Comments By PT

Scott,

I'll be starting Prime next week and am also on a plant based diet. Planning I assume would be key on a trainers truck. Plant based protein powders would be a good investment as meal replacers, just add h20 and you're set. If you're gonna eat out do as best you can? That's my plan anyways. I'm bringing bars and nuts like Dave had said. Any more than that, I'll have to stock up at Walmart. They have started introducing plant friendly options now including sandwich "meats", but if your trainer doesn't have a cooler or fridge, seems you're SOL. I'm thinking PB&J's mostly until I get my own truck. Add in some fruits that I'll stock up and leave in my luggage, and that will have to do.

Steven B. asks why plant based, I would say health and my wife for the animals/health. My wife reversed her health issues, and I've lost the weight I've gained over the years, 30 pounds in 2-3 months. As a former professional athlete, it was really discouraging to gain that weight, but when I switched, my body regained its metabolism like crazy. I'm only 31, but I was starting to feel the food I was eating make a difference. If you are going to cut out anything OR decrease intake of, it has to be dairy. It is so prevalent in a lot of packaged foods its ridiculous. Just being aware of what you put in makes a difference. Start looking at labels, and you'll see for yourself. Low carb high (good) fat, is an option, and if it comes to it, I'll do what I gotta do to feed the beast, just my plan to avoid dairy. Trying to avoid the bubble guts in my trainers truck, because that's got to be a terrible situation and frankly one of my fears during training.

Take what I say with a grain of salt, I am not a dietician nor a doctor. Just a crazy Cali boy with even crazier ideas. Stay safe!

Hey all,

Took my DOT physical exam at 0700, got approved for two years. If you live in CA, remember you have to do this before you go to the DMV, otherwise you'll have wasted hours of your life waiting in line for nothing. I barely found this out last night while I was double checking the DMV requirements, very close call.

Took my CLP test right after, got there 0730 and a line was already wrapped around the building. Had all my documents in order, and went in for one of the most nerve wracking tests I've ever had to take. For Prime, all I need is a Tanker endorsement initially. WELL I PASSED BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH. If I didn't read all of the permit HRTP and done a bunch of practice tests it would've went badly. I had to retake the combination test and just made it by one question to finally pass, everything I passed with enough to spare. Tip: One hurdle done, a bunch more on the way.

So I called up my recruiter this morning and let him know I have all the stuff I needed ie. permit, DOT. He wasn't expecting me to be ready so soon, but he was able to squeeze me in for the Jan 7th orientation class as I'd hoped! So now I'll be leaving this Saturday as it looks to be a 18-20 hr Prime newbie initiation Greyhound bus ride. I am leaving 11:15am and arriving 6:15 Sunday morning with 2 transfers. I'm planning on a lot of sleep and studying to get me though that. Having read Kori's experience, I'm in for a doozy. Point of interest, I'll be heading into SLC with a storm on my tail, hope its not too foreboding.

Right now the wife and I are starting to pack and get the stuff I'll need. She seems ok with the time I'll be gone, have to make sure to keep communicating what's going on and keep her updated. Really glad and nervous that I'm starting down this trucking career, I'm going to put my nose down to the grindstone and learn all I can. I'll keep this training diary updated as much as I can, as I don't see a lot of Prime SLC stories. Many thanks TruckingTruth and I'll catch you later!

Chris,

I am also trying to get my foot into Prime, will probably go into the SLC program sometime in Jan. Good luck!

Howdy all,

I've been lurking through this amazing website for the past year or two, and currently going through the HRTP. A little backstory, I was laid off yesterday the 28th, and now I've been thrust into my 18 wheel trucking career a little sooner than I had planned. I have been in talks with my Prime recruiter, who has been very forthcoming and great on communication, since Nov/Dec 2018 (actually summer '18), with a planned start date end of Jan/beginning of Feb. Since I've been invited to the orientation at SLC, I would need my DOT card and CLP before I head out. I have reached out to him last night and this morning, but in all likelihood will not hear back until the 31st. I plan to get both these requirements in the next week, planning on Monday morning actually, and am feeling very anxious, as I am the sole provider of my household (wife and I, and feline) and hoping this all works out. I want to be in orientation by the 7th, provided I pass my CLP test.

I would like to start this Training Diary for any who are curious, and hoping for some much needed pointers along the way. I have posted before, and Rainy D. has been great with information. I am going to cram as much of the HRTP this weekend and was wondering if there is anything I should focus on, being I'm from CA, there will probably be more regulations and hoops to jump through compared to the rest of the states. Thank you Brett and his amazing moderators, not to mention the other posters, for leaving a trail for me to follow. Here goes something!

Thanks Rainy! I have seen you posting here and there and know you are with Prime.

"$20 for load locks/pad locks ($200), $20 for chains ($400)."

I am thinking those are the monthly deductions for the two items. If you are doing refer or dry van those are the items you absolutely must purchase? Has anybody here found them somewhere else, say Amazon, for a cheaper model or is it just accepted that you buy/payment plan these items from Prime?

TWIC card - did some looking around on here (seriously, TT is awesome), and someone mentioned the TWIC card is $120. Adding that to the fire:

$100 - Administrative costs for PSD $55 - CDL Learner's Permit fee if you have not already received yours $200 - locks/pad locks $400 - chains $120 - TWIC card

That's $875 or $820 (depending on permit) that I would need to have either set aside or have Prime deduct from my check.

If I am missing anything or not thinking of a hidden cost, please let me know. Hope this helps (its helped me) people looking into Company Paid Training and wondering how much to save/bring.

Hi everybody! Been planning on joining the Prime Inc. PSD program at SLC Utah and the wife and I were trying to get a handle of actual costs so that we can better prepare/budget for the upcoming lean (hopefully not) months of training. Here is what I kind of figured out on my own through research via here at TT and what I've managed to find on YouTube that's not negative or trucker-bashing.

$100 - Prime PSD Administrative Costs $55 - For CDL Learner's Permit (not applicable to me since I have to get mine in CA beforehand I think)

$200 or less - This is for the truck locks? that you can either pay out of pocket or Prime will deduct from your weekly paycheck

From here, I believe you need petty cash for food/drink/entertainment/laundry. That shouldn't be too much, but I know Prime gives you an optional advance of $200.

Are there any other equipment purchases that will need to be made? A YT video I watched said if you get into Flatbed, which I was considering, you would have to buy the straps and harnesses, in the area of $3000?

My wife and I's main concern is of hidden equipment costs that companies don't tell you and they just deduct from your check. If we can prepare for these pitfalls ahead of time, I think the first few months of training will be a lot easier to deal with, especially from your spouse's point of view, as I don't think a call from you telling her "Hey, I have to buy these ___, it'll cost $$$$. Surprise!" is going to go over well.

Thank you for your time and expertise! I love this website and believe it is the best resource for new drivers thinking about getting into this industry!