My 3 Month Updated With Prime Inc.
Topic 18624 | Page 1
Great update! I'm literally only 3 days into my solo flatbed career at Prime, but so far I'm ecstatic over my choice.
After the trials of PSD & TNT , going solo feels almost like the first day of orientation. I'm excited to get going every day.
Good luck and be safe driver!
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.
Very nice, Icecold! You picked up very quickly what it takes to be successful in this industry. Keep up the great work, and be safe!
Whhhooo hoooo....I love to hear the positive posts!!!
Really great story Icecold. Best wishes for continued success.
Safe travels.
Great update! I'm literally only 3 days into my solo flatbed career at Prime, but so far I'm ecstatic over my choice.
After the trials of PSD & TNT , going solo feels almost like the first day of orientation. I'm excited to get going every day.
Good luck and be safe driver!
Thank you! Trust me I know the feeling. Going solo was a whole new adventure. I am now a lot more comfortable with my securement and tarping so that is a huge help. I always live by the words my trainer drilled into my head. He always said imagine my little girl was riding in the car next to my load all the way to my destination. If I am not comfortable with that then I need to fix my securement. Keep us updated on how things go for you. I have loved reading them.
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.
Thank you everyone!!!!
Great review man! I should be starting next week i have a cdl. But flatbed is where im choosing to work. How much is the tarp pay and additional stop pay?
So I haven't been very active on here and I actually miss this site. I have been very busy and haven't had much time for anything. I have completed about 3 months solo with Prime Inc now in the flatbed division and am currently on hometime. I now will have internet access on the truck so I really want to become a more active member here on the forum. After 3 months solo I can now give a better opinion on this company and am more knowledgeable about the workings of the company. This may be a long post but I will give my honest review and opinion on working here.
I am glad first off that I chose the flatbed division. I have become a lot more active and have actually lost quite a bit of weight since becoming a flatbedder. This is actually a win/win. Our company doesn't have very many flatbed drivers so honestly there is a ton of freight for us to move. As a company driver my fleet manager keeps me super busy on a really bad week I run about 2800 miles. Most weeks I easily run 3200-3400 miles. With the mileage pay and the extra pay such as stop off pay, tarp pay, or even shorthaul pay my lowest paychecks average about $1200 a week before taxes. So if you are willing to run, work hard, and manage your clock wisely you can earn a lot of money here even as a rookie. We seem to have a good mix of freight and so far only about 50% of my loads are tarped. I carry a lot of pipe and equipment such as mini Cats and bull dozers which are nice and easy.
As far as the running area you will be all over the country. I did have a few weeks where I was stuck in the Northeast loop. It wasn't so bad but it got old kind of quick. I messaged my FM and was like I love you man but please get me out of this New England loop. He was like no problem I got you and my next load was to Colorado and that was that. On the flatbed side some of the loads are scheduled a little tight because of the time sensitive nature of some of the loads but as long as you keep the door closed and manage your clock wisely it's doable. I have never been asked or expected to do anything impossible. Actually a lot of times my FM will message me when he sends me a load assignment and ask if I can make it work or if he needs to move the appointment. I look at is as me and him are a team and we want each other to be successful.
The only issue I have had since coming to work for Prime is the hometime. It seemed no matter how long I would stay out he would only get me home long enough for a 34 hour reset. One day I was in Springfield and went upstairs and talked to him about it and he looked and was like wow in the 6 months you have been here (training included) you have only been home 7 days. He just didn't realize it. Again communication is key. So I am now on hometime and he is actually letting me take a week at home. It seems to have been worked out. I don't expect a lot just if I stay out 4 weeks I want 3-4 days at home and we cleared that up.
Honestly I am still very happy with my choice to start with Prime Inc. After my year is up and my contract is over I still have no intention of leaving this company. They have worked for me and have made me a good amount of money and have treated me more than fair with everything. Even when I make stupid rookie mistakes my FM assures me he has seen much worse and not to give it a second thought. I would urge anyone coming in to at least consider Prime. I would be happy to answer any questions anyone has about Prime or our flatbed division.
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.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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So I haven't been very active on here and I actually miss this site. I have been very busy and haven't had much time for anything. I have completed about 3 months solo with Prime Inc now in the flatbed division and am currently on hometime. I now will have internet access on the truck so I really want to become a more active member here on the forum. After 3 months solo I can now give a better opinion on this company and am more knowledgeable about the workings of the company. This may be a long post but I will give my honest review and opinion on working here.
I am glad first off that I chose the flatbed division. I have become a lot more active and have actually lost quite a bit of weight since becoming a flatbedder. This is actually a win/win. Our company doesn't have very many flatbed drivers so honestly there is a ton of freight for us to move. As a company driver my fleet manager keeps me super busy on a really bad week I run about 2800 miles. Most weeks I easily run 3200-3400 miles. With the mileage pay and the extra pay such as stop off pay, tarp pay, or even shorthaul pay my lowest paychecks average about $1200 a week before taxes. So if you are willing to run, work hard, and manage your clock wisely you can earn a lot of money here even as a rookie. We seem to have a good mix of freight and so far only about 50% of my loads are tarped. I carry a lot of pipe and equipment such as mini Cats and bull dozers which are nice and easy.
As far as the running area you will be all over the country. I did have a few weeks where I was stuck in the Northeast loop. It wasn't so bad but it got old kind of quick. I messaged my FM and was like I love you man but please get me out of this New England loop. He was like no problem I got you and my next load was to Colorado and that was that. On the flatbed side some of the loads are scheduled a little tight because of the time sensitive nature of some of the loads but as long as you keep the door closed and manage your clock wisely it's doable. I have never been asked or expected to do anything impossible. Actually a lot of times my FM will message me when he sends me a load assignment and ask if I can make it work or if he needs to move the appointment. I look at is as me and him are a team and we want each other to be successful.
The only issue I have had since coming to work for Prime is the hometime. It seemed no matter how long I would stay out he would only get me home long enough for a 34 hour reset. One day I was in Springfield and went upstairs and talked to him about it and he looked and was like wow in the 6 months you have been here (training included) you have only been home 7 days. He just didn't realize it. Again communication is key. So I am now on hometime and he is actually letting me take a week at home. It seems to have been worked out. I don't expect a lot just if I stay out 4 weeks I want 3-4 days at home and we cleared that up.
Honestly I am still very happy with my choice to start with Prime Inc. After my year is up and my contract is over I still have no intention of leaving this company. They have worked for me and have made me a good amount of money and have treated me more than fair with everything. Even when I make stupid rookie mistakes my FM assures me he has seen much worse and not to give it a second thought. I would urge anyone coming in to at least consider Prime. I would be happy to answer any questions anyone has about Prime or our flatbed division.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.