Expect Opinion On Training Length
Topic 26798 | Page 1
Most companies will give you extra training if needed. By not going through Paid CDL Training Programs, the companies will be less flexible with you. They haven't made the investment into you. If Prime will hire you, you will have a longer TnT faze because you did not go through their training.
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.
So if I get hired by a company that only offers a month of training where as prime’s is 3-4 months is that adequate?
Ask yourself that same question in a slightly different way...
Why would these companies take the risk of putting me in their truck with insufficient training?
Nobody's going to turn you loose in their $175,000 truck and trailer knowing you can't handle it. Trucking is performance based. You're responsible for proving your worth. Everybody's training is just enough to get you started. You won't be proficient at Prime or Schneider when they turn you loose in your own truck. They each get you the basics, then they pay close attention to how you're doing as a new rookie running solo. The ball is in your court at that point. It doesn't matter if you had 2 weeks of training or 3 months. You have to step up and prove you've got what it takes.
Listen to these podcasts. I think they'll help you understand how the training works.
Why Is Truck Driver Training Done In Such A Rush?
The Boot Camp Approach To Trucking
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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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Hi first post here. Awesome site thanks for all the great info. I start school this Monday and I’m paying for my schooling. This will allow me to work on the weekends while in school.
My question involves the length of training. It seems like some of the companies have really short training lengths. Prime is really long, and that appeals to me. IMO the more time the better. So if I get hired by a company that only offers a month of training where as prime’s is 3-4 months is that adequate? I just want to be as prepared as possible.