Prime Upgrade Freeze

Sounds like the terminal rats got to the message board

Wow, guys you totally missed what I was saying. Maybe I didn't explain it perfectly, but as always if they don't know the answer, they just go off in left field on a topic that makes them look good right !

Thank you Rainy for answering or clearing up the part about the new trucks. That helps understand what Prime is thinking.

The fact that this Rumor, is being stated by 2 of the top 15 Prime instructors awarded next week, several inspectors, and fleet managers makes me the negative Nancy for questioning or understanding Primes current reality ???

Also, thanks for the pep talk but if you really pay attention to what I am asking, instead of suggesting I change my way of thinking as if I'm not already a successful businesman, you might be more helpful in your feedback.

Like it or not , this is a very real question and concern many of us have. I totally hate the rumor train and negativity but clearly it's something wrong with me for asking.

I'm looking at 2 students per trainer and truck, ads for recruiting more instructors, a very high driver passing rate around 50 this week alone, and the fact that being cramped in tight spaces with even your favorite person too long often leads to negativity for both. Not enough trucks / Not enough loads begs the very question and concern us simpletons have.

Please forgive my wrong doing in asking such a bold question. Just thought I'd get an intelligent answer.

God bless

Please forgive my wrong doing in asking such a bold question. Just thought I'd get an intelligent answer.

I read it fully, and have been reading the same statement from PSD/TNTs for years. I could post threads if I can find them of people saying the same thing every few months.

You never stated a question, you said you were confirming a rumor is true.

Prime is ever changing, and everytime a new change occurs, rumors start. I know drivers who start rumors just to see how long it will take to get on Facebook or back to them, it is like high school. Their bonus program has changed like 3 times in the 4 years I have been here and they are constantly dropping and adding dedicated accounts. This leads to a frenzy of "we have no freight". Right now they ended the intermodal in CA and FL. While they get drivers from those areas situated in other positions, they postponed hiring in CA, FL and GA. Every year they change a fleets night dispatchers and road assist people and newbies claim someone got fired when in fact they went to another fleet. Then more rumors of "there is no freight". If we have no freight, why would Prime be contracting its freight to a ton of other companies and not keep its own trucks rolling? Prime pays for my truck, so it needs to make that money with me. Makes no sense. Freight is slow across the board in every company. That does not mean it is non existent. Lease ops who were making $2 to $3 per mile last year are seeing a drop in prices because there was a boom. But with every boom, there is a drop. So the new people from last year who dont know see this as "Prime is going out of business". Nope, it is just business cycles.

The fact that this Rumor, is being stated by 2 of the top 15 Prime instructors awarded next week, several inspectors, and fleet managers makes me the negative Nancy for questioning or understanding Primes current reality ???

It depends on what rumor you mean. Yes PSDs are being told they will have a longer wait for instructors. Part of this is the systematic weeding out of bad instructors/trainers. Prime does not know who the bad trainers are or what happens on trucks unless students tell them. They go through the records and complaints and remove some from training and add new trainers every week. Many assume the new trainers are new drivers, but that is not necessarily true either. I know many trainers who after years of driving decided to take students for the first time.

Because of this, there is a quarterly statement made on this forum "Prime is out of trainers!" Not true. My PSD/TNT trainer friend was told by his FM that there are 136 TNT trainers waiting for trainees. The lease ops are always wanting TNTs.

Also, thanks for the pep talk but if you really pay attention to what I am asking, instead of suggesting I change my way of thinking as if I'm not already a successful businesman, you might be more helpful in your feedback.

You didnt actually ask anything. You stated what the rumors were that are spreading. What Spaceman (who is upgrading) and the others were trying to say is that negativity and rumors are everywhere. Dont believe them. Your comment of "understanding Primes current reality" makes it sound like Chicken Little and "The sky is falling". The reality is that Primes training program used to be 6 months. Since the change, fleet managers and drivers have complained the training results have gone down. The Driver Advisory board... who represents drivers providing feedback to Prime management, has requested for over a year that Primes training be overhauled to provide better training and upturn the slide that was occuring. I have this is writing from board members when I addressed my own concerns.

Like it or not , this is a very real question and concern many of us have. I totally hate the rumor train and negativity but clearly it's something wrong with me for asking.

I'm looking at 2 students per trainer and truck, ads for recruiting more instructors, a very high driver passing rate around 50 this week alone, and the fact that being cramped in tight spaces with even your favorite person too long often leads to negativity for both. Not enough trucks / Not enough loads begs the very question and concern us simpletons have.

The ads for trainers have been on the walls since before I arrived and will be there until the end of time. Again, new students see them and post on here that means there are no trainers. The ads dont make it so. You arent a simpleton for thinking it, just too new to understand that it doesnt mean what it may be perceived as.

Passing at 50 per week is NOTHING at Prime. It sounds like a lot to someone new, but it just isnt that big of a deal. Yes more people are passing due to the automatics being easier. Yes quite a few PSD instructors take more than one student because 1.) it is easier 2.) they double their bonus money by testing more students. I know one PSD instructor who tested out 6 students in one week. 4 trifected. . the bonus... $850 x 4 plus $500 x 2....you are a businessman, do the math and you will see it can be lucrative to be a company PSD instructor.

Just relax and concentrate on learning. It will stress you out trying to figure out everything else at once. Backing is a toughie. Pretrip is tough.

The fact that this Rumor, is being stated by 2 of the top 15 Prime instructors awarded next week, several inspectors, and fleet managers makes me the negative Nancy for questioning or understanding Primes current reality ???

Is this something you heard with your own ears, or is it something that so and so overheard so and so tell so and so?

The point of the matter is it's all hearsay. Until actions follow the words, I wouldn't believe any of it. Yes, they made changes to the program, but the sky isn't falling yet. Keep in your lane and keep on trucking.

What Rainy said.

I just asked someone in the know and they are currently prioritizing truck placement. The trainees who had critical events, tickets, or inicidents are being expected to go to mandatory classes and SIM time for defensive driving (in addition to the normal classes and any additional miles they received) before getting a truck. This is prolonging the upgrade process.

They are also pushing company drivers toward light weights because they are easier to turn and back. The accidents are reduced for newbies in lightweight versus the condos. LW can haul more frieght, so it is win win for Prime. Higher revenue and less likely to pay out accidents. Bringing a passenger or a pet along is a strong argument to get a condo though.

Understand too that many new drivers want everything handed to them. They want brand new equipment and many guys want a Pete. I have seen guys stand there demanding a certain color or make. As a new company driver, making demands is not a good idea. It leaves a bad impression and will cause you to sit.

Yes, I sort of sweetly demanded my new truck...3.5 years after starting with over 3 years of accident free and on time deliveries on my record. Totally different situation.

Rainy, are they still removing the seat in the lightweight trucks, or is that a request?

Yes, I did hear that directly eye to eye with Prime office personal, and people I believe to be truthful.

And you are correct I should have said the statement I made, instead of guestion. Sorry.

But clearly you can see that my statement is structured as a concern or actually just passing on what I felt was good information to know.

Thanks again rainy for clearing up a few details about it. Maybe if a reply like that came before all the Don't drink the koolaid speeches, it wouldn't be so conflicting.

Trucking Truth is supposed to be the truth, a tool for us to share and learn from each other especially for us new guys. Just because we are new to trucking, doesn't mean we are stupid. Remember we are grown with years of experience in many fields trying to apply it to this new experience and career.

If anything this post alone doesn't make me feel very welcome and shows it's no better than any other trucker forum. Just because so many truckers lie and spread rumor, don't just assume we are part of the band wagon.

It's clear that what I am saying and my honest effort to be helpful was lost in the mail.

Forget I ever mentioned it, and good luck everyone. God bless.

Yes, I did hear that directly eye to eye with Prime office personal, and people I believe to be truthful.

And you are correct I should have said the statement I made, instead of guestion. Sorry.

But clearly you can see that my statement is structured as a concern or actually just passing on what I felt was good information to know.

Thanks again rainy for clearing up a few details about it. Maybe if a reply like that came before all the Don't drink the koolaid speeches, it wouldn't be so conflicting.

Trucking Truth is supposed to be the truth, a tool for us to share and learn from each other especially for us new guys. Just because we are new to trucking, doesn't mean we are stupid. Remember we are grown with years of experience in many fields trying to apply it to this new experience and career.

If anything this post alone doesn't make me feel very welcome and shows it's no better than any other trucker forum. Just because so many truckers lie and spread rumor, don't just assume we are part of the band wagon.

It's clear that what I am saying and my honest effort to be helpful was lost in the mail.

Forget I ever mentioned it, and good luck everyone. God bless.

Cry us a river! Sorry your feelings are all busted up! Get over it and get over yourself.