Prime CDL Training - Springfield, MO

That's really cool that you guys got to meet each other!

That's really cool that you guys got to meet each other!

Yeah it's awesome. Also hang out with a couple guys since the bus ride from Columbus. Really cool making new friends and seeing them succeed along with you.

My roommate is a younger guy. Had a kid, here to make a future for himself and family. I wish I was that focused at 21. He's from Florida, it snowed the second day we were here and it was the first time he saw it snow. It was cool to be a part of. Now he gets to drive in it!

Looking at the end of day 9 here at Prime orientation. Still waiting for a trainer is a big bummer, you start to wonder when you see everyone else heading out and you're still sitting in a hotel room. Longer it takes the crazier I feel, I knew I would have to wait, it just starts to make you stir crazy after awhile.

I'm not sitting here doing nothing though. Yesterday and some of today we went over trip planning. This evening we sat through a backing class for trainers which gave a lot of great information. Tomorrow we will be backing up actual trucks, which is great, since when out with a trainer backing doesn't always come that often.

All of this will help me in the long run but not much is going to help me get my CDL until I get to drive and learn hands on. I hope that I get a phone call here within the week because I am more than ready to go! Same can be said for the 25 or so also still waiting.

Anyway, got some trip planning homework and more pre-trip study. I feel pretty confident about the pre-trip but I want to keep going over and over with it regardless of how well I think I know it.

Man, the shortage of trainers is a real bummer. Keep your chin up though, something will come through. In the meantime just keep doing what you're doing. Not like you have a choice, right?

Keep drilling that pretrip in your head, it'll become second nature before you know it.

Be cool Britton...before you know it, you’ll be “in-it”. I waited 1 week for my mentor...all part of the process. In the grand scheme of things... it will be a mere footnote in your career path.

You are doing the right thing by staying busy. Your day will come.

Heard an interesting rumor tonight that might shed some light on the lack of trainers.

Heard this from a guy who finished his TNT over a month ago and opted to stay with his trainer because there aren’t any ‘new’ trucks to be had. Due to some kind of miscommunication there are some 2000+ fewer trucks available for lease this year. Trainees are being offered another $300/week (1000/week gaurunteed) to stick with their trainer as a team driver. There’s no reason to upgrade... there’s no trucks!

OR they could come sit in the hotel for $700/week for a month plus, etc.

Shortage should be rectified in 4-6 weeks. However trainers that are keeping their trainee vs taking new ones... well that’s definintely an X factor fewer available for the rest of us. Couple that with bigger than usual interest in Prime PSD...

Thought I’d share...

Heard an interesting rumor tonight that might shed some light on the lack of trainers.

Heard this from a guy who finished his TNT over a month ago and opted to stay with his trainer because there aren’t any ‘new’ trucks to be had. Due to some kind of miscommunication there are some 2000+ fewer trucks available for lease this year. Trainees are being offered another $300/week (1000/week gaurunteed) to stick with their trainer as a team driver. There’s no reason to upgrade... there’s no trucks!

OR they could come sit in the hotel for $700/week for a month plus, etc.

Shortage should be rectified in 4-6 weeks. However trainers that are keeping their trainee vs taking new ones... well that’s definintely an X factor fewer available for the rest of us. Couple that with bigger than usual interest in Prime PSD...

Thought I’d share...

RUMOR is the key word here.

Prime offered last years TnT to stay on the truck also....for extensive winter driving. They found that those who trained in only the summer months had more serious winter accidents, such as jack knifing, returned them to the road with a trainer rather than fire them. Therefore they offered to extend training periods for those who wanted it.

In August there was a sort of purge of bad trainers. However, as you can see, every week new trainers are being certified. And just because someone might be a first time trainer, it doesnt mean they are bad. I know a few who have been driving lightweights for years and are now training in condos.

I have been here 3.5 years and every single class has this "there is a shortage of trucks" crap. I have had 3 trucks and the first two i waited a day. The second I waited three but that was more of a clerical error misunderstanding. If there are no available trucks in sprimo, they will put people on a bus or fly them to Pittston.

We have a forum member, Donna who got a truck a week ago...she was told she was 4th on the list. She was called 2 hours later. In June, Splitter here was told.he was 85 and got called the second day which didnt matter cause you have classes to do.

They have been adding more Volvos to the fleet and get regular shipments of trucks. Think about it...Prime owns Pedigree truck sales..those trucks come from the fleet. IF they needed trucks, they would keep running them with company drivers.

AND there are 17 open trucks right now on the lease inventory list of those others turned in early. So stop listening to rumors.

I dont think it's as bad as the rumors portray, other than a few exceptions for varied reasons, all of the people from the class before us are out there in PSD , so we will get there soon too. It's all good, age has taught me patience and that everything happens for a reason and in due time.

Another thing is not all TnT trainers do PSD and vice versa. I do TnT only which is strange for a company driver. Many company drivers do PSD only, so the "TnT are staying with trainer longer and affecting PSD" isnt as much of a factor as you think.

I have a list of people at all times trying to get on my truck, but it isn't because they can't get a TnT trainer, its because i have established a good reputation. Sadly, I can only help one at a time, but offer all my phone number and try to support everyone as best i can.

I'll be in sprimo in a couple of weeks so hopefully i will run into some of you.

I also dont think there is a bigger than usual interest in Prime. My class was the smallest they had that year, but the following week was 270. By the end of orientation, most students are sent home. So the numbers needing PSD instructirs isnt as bad as people think.

The companies also.cant force people to train, and not everyone should be a trainer.

Then you have demanding students who want to interview and choose their trainer. One woman I was supposed to be picking up (and she wasnt aware i was supposed to be her trainer) made a statement similar to "Im testing tomorrow and once i get that CDL that trainer and I are gonna have a come to jesus moment. Cause that CDL will make me and him equal, so i ain't being told what to do and ain't gettin lectured. Im a grown woman and i don't have to listen to someone like im a child". She tested and passed and i grabbed another student from the testing pad. lol Over the years i have heard various statements such as this.

As a trainer, i pick and choose my trainee. I met both of my trainers (PSD and TnT) myself. I didnt wait for one to be assigned to me.

Go to the training pad, watch people test. See who passes and talk to the PSD instructors sitting inside on the lower level. Even if the student didn't pass, they will shortly. See if you get along with one. Ask for advice...they love talking about themselves and bragging how many of their students trifected. lol

Thanks everyone.

And hey.. congrats to Michael! He got a trainer!

Like you said people are getting certified to train all the time, so, this weekend at the latest I think.

On the bus adventure here I said I would wait awhile got something worth as much as this, and I meant it. So, I'm not getting discouraged just antsy!

I will continue to learn all I can. Even if it's not exam specific, there's soooo much to learn beyond driving skills.