Prime Inc TNT Students Will See Increased Mileage Requirements In Training
Topic 25606 | Page 1
I found this on a Prime driver page.
Training Program Update:
Here at Prime, we are driven by the best and continually looking to be even better! Due to large growth in the last year, unprecedented low turnover, and limited availability of equipment, we are making some changes to our training program intervals and the upgrade process starting in June. In March, we adjusted our hiring areas for incoming drivers, as well. Our goals with these changes are to ensure that we protect the earning potential and maximize the utilization of our current drivers. We have adjusted the TNT mileage requirements and upgrade process for any NEW drivers starting the orientation week of June 3rd. This change below does NOT affect current trainees already at Prime.
New TNT Mileage Requirements: B1 Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 25,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer. ----$800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch until upgrade
B2 Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 40,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer. ----Before 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade: $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch
C Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 60,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer ----1st 30 days: $600/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 30 days until 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch
D Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 50,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer after obtaining CDL. ----Before 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade: $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch Once the minimum mileage goal is met, the trainee will become eligible for review for upgrade. Drivers will be selected for upgrade based on factors including equipment availability, service, safety, and performance. We will be revising our websites and marketing materials this week to reflect these changes. If you have any questions, let us know. Thanks, Andrea Mueller (Recruiting/Media)/blockquote>
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.
Maybe a Prime driver could tell us Non Primates what B1, B2, C, D seats mean at Prime.
I found this on a Prime driver page.
Training Program Update:
Here at Prime, we are driven by the best and continually looking to be even better! Due to large growth in the last year, unprecedented low turnover, and limited availability of equipment, we are making some changes to our training program intervals and the upgrade process starting in June. In March, we adjusted our hiring areas for incoming drivers, as well. Our goals with these changes are to ensure that we protect the earning potential and maximize the utilization of our current drivers. We have adjusted the TNT mileage requirements and upgrade process for any NEW drivers starting the orientation week of June 3rd. This change below does NOT affect current trainees already at Prime.
New TNT Mileage Requirements: B1 Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 25,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer. ----$800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch until upgrade
B2 Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 40,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer. ----Before 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade: $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch
C Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 60,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer ----1st 30 days: $600/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 30 days until 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch
D Seats: Required to obtain a minimum 50,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer after obtaining CDL. ----Before 40k is reached: $700/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch ----After 40k is reached until upgrade: $800/week guarantee as long as they are available for dispatch Once the minimum mileage goal is met, the trainee will become eligible for review for upgrade. Drivers will be selected for upgrade based on factors including equipment availability, service, safety, and performance. We will be revising our websites and marketing materials this week to reflect these changes. If you have any questions, let us know. Thanks, Andrea Mueller (Recruiting/Media)/blockquote>
Well that's not at all confusing...
Rick
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 can't remember exactly, but I know it has to do with experience. D is student driver with Prime, C is student driver from a private (or another employer with no experience on the road past training) CDL school, B2 I believe it's less than 3 months, and B1 is 3-6 months.
Those numbers may not be completely accurate, but there is some truth behind it.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
There was more to the announcement, explaining the seat classifications.
Maybe a Prime driver could tell us Non Primates what B1, B2, C, D seats mean at Prime.
Basically, if you come to Prime without a license and go through their schooling, you will do less team miles and get paid more per week than a recent graduate of an outside school or even someone with a couple months training.
A total newbie will go through schooling then do 50k team miles at $700 per week. The last 10k miles they will get $800 per week (D Seat)
Someone with a CDL from an outside school will do 60k team miles and the pay increases gradually from $600 on up to $800. (C Seat)
B Seats would be someone either switching companies with little experience, or if someone needs to switch divisions. We sometimes see people go from reefer to flatbed vice versa so they need training for securement etc.... even if they drove for years.
I was on the fence about continuing to train.... but i think this just clinched it for me. 30k miles with the same person is tough enough.... but now 50k? and that doesnt count them having critical events or accidents that extend training.
I honestly think the trainer bonus program is screwed up. The PSD school instructor like Turtle could get a couple thousand in bonuses for one student depending on how long they stay with Prime.... but the TNT team training with them for 50 to 60k miles only get $500 bonus when they upgrade? (yes we get paid extra during training, but honestly it isnt enough)
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.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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.
Turtle, doesn't Prime have an O.F. category for old farts like me? 
Maybe a Prime driver could tell us Non Primates what B1, B2, C, D seats mean at Prime.
Basically, if you come to Prime without a license and go through their schooling, you will do less team miles and get paid more per week than a recent graduate of an outside school or even someone with a couple months training.
A total newbie will go through schooling then do 50k team miles at $700 per week. The last 10k miles they will get $800 per week (D Seat)
Someone with a CDL from an outside school will do 60k team miles and the pay increases gradually from $600 on up to $800. (C Seat)
B Seats would be someone either switching companies with little experience, or if someone needs to switch divisions. We sometimes see people go from reefer to flatbed vice versa so they need training for securement etc.... even if they drove for years.
I was on the fence about continuing to train.... but i think this just clinched it for me. 30k miles with the same person is tough enough.... but now 50k? and that doesnt count them having critical events or accidents that extend training.
I honestly think the trainer bonus program is screwed up. The PSD school instructor like Turtle could get a couple thousand in bonuses for one student depending on how long they stay with Prime.... but the TNT team training with them for 50 to 60k miles only get $500 bonus when they upgrade? (yes we get paid extra during training, but honestly it isnt enough)
This may ending up screwing Prime in the end - with people deciding to stop (or not to) be TNT Trainers.
If the reason they give (better than average retention, resulting in equipment shortages) is true. Maybe they need to expand the fleet, or slow down on recruiting.
This ends up being almost another two months of training.
Could it also be that Prime is enjoying the better production of the team training arrangement? The "stated excuse" (regardless of how many drivers stay on), doesn't rung 100% true for some reason.
Rick
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.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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.
The PSD school instructor like Turtle could get a couple thousand in bonuses for one student depending on how long they stay with Prime
True, but that's putting a lot of faith in the student staying with Prime a full year. Wishful thinking for some. The potential is there, certainly.
Also, if I were to leave Prime at some point in the future, I'd be forfeiting any upcoming bonuses from students I'd mentored in the year leading up to my leaving. In other words, the retention bonuses kind of entice me to stay as well.
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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I read that starting in June 2019 TNT students going through Prime Inc Paid CDL Training will be "Required to obtain a minimum 50,000 team miles with a Prime Trainer AFTER obtaining CDL."
Is this true?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.