Actual Costs For New Students Going Into Prime CDL Training School
Topic 21704 | Page 1
Hi and welcome
if you go.through my posts on this apnea thread i posted costs.
you have to buy chains and get your TWIC. everything is pretty much available for pay deduction. and if you team with your wife then you only need one set of locks, chains, load bars.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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.
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.
Dm:
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.Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
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.
the chains and load locks you wont need until you upgrade to solo in 2 to 3 months. Its per week not month. So $20 per week until the $200 locks are paid off...etc. You will also need money for gloves, hammer, note pads, flashlight, pens etc. If you bring a pet it is $300 the first week and $50 per week until $1000 pet fee is paid. I know drivers who searched through empty trailers for the load locks, or trained in spring/summer so didnt buy the chains until sept/oct when needed. As for tbe padlocks, prime wants ABLOY brand which is supposed to be sturdier than others making it harser to steal the freight.
you can buy used chains which are in the neighborhood of $350. you can usually find drivers at the terminal selling rhem, and the terminal sometimes has used chains. if you keep them in the bags, you can sell them back to prime. buying on amazon is useless cause you would pay more in shipping and where would you ship them? the mail room doesnt have space for items that big. we can rent mailboxes for $10 key deposit and $1,25 per week.
the TWIC card is taken out in two payments of $65 per week.
If you read the sleep apnea thread, that is another issue. However, unlike some other companies, we pay nothing toward schooling unless you quit before the year is up.
sleep apnea test for those with a high BMI and large neck (i think 17 inches???) is $500 for the test at $50 per week and if you test poaitive, the machine is another $30 per week ($600 for machine).
hope this helps.
most of that stuff you wont need until you go solo.
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.
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.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Dm:
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.Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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.
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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!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Dm:
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.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
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles