. Would this be okay after 2 years? Or would it be too soon?
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
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.
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
Just keep calling their recruiting number and stay on hold if need be I just got off the phone with them no less than an hour ago.
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
Also try applying after you get your permit it will count as a form of CDL
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
Also try applying after you get your permit it will count as a form of CDL
That is certainly the plan, I am going through the training here very thoroughly, and looking to go take the test between Monday and Tuesday. I am certainly not rushing this training, though I would like it as fast as possible, I realize that it is important to take my time. Can I take the Hazardous Materials Test two, and it'll just be added when I get my CDL? The Hazardous Materials was an easy section for me, since I am a certified Hazardous Materials Technician through the volunteer fire department lol.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
Also try applying after you get your permit it will count as a form of CDL
That is certainly the plan, I am going through the training here very thoroughly, and looking to go take the test between Monday and Tuesday. I am certainly not rushing this training, though I would like it as fast as possible, I realize that it is important to take my time. Can I take the Hazardous Materials Test two, and it'll just be added when I get my CDL? The Hazardous Materials was an easy section for me, since I am a certified Hazardous Materials Technician through the volunteer fire department lol.
Yeah you can take your endorsements with a permit in Virginia idk about other states. I hear it's due to change in July though.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I am also having a difficult time getting ahold of a PRIME, INC. recruiter. I have called a couple times, and sent a email even. I am waiting till I go take my permit test to apply. How long after I apply can I expect to receive a call from a recruiter? CRST gave me a call within 2 hours of my inquiry via email, however I am dead-set on Prime, provided they will call me back!
Also try applying after you get your permit it will count as a form of CDL
That is certainly the plan, I am going through the training here very thoroughly, and looking to go take the test between Monday and Tuesday. I am certainly not rushing this training, though I would like it as fast as possible, I realize that it is important to take my time. Can I take the Hazardous Materials Test two, and it'll just be added when I get my CDL? The Hazardous Materials was an easy section for me, since I am a certified Hazardous Materials Technician through the volunteer fire department lol.
Yeah you can take your endorsements with a permit in Virginia idk about other states. I hear it's due to change in July though.
Well whether changing to not being able to or being able to, I would hope to have my CDL and on with Prime by then with a TNT instructor.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
I should also add, I haven't had the chance to learn how to drive a manual transmission yet. Will they help me? I practiced a tad in a old beater that was going to the junk yard in the parking lot alone, I have an idea, but I can't do it without slamming the clutch in all the way then slamming the accelerator in all the way lol. I imagine a truck wouldn't go far doing this, Will they teach me?
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Prime Inc Attending Truck Driving School Background Checks Becoming A Truck Driver CDL Test Preparation Choosing A Trucking Company Company Sponsored CDL Training Dealing With The Boss Flatbed
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I am currently going through the High Road Training Program here, and I am really enjoying how this website has it set up! It's so easy to remember because it's actually fun reading/ quizzing.
Now my question is between refrigerator and flatbed.
I would like to run a flatbed when I go solo finally. Do I have a choice in this matter? When will I be asked?
Or
Who do I need to talk to about it, and when?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: