My Prime TNT Progress Updates
Topic 31625 | Page 12
Rolling again at 17:22 CDT.
You AMAZE me, good sir! My other half is home early, and reads along as (when) he can, or I encourage him to. He's DANGED by your diary; I'll leave it at that!
Best always, Dennis...!
~ Anne & Tom ! ~
ps: PRICELESS for the up & comings in this forum!
pps: NO REPLY needed; (If ya wanna yell at me, email is in bio, haha!)
I try to keep it interesting and realistic as to what my experience has been.
This past 24 hours has been interesting playing the eLogs. I’m going to end up with only 30 mins of On Duty time when I start driving at 23:30.
I arrived at our prior delivery customer prior to midnight. The entire time there I was either Off Duty or SB, even though I was up and down “working”. Using PC to find nearby parking kept me Off Duty. Then I spent the rest of the day either Off Duty or SB. I did get up to help Robert with the D&H of the trailers at our new customer, but from 10:30-19:00 I was mostly sleeping.
My 70-clock has 25h 43m available now. At midnight I gain 7h 37m of recaps, which will cover the On Duty time that I will burn this work shift.
I do have a day coming up with zero recaps because I was taking a 34-reset that I ultimately didn’t finish because I needed to drive when Robert couldn’t to make our appointment. Eventually when today rolls off the 8-day log it will only have ~30 mins recap.
It is windy here at about 23 mph. Looking ahead there are thunderstorms in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but future radar shows them moving out by the time I’ll get there.
An hour to wait now before rolling again. I’ll chill out for a bit. Will update again after I get parked at the 90 customer.
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Elogs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
04/13/22
The drive to St Paul, MN was uneventful except for a brief period from 01:48-53 CDT when I passed through a strong storm front. The rain was heavy in sheets blowing across the highway. Got through it, then not bad.
I drove 356 miles in 6h 28m drive line time, average speed of 55.0 mph.
I started driving at 23:29 CDT and arrived at 06:46 CDT.
There was a Receiving guy here at 07:00, so I checked in with him. He wanted to know if we were dropping or live unloading. I said that our directions imply live unload. There aren’t any empty Prime trailers here.
He asked me to confirm it with my Dispatch. He said they don’t start unloading until 16:00 CDT.
I sent a message to Dispatch explaining the situation. Dispatch is checking with Sales to get directions. Still waiting for a response since 07:31 CDT.
Feels like we will be sitting here all day, unless Sales can find an empty trailer in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.
I’m ready to get in the bunk for awhile.
My updated TNT stats for 03/11/22-04/13/22 (34 days):
TNT weeks = 4.71(34 days) TNT miles = 21,406 TNT miles/wk = 4,545 (down from 4,600)
My miles driven = 12,184 My miles/wk = 2,587 (down from 2,704) % of TNT miles driven = 56.9%
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
What time was listed for your unload at the customer?
Appointment is for 14:00 CDT. We arrived ~7.25 hours early. It is now 11:45 CDT.
Update is that we have to wait to live unload. No empty trailers in area.
We were 13 hours early for prior customer, but luckily got unloaded ~7.5 hours early. So it all balances out, I guess.
Our next pre-plan committed load is another live load ( with same trailer) tonight at 20:30 CDT in Lakeville, MN (27 miles empty) to deliver as a live unload at 18:45 CDT on 04/15/22 in Clarksville, AR (719 loaded miles). Total miles of 746. The Loc 90 customer is a Walmart DC, so can arrive only 1 hour early.
That load will bring my TNT total to 22,152 on 04/15/22 (36 days; 5.14 wks). Average 4,310 miles/wk (down from 4,545 miles/wk).
Yes, I am getting closer to my goal of 30k miles, but the pace is slowing down. Need some more long haul loads >1.5k miles, please.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
At the current pace it will take a full 7 weeks to reach my 30K milestone (~04/28/22). Then have to start the upgrade process by being routed back through Springfield. I realize that 6-8 weeks is the expected range, so I’m right in the middle.
I would like to take some days off at home before I get my own truck in May(?). I’d rent a car to get home. Then drive my personal vehicle to Springfield when truck is ready. I’m thinking of using Sprimo terminal as my home base using my personal vehicle to commute. I live 6 hours (308miles) away in SE Arkansas.
I have time to sort that out. That will be a topic for my next diary about the upgrade process and my first month solo.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
04/13/22 continues
Revised update. Dispatch & Sales found us an empty trailer nearby in St Paul.
So, I backed our loaded trailer into a designated dock and dropped it.
It is now 13:45 CDT. Switched out with Robert. He will drive his Shift now to go pickup the empty trailer and get the live load done later tonight from 20:30 CDT at our new 01 Loc.
My 10 hr break will end about 16:47 CDT. So I’ll drive the Midnight to Noon shift again, which I kinda like.
Robert says that we may swing by Springfield Terminal on the way since we have time. My TWIC card is waiting for me and his truck is past due for an oil change.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Found the empty trailer. It is in good shape and only needed a quick blow out job.
On our way now to our Loc 01 shipping customer to wait for the live load tonight.
Drove past this beautiful church The Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Stopped at a Holiday truck stop on south side of Minneapolis on way to Loc 01. A nice store similar to Love’s with some healthy food choices.
I stopped last night at a Kwik Stop in Wisconsin. A very nice store more like a small grocery store. Very clean, too.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Prime Inc Advice For New Truck Drivers Becoming A Truck Driver Company Sponsored CDL Training Company Trainers Driver Responsibilities Team Driving
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Robert stopped at a Love’s in Hampshire, IL at 19:00 for driver switch out.
I will start driving at 23:30 CDT because of a special security requirement for this load. I have ~350 miles to Loc 90 customer. Should make this trip in about 7 hours total time, arriving at 06:30 CDT, 04/13/22.
This place opens at 09:00 CDT on Wed. Our appointment time is 14:00 CDT, 04/13/22. There is parking available outside the gate to wait.
I could also extend my 30 mins DOT break stop to time my arrival at 09:00. However, I like getting there earlier to avoid some Minneapolis/St Paul morning rush hour traffic.
I spotted this classic Peterbuilt in this Love’s.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.