Prime Inc. PSD Covid Edition
Topic 28479 | Page 3
I'm here in Springfield on a 34-hour reset. My wife is leaving later on today so I'll probably have the afternoon free. Let me know where you are and we can try to hook up. I have a POV with me in long-term parking so we can go anywhere you want.
Sounds good to me I'm just hanging out at the campus inn, want to get some decent dinner for once lol.
I am at the Millennium Center. In the driver's lounge at the top of the spiral staircase. Come on over and we can figure something out.
Totally cool~~!!! I love it when y'all get to meet up.
PICTURES, please ~! (Some of us can only follow 'virtually,' ya know.... )
I am at the Millennium Center. In the driver's lounge at the top of the spiral staircase. Come on over and we can figure something out.
Alright, on my way
Pic or it didn't happen.
Yep... waiting!!! lol
Yep... waiting!!! lol
Posted in the meet up thread.
Swapped TNT trainers. My original one hooked up with someone else to train so I got a new one this morning, suppose to head out tomorrow some time. Got a better vibe off the new guy so that's good, met him in person at the campus inn and talked for a bit. The first guy called, talked for a few minutes about being a clean freak and wanting to know if I could manage my clock and macros on my own and that was about it. New guy had a lot more questions and seemed to care more about getting a good person with a decent personality. Also gave me the option of driving a week solo with him in the passenger seat or directly to team driving.
Also, special thanks to Rob D for taking me to dinner at the Lambert's. It's nice to get out of the routine of campus inn, Walmart, and plaza building.
As to the 700 dollar thing, the money was 600 advance during PSD plus a 100 dollar reimbursement for something. Perhaps the entry fee you send to Prime to enroll. Wasn't told specifically what it was but that is the only thing I can think of. You can opt to have prime take the PSD advance money back but you have to sign off at payroll to do it. Since it is interest free I'll just keep it, it is only 25 dollars a week deduction on payroll and while it isn't much money, you can make a nickle or so on interest lol, you're going to get the money anyways if you stick around, may as well have it to invest or save now rather than later.
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.
So one week down and a day or two out until I hit the road again after home time. Did 4200 miles in the first weeks, furthest West we went was Chicago after leaving Springfield. Sleeping in a moving truck isn't too bad for me as long as I use earplugs. I have had a shift I felt too drained, really like the night driving except for the parking dilemma it causes. Still haven't been reimbursed for the rental car and have already gotten 2 paychecks. The tnt pay is .14 CPM for your and trainers miles. Was able to get a couple extra days home time because I live so close to Atlanta and wanted to be sure I made it to transfer license over since we dropped a load off in south Atlanta.
The DMV I went to "specialised" in CDL stuff so when I asked about the manual restriction they said it wasn't a problem, they just had to get it cleared from head quarters and that they can't remove endorsements you've already earned on another CDL class. The folks there are far nicer and more knowledgeable than other East of Atlanta locations. So my recommendation is to use the Jackson, GA DDS. It is only two service stations so it is pretty fast too. Went ahead and got doubles/triples while I was there so fortunately for me I have a cdl with no restrictions and all endorsements except for hazmat which I don't want anyways.
It isn't typical of Prime Inc and I wouldn't expect it but I got right at a week home time so that is nice. I'll probably try and get around 45000 miles before next home time. I don't know how they do it when they upgrade but I'd not be surprised if they want you to run their 3 week policy after you upgrade so having some home time and then knocking out another week training then 3-4 weeks solo seems like a decent plan.
It's easy to say I'd like to stay out for several weeks solo but after working jobs where you're constantly jumping in and out of trucks/equipment all the time, I'm glad to be home and doing stuff around the house, maybe I'm not as lazy as I thought. It's quite amazing how much atrophy I've had occur in a month of laying in a motel bed and sitting in a truck. After 2 days being home I was sore all over like I'd swam 3 miles. Also, strangely enough, I lost about 6-7 lbs the first week out.
I'm not going to say I'm going to jump to flatbed but... a crazy part of me is actually missing the physical activity of dump trucking or the physicality of heavy equipment operating. Maybe the road is already making me crazy. Another thing I've noticed is the difference in climate. I've always been told it gets just as hot everywhere else as it does in Georgia, it just doesn't last as long. And I can say pretty confidently that is a bunch of BS. Maybe on paper it is true but being in NJ, PA, Chicago etc, it is hot sure, but when I had to walk about a 1/4 mile with all my stuff when I got home, yeah... The heat here in the South is just another level, there's no breeze, humidity is insane and temps are higher, plus it storms every afternoon. It was striking how hot it was when I got home and I've lived in it for over 20 years. I can't wait to move Northwest. I can't wait to see the West, my trainer likes to stay West and doesn't like traffic so hopefully that is where we'll be and can rack up some miles fast.
I'll post another update around 40000 miles or so.
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
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.
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I'm here in Springfield on a 34-hour reset. My wife is leaving later on today so I'll probably have the afternoon free. Let me know where you are and we can try to hook up. I have a POV with me in long-term parking so we can go anywhere you want.