Starting CDL Training With Prime Inc. In 2 Weeks. Any Advice?
Topic 29736 | Page 1
Victor,
Welcome to the Forum and welcome to Prime. I started orientation with Prime last April and have been solo for a little over six months now. I drive flatbed.
As far as what to bring while in the PSD phase, I would bring one bag that you can fit at least a weeks worth of clothes.
As far as what to expect with your PSD trainer, expect to drive the truck from shippers and receivers from the beginning. Expect to learn very specific backing maneuvers, which have the foundations of backing in the "real world" but yet very different. Just focus on learning what you need to pass the test 1) pre-trip, 2) backing, and 3) general driving.
Above all, expect challenges of various kinds. You may learn the driving and backing skills, quickly and easily, or you may struggle with certain things. You will be living with a complete stranger in the space of a walk-in closet. You may have a good trainer, or you may get a bad one. You may get along with your trainer, or you may not. You will have a schedule that is drive, sleep, eat, drive, all at a very rushed pace. So, probably the most important thing to bring with you: a positive attitude and the desire to meet the challenges you will face both in training and beyond.
Good luck and share your experience with us.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Thanks for the info Rob, I've done tons of reading here over the last few months and decided it was time to make an account and post since I got my orientation date.
Currently on of my biggest worries is getting a trainer that isn't good. I've heard some horror stories from friends/family that work in the industry of trainers that do absolutely nothing to prepare the trainee for the test.
I think right now I've just began to worry much more about what its going to be like, and making sure im 100% prepared when I get there since the date is set and closing in fast. I'm definitely ready to get started, and starting to finding it increasingly harder to get through the last 2 weeks of my current office/warehouse job. Been wanting to get a CDL and go OTR for awhile now, but just got to the place financially to be able to afford the transition.
I head off to Springfield, MO on the 16th to start orientation on the 17th, I've noticed there's a section here of drivers documenting the training experience, Would you recommend I try and take part in that? I worry I'd start in during orientation and end up with absolutely no time to update it while in PSD and TNT. I'd love to help give others a look at the training process as I experience it, but I just don't want to start documenting it if I am bound to not have time to keep it up.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
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I should be starting orientation with Prime Inc. in about 2 weeks. Been reading alot here, and other forums. But wanted to get as much advice possible on what to expect, what to bring/pack with me to be prepared for being on the road, ect.
Main concerns are : ~What to bring with me when going on the road with my trainer for the first few weeks? ~What should I expect to experience throughout my first weeks on the road with a trainer? ~Anything ya'll have noticed is usually overlooked by new drivers/trainees?